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Chapter 3 Vocabulary
Vocabulary Terms for Chapter 3
51
Psychology
12th Grade
09/11/2008

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Term
Cerebral Cortex
Definition
the outermost layer of the brain; controls high-level mental processes such as thought
Term
Fissure
Definition
A depression marking off an area of the cerebral cortex
Term
Hermisphere
Definition
one half of the cerebral cortex; each half controls the opposite side of the body
Term
Corpus callosum
Definition
a large bundle of nerve fibers that transfer information from one half of the brain to the other
Term
Lobes
Definition
major divisions of the cerebral cortex
Term
Frontal lobe
Definition
division of the cerebral cortex that contains the motor strip, prefrontal area, and frontal association area
Term
Parietal lobe
Definition
division of the cerebral cortex that contains the sensory strip
Term
Motor strip
Definition
band running down the side of the frontal lobe that controls all bodily movements (called motor functions)
Term
Sensory strip
Definition
band running down the side of the parietal lobe that registers and provides all sensation
Term
Occipital lobe
Definition
division of the cerebral cortex that interprets visual information
Term
Temporal lobe
Definition
division of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and some speech functions
Term
Prefrontal area
Definition
part of the frontal lobe that enables us to re-experience personal past events
Term
Frontal association area
Definition
part of the frontal lobe that engages in elaborate associations or mental connections; it plays an important part in integrating personality and in forming complex thoughts
Term
Dominance
Definition
control; either the right or left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex is dominant in each individual; hence, one of them is preferred and controls the majority of actions performed
Term
Lower brain
Definition
part of the brain common to animals and humans that regulates basic functions such as breathing
Term
Thalamus
Definition
part of the lower brain that functions primarily as a central relay station for incoming and outgoing messages from the body to the brain and the brain to the body
Term

Hypothalamus

Definition
part of the lower brain that regulates basic needs (hunger, thirst) and emotions such as pleasure, fear, rage, and sexuality
Term
Limbic system
Definition
lower brain area whose structures are involved in basic emotions and memory
Term
Amygdala
Definition
limbic system structure involved in emotion, especially agression
Term

Hippocampus

Definition
limbic system structure involved in forming memories
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
part of the lower brain that coordinates and organizes bodily movements for balance and accuracy
Term
Reticular activating system (RAS)
Definition
the alertness control center of the brain that regulates the activity level of the body; also called the reticular formation
Term
Neuron
Definition
a nerve cell; neurons transmit electrical and chemical information (via newrotransmitters) throughout the body
Term
Dendrites
Definition
parts of neurons that recieve information from the axons of other neurons
Term
Axon
Definition
part of the neuron that carries messages away from the cell to the dendrites on another neuron
Term
Synapse
Definition
the junction point of two or more neurons; a connection is made by neurotransmitters
Term
Vesicles
Definition
bubblelike containers of neurotransmitters, located at the ends of axons
Term
Neurotransmitters
Definition
chemicals in the endings of neurons that send information across synapses
Term
Acetylcholine
Definition
neurotransmitter that regulates basic bodily processes such as movement
Term
Dopamine
Definition
neurotransmitter involved in the control of bodily movements
Term
Endorphins
Definition
neurotransmitters that relieve pain and increase our sense of well-being
Term
Central nervous system
Definition
the brain and spinal cord
Term
Spinal cord
Definition
part of the body that functions as an automatic "brain" in its own right and as a relay station for impulses to and from the higher brain
Term
Reflex
Definition
an automatic behavior of the body involving movement that is activated through the spinal cord without use of the higher brain
Term
Peripheral nervous system
Definition
all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
Term

Somatic nervous system

Definition
a division of the peripheral nervous system containing sensory and motor nerves
Term
Autonomic nervous system
Definition
the automatic control system of the body; regulates breathing, hear rate, digestion, and so on
Term
Sympathetic nervous system
Definition
a division of the autonomic nervous system that energizes and prepares for emergencies
Term
Parasympathetic nervous system
Definition
a division of the autonomic nervous system that conserves bodily activity; works in opposition to the sympathetic system to calm us down
Term
Hormones
Definition
chemical regulators that control bodily processes such as emotional responses, growth, and sexuality
Term
Glands
Definition
units of the body that contain the hormones
Term
Endocrine system
Definition
system that includes all the glands and their chemical messages taken together
Term
Pituitary gland
Definition
the master glad; it activates other glands and controls the growth hormone
Term
Growth hormone
Definition
the hormone that regulates the growth process; it is controlled by the pituitary gland
Term
Thyroid gland
Definition
the gland that controls and regulates the speed of bodily processes; called metabolism
Term
Metabolism
Definition
the speed at which the body operates or the speed at which it uses up energy
Term
Adrenal glands
Definition
glands that cause excitement in order to prepare the body for an emergency or for some important activity
Term
Adrenaline
Definition
chemical that prepares the body for emergency activity by increasing blood pressure, breathing, and energy level
Term
Gonads
Definition
the sex glands; they make sperm or eggs for reproduction
Term
Androgen
Definition
the male sex hormone
Term
Estrogen
Definition
the female sex hormone
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