Term
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Definition
| areas of the nervous system composed predominantly of cell bodies and blood vessels |
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Definition
| conducting toward a central nervous system structure |
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Term
| autonomic nervous system (ANS) |
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Definition
balances body's organs to "rest and digest" through parasympathetic (calming) nerves or to "flight or flee" or engage in vigorous activity through sympathetic (arousing) nerves.
Part of the PNS that regulates functioning of internal organs and glands. |
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Definition
| group of nuclei in the forebrain that coordinates voluntary movements of the limbs and the body; located just beneath the neocortex and connected to the thalamus and to the midbrain |
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Definition
| a theoretical problem with the integration of sensory information. Because a single sensory event is analyzed by multiple parallel channels and do not converge on a single region, there is said to be a problem in binding together the segregated analysis into a single sensory experience |
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Definition
| central structures of the brain including the hindbrain, midbrain, thalamus, and hypothalamus |
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Term
| Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) |
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Definition
| Clear solution of sodium chloride and other salts that fills the ventricles inside the brain and circulates around the brain and spinal cord beneath the arachnoid layer in the subarachnoid space |
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Definition
| major structure of the forebrain, consisting of two virtually identical hemispheres (left and right) |
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Definition
| fiber system connecting the two cerebral hemispheres |
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Definition
| one of a set of 12 nerve pairs that control sensory and motor functions of the head, neck, and internal organs |
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Definition
| map of the neocortex based on the organization, structure, and distribution of cells |
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Definition
| area of the skin supplied with afferent nerve fibers by a single spinal-cord dorsal root |
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Definition
| the "between brain" that contains the hypothalamus, thalamus, and epithalmus; thought to coordinate many basic instinctual behaviors, including temperature regulation, sexual behavior, and eating |
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Definition
| conducting away from a central nervous system structure |
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Definition
| a process by which the activity of a neuron or brain area is increased |
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Definition
| evolutionarily the newest part of the brain; coordinates advanced cognitive functions such as thinking, planning and language; contains the limbic system, basal ganglia, and the neocortex |
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Term
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Definition
| a small protrusion or bump formed by the folding of the cerebral cortex |
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Definition
| evolutionarily the oldest part of the brain; contains the pons, medulla, reticular formation, and cerebellum structures that coordinate and control most voluntary and involuntary movements |
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Definition
| diencephalon structure that contains many nuclei associated with temperature regulation, eating, drinking, and sexual behavior |
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Definition
| a process by which the activity of a neuron or brain area is decreased or stopped |
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Definition
| the general principle that sensory fibers are located dorsally and ventral fibers and located ventrally |
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Term
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Definition
| disparate forebrain structures lying between the neocortex and the brainstem that form a functional system controlling affective and motivated behaviors and certain forms of memory; includes cingulate cortex, and amygdala, hippocampus, among other structures |
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Term
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Definition
| three layers of protective tissue- dura matter arachnoid and pia mater - that encase the brain and spinal cord. |
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Definition
| central part of the brain that contains neural circuit for hearing and seeing as well as orienting movements |
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Term
| neocortex (cerebral cortex) |
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Definition
| newest, outer layer of the forebrain and composed of about six layers of gray matter that creates our reality |
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Definition
| large collection of axons coursing together outside of the central nervous system |
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Definition
| a group of cells forming a cluster that can be identified with special stains to form a functional grouping |
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Definition
| movement related to sensory inputs, such as turning the head to see the source of the sound |
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Definition
| part of the autonomic nervous system; acts in the opposition to the sympathetic system- for example, preparing the body to rest and digest by reversing the alarm response or stimulating digestion |
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Term
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Definition
| midbrain area in which nuclei and fiber pathways are mixed, producing a netlike appearance; associated with sleep-wake behavior and behavioral arousal |
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Term
| Somatic Nervous System (SNS) |
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Definition
| part of the PNS that includes the cranial and spinal nerves to and from the muscles, joints, and skin that produce movement, transmit incoming sensory input and inform the CNS about the position and movements of body parts |
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Term
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Definition
| sudden appearance of neurological symptoms as a result of source interruption of blood flow |
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Definition
| a groove in the brain matter, usually a groove found in the neocortex and cerebellum |
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Definition
| part of the autonomic nervous system arouses the body for action, such as mediating the involuntary fight or flight response to alarm by increasing heart rate and blood pressure |
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Definition
| roof (area above the ventricle) of the midbrain; its functions are sensory processing, particularly visual and auditory, and producing orienting movements |
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Term
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Definition
| floor (area below the ventricle) of the midbrain; a collection of nuclei with movement-related, species-specific and pain perception functions |
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Definition
| diencephalon structure through which information from all sensory systems is integrated and projected into the appropriate region of the neocortex |
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Definition
| large collection of axons coursing together within the central nervous system |
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Definition
| a cavity in the brain that contains CSF |
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Definition
| the bones or segments that form the spinal column |
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Term
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Definition
| areas of the nervous system rich in fat sheathed neural axons |
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Definition
| region of the retina where axons forming the optic nerve leave the eye and where blood vessels enter and leave; the region has no photorecptors and is thus "blind" |
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Definition
| photoreceptor specialized for color and high visual activity |
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Term
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Definition
| region in the visual cortex that contains color-sensitive neurons, as revealed by staining for cytochrome oxidase |
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Term
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Definition
| cortical organization that represents a functional unit 6 cortical levels deep and approximately .5 mm square and is perpendicular to the cortical surface |
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Term
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Definition
| phenomenon whereby the perceived color of an object tends to remain constant relative to other colors, regardless of changes in illumination |
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Term
| extra striate (secondary visual) cortex |
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Definition
| visual cortex areas outside the striate cortex |
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Term
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Definition
| region at the center of the retina that is specialized for high acuity; its receptive fields are at the center of the eyes visual field |
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Definition
| projections from the retina to the lateral geniculate nucleus to the visual cortex |
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Definition
| blindness of an entire left or right visual field |
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Term
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Definition
| the amount of light reflected by an object relative to its surroundings |
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Definition
| large-celled visual system neuron that is sensitive to moving stimuli |
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Definition
| functional column in the visual cortex maximally responsive to information coming from one eye |
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Definition
| explanation of color vision that emphasizes the importance of the opposition of pairs of colors: red vs green and blue vs yellow |
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Definition
| deficit in the visual control of reaching and other movements |
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Definition
| junction of the optic nerves from each eye at which the axons from the nasal (inside-nearer the nose) halves of the retinas cross to the opposite side of the brain |
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Definition
| small celled visual system neuron that is sensitive to form and color differences |
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Term
| primary visual cortex (V1) |
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Definition
| striate cortex that receives input from the lateral geniculate nucleus |
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Definition
| blindness of one quadrant of the visual field |
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Term
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Definition
| region of the visual world that stimulates a receptor cell or neuron |
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Definition
| light sensitive surface at the back of the eye consisting of neurons and photoreceptor cells |
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Term
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Definition
| neural cells of the retina that give rise to the optic nerve |
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Term
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Definition
| photoreceptor specialized for functioning at low light levels |
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Term
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Definition
| small blind spot in the visual field caused by a small lesion or migraines of the visual cortex |
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Term
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Definition
| primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe; its striped appearance when stained gives it this name |
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Term
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Definition
| projections from the retina to the superior colliculus to the pulvinar (thalamus) to the parietal and temporal visual areas |
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Term
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Definition
| explanation of color vision based on the coding of three primary colors: red, green and blue |
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Definition
| region of the visual world that stimulates a receptor cell or neuron |
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Term
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Definition
| inability to recognize objects or drawings of objects |
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Term
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Definition
| inability to speak or comprehend language despite the presence of normal comprehension and intact vocal mechanisms, Wernicke's aphasia is the inability to understand or to produce meaningful language even though production of words is still intact |
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Term
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Definition
| intensity of a stimulus; in audition, roughly equivalent to loudness, graphed by increasing the height of a soundwave |
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Term
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Definition
| receptor surface in the cochlea that transduces sound waves into neural activity |
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Term
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Definition
| anterior speech area in the left hemisphere that functions with the motor cortex to produce the movements needed for speaking |
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Term
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Definition
| inner ear structure that contains the auditory receptor cells |
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Term
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Definition
| ability to identify and locate an object by bouncing sound waves off the object |
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Term
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Definition
| number of cycles that a wave completes in a given amount of time |
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Term
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Definition
| sensory neurons in the cochlea tipped by cilia; when stimulated by waves in the cochlear fluid, outer hair cells generate graded potentials in inner hair cells, which act as the auditory receptor cells |
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Term
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Definition
| measure of frequency (repetition rate) of a sound wave; one hertz is equal to one cycle per second |
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Term
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Definition
| located within the lateral fissure, multifunctional cortical tissue that contains regions related to language to the perception of taste, and to the neural structures underlying social cognition |
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Term
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Definition
| process whereby functions become localized primarily on one side of the brain |
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Term
| medial geniculate nucleus |
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Definition
| major thalamic region concerned with audition |
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Term
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Definition
| bones of the middle ear; malleus (hammer); incus (anvil); and stapes (stirrup) |
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Term
| positron emission tomography (PET) |
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Definition
| imaging technique that detects changes in blood flow by measuring changes in the uptake of compounds such as oxygen or glucose |
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Term
| primary auditory cortex (area A1) |
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Definition
| Asymmetrical structures found within Heschl's gyrus in the temporal lobes that receive input from the ventral region of the medial geniculate nucleus |
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Term
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Definition
| melodical tone of the spoken voice |
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Term
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Definition
| undulating displacement of molecules caused by changing pressure |
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Term
| supplementary speech area |
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Definition
| speech production region on the dorsale surface of the left frontal lobe |
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Term
| tonotropic representation |
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Definition
| property of audition in which sound waves are proceeded in a systematic fashion from lower to higher frequencies |
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Term
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Definition
| secondary auditory cortex (planum temporale) lying behind Herschl's gyrus at the rear of the left temporal lobe that regulates language, comprehension, also called posterior speech zone |
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Term
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Definition
| inability to make voluntary movements in the absence of paralysis or other motor or sensory impairment especially on inability to make proper use of an object |
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Definition
| cognitive disorder with severe symptoms including greatly impaired social interaction, a bizarre and narrow range of interests, marked abnormalities in language and communication, and fixed, repetitive movements. |
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Definition
| group of brain disorders that result from brain damage acquired perinatally |
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Definition
| bundle of nerve fibers directly connecting the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord, branching at the brainstem into an opposite-side lateral tract that informs movement of limbs and digits and a same-side ventral tract that informs movemnt of the trunk; also called pyramidal tract. |
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Term
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Definition
| loss of incoming sensory input usually due to damage to sensory fibers; also loss of any afferent input to a structure |
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Term
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Definition
| hypothetical condition whereby disease or damage in the highest levels of the nervous system would produce not just loss of function but a repertory of simpler behaviors as seen in animals that have not evolved that particular brain structure |
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Term
| dorsal spinothalamic tract |
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Definition
| pathway that carries fine-touch and pressure fibers |
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Term
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Definition
| skin that does not have hair follicles but contains larger numbers of sensory receptors than do other skin areas |
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Term
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Definition
| skin that does not have hair follicles but contains larger numbers of sensory receptors than do other skin areas |
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Definition
| perceptual ability to discriminate objects of the basis of touch |
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Term
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Definition
| representation of the human body in the sensory or motor cortex, also any topographical representation of the body by a neural area |
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Term
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Definition
| symptom of brain damage that results in excessive involuntary movements, as seen in Tourettes syndrome |
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Term
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Definition
| symptom of brain damage that results in a paucity of movement as seen in Parkinsons |
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Term
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Definition
| reflex requiring one synapse between sensory input and movement |
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Term
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Definition
| movement modules preprogrammed by the brain and produced as a unit |
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Term
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Definition
| perception of pain and temperature |
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Term
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Definition
| hypothetical neural circuit in which activity in fine-touch and pressure pathways diminishes the activity in pain and temperature pathways |
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Term
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Definition
| paralysis of the legs due to spinal cord injury |
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Term
| periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) |
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Definition
| nuclei in the midbrain that surround the cerebral aqueduct joining the third and fourth ventricles, PAG neurons contain circuits for species- typical behaviors (e.g. female sexual behavior) and play an important role in the modulation of pain |
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Term
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Definition
| perception of the position and movement of the body, limbs and head |
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Term
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Definition
| paralysis of the legs and arms due to spinal cord injury |
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Term
| rapidly adapting receptor |
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Definition
| body sensory receptor that responds briefly to the onset of a stimulus on the body |
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Term
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Definition
| pain felt on the surface of the body, that is actually due to pain in one of the internal organs |
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Definition
| autonomic response in which the hind limb reaches to remove a stimulus from the surface of the body |
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Term
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Definition
| body sensory receptor that responds as long as a sensory stimulus is on the body |
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Definition
| innate pattern of movement coded by the motor cortex |
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Term
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Definition
| neural spatial representation of the body or areas of the sensory world perceived by a sensory organ |
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Term
| ventral spinothalamic tract |
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Definition
| pathway from the spinal cord to the thalamus that carries information about pain and temperature |
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Term
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Definition
| part of the thalamus that carries information about body senses to the somatosensory cortex |
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Term
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Definition
| a set of receptors in the middle ear that indicate position and movement of the head |
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Term
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Definition
| almond-shaped collection of nuclei located within the limbic system; plays a role in emotional and species typical behaviors |
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Term
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Definition
| male hormone related to level of sexual interest |
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Term
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Definition
| exaggerated concern with being overweight that leads to inadequate food intake and often excessive exercising; can lead to severe weight loss and even starvation |
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Definition
| failure to eat, may be due to an unwillingness to eat or to motor difficulties, especially with swallowing |
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Term
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Definition
| hypothetical state of arousal that motivates an organism to engage in a particular behavior |
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Definition
| cognitive interpretation of subjective feelings |
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Term
| evolutionarily psychology |
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Definition
| discipline that seeks to apply principles of natural selection to understand the causes of human behavior |
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Term
| generalized anxiety disorder |
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Definition
| persistently high levels of anxiety often accompanied by maladaptive behaviors to reduce anxiety; thought to be caused by chronic stress |
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Term
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Definition
| distinctive, three-layered subcortical structure of the limbic system lying in the medial region of the temporal lobe; plays a role in species-specific behaviors memory, and spatial navigation and is vulnerable to the effects of stress |
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Term
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Definition
| process that maintains critical body functions within a narrow, fixed range |
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Definition
| disorder in which an animal overeats leading to significant weight gain |
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Term
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Definition
| produced by a loss of overall fluid volume from the body |
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Term
| innate releasing mechanism (IRM) |
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Definition
| hypothetical mechanism that detects specific sensory stimuli and directs and organism to take a particular action |
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Term
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Definition
| behavioral syndrome, characterized especially by hyper sexuality, that results from bilateral injury to temporal lobe |
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Term
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Definition
| acquired association between a specific taste or odor and illness; leads to an aversion to foods having that taste or odor |
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Term
| medical forebrain bundle (MFB) |
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Definition
| tract that connects structures in the brain stem with various parts of the limbic system; forms the activating projections that run from the brain stem to the basal ganglia and frontal corted |
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Term
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Definition
| behavior that seems purposeful and goal directed |
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Term
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Definition
| behavior not required to meet the basic needs of the animal |
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Definition
| excessive accumulation of body fat |
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Term
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Definition
| results from an increased concentration of dissolved chemicals or solutes in body fluids |
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Definition
| recurrent attacks of intense terror that come on without warning and without any apparent relation to external circumstances |
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Definition
| odorant biochemical released by one animal that acts as a chemosignal and can affect the physiology or behavior of another animal |
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Definition
| fear of a clearly defined object or situation |
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Definition
| endocrine gland attached to the bottom of the hippothalamus; its secretions control the activities of the many other endocrine glands; known to be associated with biological rhythms |
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Definition
| the cortex lying in front of the motor and premotor cortex of the frontal lobe, the prefrontal cortex is particularly large in the human brain |
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Definition
| predisposition to respond to certain stimuli differently from other stimuli |
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Definition
| any neurosurgical technique intended to alter behavior |
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Definition
| behavior required to meet the basic needs of the animal |
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Definition
| experimental set up in which a subject is allowed only restricted sensory input subjects generally have a low tolerance for deprivation and may even display hallucination |
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Definition
| differential development of brain areas in the two sexes |
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Term
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Definition
| a persons feeling either male or female |
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Term
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Definition
| a person's sexual attraction either to the opposite sex or to the same sex |
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Term
| somatic marker hypothesis |
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Definition
| posits that "marker" signals arising from emotions and feelings act to guide behavior and decision making, usually in an unconscious process |
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