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chapter 3 and 4 of general psych
about neurons and how the brain works
42
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
02/19/2011

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Term
NEURONS
Definition
INDIVIDUAL CELLS IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM THAT RECIEVE, INTERGRATE, AND TRANSMIT INFORMATION
Term

SOMA

(CELL BODY)

 

Definition
CONTAINS THE CELL NUCLEUS AND MUCH OF THE CHEMICAL MACHINERY COMMON TO MOST CELLS
Term
DENDRITES
Definition
PARTS OF A NEURON THAT ARE SPECIALIZED TO RECIEVE INFORMATION
Term
AXON
Definition
A LONG THIN FIBER THAT TRANSMITS SIGNALS AWAY FROM THE SOMA TO OTHER NEURONS OR TO MUSCLES OR GLANDS
Term
MYELIN SHEATH
Definition
INSULATING MATERIAL THAT ENCASES SOME AXONS
Term
TERMINAL BUTTONS
Definition
SMALL KNOBS AT THE END OF THE AXON WHICH SECRETE CHEMICALS CALLED NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Term
SYNAPSE
Definition
A JUNCTION WHERE INFORMATION IS TRANSMITTED FROM ONE NEURON TO ANOTHER
Term
GLIA
Definition
CELLS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM THAT PROVIDE VARIOUS TYPES OF SUPPORT FOR NEURONS
Term
RESTING POTENTIAL
Definition
NEURONS STABLE, NEGATIVE CHARGE WHEN THE CELL IS INACTIVE
Term
ACTION POTENTIAL
Definition
BRIEF SHIFT IN A NEURONS ELECTRICAL CHARGE THAT TRAVELS ALONG AN AXON
Term
ABSOLUTE REFRACTORY PERIOD
Definition
THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF TIME AFTER AN ACTION POTENTIAL DURING WHICH ANOTHER ACTION POTENTIAL CANNOT BEGIN
Term
SYNAPTIC CLEFT
Definition
A MICROSCOPIC GAP BETWEEN THE TERMIAL BUTTON OF ONE NEURON AND THE CELL MEMBRANE OF ANOTHER NEURON
Term
PRESYNAPTIC NEURON
Definition
NEURON THAT SENDS A SIGNAL ACROSS THE GAP
Term
POSTSYNAPTIC NEURON
Definition
THE NEURON THAT RECIEVES THE SIGNAL
Term
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Definition
CHEMICALS THAT TRANSMIT INFORMATION FROM ONE NEURON TO ANOTHER
Term
POSTSNAPTIC POTENTIAL (PSP)
Definition
A VOLTAGE CHANGE AT A RECEPTOR SITE ON A POSTSYNAPTIC CELL MEMBRANE
Term
EXCITATORY PSP
Definition
A POSITIVE VOLTAGE SHIFT THAT INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE POSTSYNAPTIC NEURON WILL FIRE ACTION POTENTIALS
Term
INHIBITORY PSP
Definition
A NEGATIVE VOLTAGE SHIFT THAT DECREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE POSTSYNAPTIC NEURON WILL FIRE ACTION POTENTIALS
Term
REUPTAKE
Definition
A PROCESS IN WHICH NEUROTRANSMITTERS ARE SPONGED UP FROM THE SYNAPTIC CLEFT BY THE PRESYNAPTIC MEMBRANE
Term
AGONIST
Definition
A CHEMICAL THAT MIMICS THE ACTION OF A NEUROTRANSMITTER
Term
ANTAGONIST 
Definition
IS A CHEMICAL THAT OPPOSES THE ACTION OF A NEUROTRANSMITTER
Term
MONOAMINES INCLUDE HOW MANY NEUROTRANSMITTERS?
Definition
DOPAMINE, NOREPINEPHRINE, AND SEROTONIN
Term
ENDORPHINS
Definition
INTERNALLY PRODUCED CHEMICALS THAT RESEMBLE OPIATES IN STRUCTURE AND EFFECTS
Term
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: MADE UP OF
Definition
ALL THOSE NERVES THAT LIE OUTSIDE THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD
Term
NERVES
Definition
BUNDLES OF NEURON FIBERS (AXONS) THAT ARE ROUTED TOGETHER IN THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
Term
SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
Definition
MADE UP OF NERVES THAT CONNECT TO VOLUNTARY SKELETAL MUSCLES AND TO SENSORY RECEPTORS
Term
AFFERENT NERVE FIBERS
Definition
AXONS THAT CARRY INFORMATION INWARD TO THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM FROM THE PERIPHERY OF THE BODY
Term
AUTOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS) 
Definition
IS MADE UP OF NERVES THAT CONNECT TO THE HEART, BLOOD VESSELS, SMOOTH MUSCLES, AND GLANDS
Term
SYMPATHETIC DIVISION
Definition
BRANCH OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM THAT MOBILIZES THE BODY'S RESOURCES FOR EMERGENCIES
Term
PARASYMPATHETIC DIVISION
Definition
BRANCH OF THE AUTOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM THAT GENERALLY CONSERVES BODILY RESOURCES
Term
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) 
Definition
CONSISTS OF THE BRAIN AND THE SPINAL CORD
Term
CT (COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY) SCAN
Definition
A COMPUTER ENHANCES X RAY OF BRAIN STRUCTURE
Term
MRI(MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
Definition
USES MAGNETIC FIELDS, RADIO WAVES, AND COMPUTERIZED ENHANCEMENT TO MAP OUT THE BRAIN STRUCTURE
Term
PET (POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY) SCANS
Definition
USE RADIOACTIVE MARKERS TO MAP CHEMICAL ACTIVITY IN THE BRAIN OVER TIME
Term
TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION (TMS)
Definition
A TECHNIQUE THAT PERMITS SCIENTISTS TO TEMPORARILY ENHANCE OR DEPRESS ACTIVITY IN A SPECIFIC AREA OF THE BRAIN
Term
HINDBRAIN
Definition
INCLUDES THE CEREBELLUM AND TWO STRUCTURES FOUND IN THE LOWER PART OF THE BRAIN STEM: MEDULLA AND PONS
Term
CEREBELLUM
Definition
LARGE AND DEEPLY FOLDED STRUCTURE LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE BACK SURFACE OF THE BRAINSTEM
Term
MIDBRAIN
Definition
SEGMENT OF THE BRAINSTEM THAT LIES BETWEEN THE HINDBRAIN AND THE FOREBRAIN
Term
NEUROGENESIS
Definition
FORMATION OF NEW NEURONS
Term
MIRROR NEURONS
Definition
NEURONS THAT ARE ACTIVATED BY PERFORMING AN ACTION OR BY SEEING ANOTHER MONKEY OR PERSON PERFORM THE SAME ACTION
Term
SPLIT-BRAIN SURGERY
Definition
BUNDLE OF FIBERS THAT CONNECTS THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES IS CUT TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES
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