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Chapter 2 vocabulary
neuroscience and behavior
56
Psychology
12th Grade
09/22/2010

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Term
biological psychology
Definition
branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Term
neuron
Definition
a nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system
Term
dendrite
Definition
bushy branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses towards the cell body
Term
axon
Definition
extension of neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers , through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Term
myelin sheath
Definition
layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neuron; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next 
Term
action potential
Definition
neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. the action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane
Term
threshold
Definition
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Term
synape
Definition
junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. the tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. when released by the sending neuron neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor siteson the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuon will generate a neural impulse
Term
acetylcholine
Definition
neurotransmitter that, among its functions, triggers muscle contraction
Term
endorphins
Definition
"morphine within"- natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Term
nervous system
Definition
bodys speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Term
central nervous system
Definition
the brain and spinal cord
Term
peripheral nervous system
Definition
sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Term
nerves
Definition
neural "cables" containing many axons. these bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervoyus system with muscles, glands, and sense organs 
Term
sensory neurons
Definition
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptorsto the central nervous system
Term
interneurons
Definition
central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Term
motor neurons
Definition
neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous sytem to the muscles and glands
Term
somatic nervous system
Definition
division odf the peripheral nervous system thatcontrols the bodys skeletal muscles. also called skeletal nervous system
Term
autonomic nervous system
Definition
part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
Term
sympathetic nervous system
Definition
division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Term
parasympathetic nervous system
Definition
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body conserving its energy
Term
reflex
Definition
a simple automatic inborn responseto a sensory stimulus such as the knee-jerk response
Term
neural networks
Definition
interconnected neural cells. with experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibitsconnections that produce certain results. computer simulations of neural networks show analogous learning.
Term
lesion
Definition
tissue destruction. a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of the brain tissue
Term
electroencephalogram
Definition
amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface. these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
Term
ct scan
Definition
a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body. CAT SCAN 
Term
pet scan
Definition
visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while he brain performs a given task.
Term
mri
Definition
technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of sort tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain  
Term
brainstem
Definition
oldest part and centralcore ofthe brain, beginning where the spinal core swells asit enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Term
medulla
Definition
base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing
Term
reticular formation
Definition
nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Term
thalamus
Definition
brains sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Term
cerebellum
Definition
"little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance
Term
limbic system
Definition
doughnut-shaped sytem of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. includes hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
Term
amygdala
Definition
two almond-shaped neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the bodys ultimate control and information-processing center
Term
glial cells
Definition
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Term
frontal lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking ad muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.
Term
Parietal lobes
Definition
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; includes the sensory cortex
Term
Occipital lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which recieve visual information fromthe opposite visual field.
Term
Temporal lobes
Definition
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which recieves auditory information primarily fro the opposite ear.
Term
Motor cortex
Definition
the area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
Term
Sensory cortex
Definition
the rea t the front of the parietal lobes that registerand processes body sensations
Term
Association areas
Definition
Areasof the cerebral cortex tha are involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in highermental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speakng 
Term
Aphasia
Definition
Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area or to Wernicke's area.
Term
Broca's area
Definition
controls languge expression-an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movementsinvolved in speech
Term
Wernicke's area
Definition
controls language reception-a brain area ivolved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe
Term
plasticity
Definition
brains capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganizaton following damage (children mainly) and in experimens on the effects of experience on brain development
Term
corpus callosum
Definition
large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Term
split brain
Definition
condiion in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers between them
Term
endocrine system
Definition
the bodys "slow" chemicalcommunication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstrem
Term
hormones
Definition
chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, hat are produced in one tissue and affect another
Term
adrenal glands
Definition
pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. the adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrin and nonepinephrine which help to arouse the body in times of stress
Term
pituitary gland
Definition
endocrine systems most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, te pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
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