Term
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Definition
| individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information. |
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Term
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Definition
| cell body; contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells. |
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Definition
| the parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information. |
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Definition
| a long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands. |
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Definition
| insulating material that encases some axons. |
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Definition
| small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters. |
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Definition
| junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another. |
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Definition
| cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons. |
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Definition
| stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive. |
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Term
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Definition
| very brief shift in a neuron's electrical charge that travels along an axon. |
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Term
| Absolute Refractory Period |
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Definition
| minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin |
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Term
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Definition
| microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron. |
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Definition
| chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another. |
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Term
| Post-Synaptic Potential (PSP) |
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Definition
| voltage change at a receptor site on a post-synaptic cell membrane. |
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Term
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Definition
| positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that the post-synaptic neuron will fire action potentials. |
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Term
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Definition
| negative voltage shift that decreases the likelihood that the post-synaptic neuron will fire action potentials. |
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Term
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Definition
| process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane. |
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Term
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Definition
| chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter. |
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Term
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Definition
| chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter. |
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Term
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Definition
| internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects. |
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Term
| Peripheral Nervous System |
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Definition
| made up of all those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord. |
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Term
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Definition
| bundles of neuron fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system. |
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Term
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Definition
| made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors. |
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Definition
| axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body. |
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Term
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Definition
| axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body. |
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Term
| Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) |
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Definition
| made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands. |
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Term
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Definition
| branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies. |
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Term
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Definition
| branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources. |
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Term
| Central Nervous System (CNS) |
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Definition
| consists of the brain and the spinal cord. |
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Term
| Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) |
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Definition
| nourishes the brain and provides a protective cushion for it. |
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Term
| Electroencephalograph (EEG) |
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Definition
| a devise that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp. |
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Term
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Definition
| destroying a piece of the brain. |
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Term
| Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB) |
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Definition
| sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate (activate) it. |
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Term
| Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) |
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Definition
| permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain. |
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Term
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Definition
| includes the cerebellum, the medulla, and the pons. |
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Term
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Definition
| segment of the brainstem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain. |
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Term
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Definition
| largest and most complex region of the brain, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum. |
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Term
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Definition
| structure in the forebrain through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex. |
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Term
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Definition
| structure near the base of the forebrain that is involved in the regulation of basic biological needs. |
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Term
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Definition
| loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the boarder between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical area (the seat of emotion). |
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Term
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Definition
| convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum. |
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Term
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Definition
| right and left halves of the cerebrum. |
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Definition
| structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres. |
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Term
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Definition
| bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures. |
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Term
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Definition
| left-right imbalances between the cerebral hemispheres in the speed of visual or auditory processing. |
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Term
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Definition
| consists of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning |
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Term
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Definition
| chemical substances released by the endocrine glands. |
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Term
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Definition
| releases a great variety of hormones that fan around the body, stimulating actions in the other endocrine glands (master gland). |
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Definition
| interdisciplinary field that studies the influence of genetic factors on behavioral traits. |
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Term
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Definition
| strands of DNA molecules that carry genetic information. |
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Term
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Definition
| single cell formed by the union of a sperm and an egg. |
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Term
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Definition
| DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission. |
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Term
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Definition
| two genes in a specific pair are the same. |
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Term
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Definition
| two genes in a specific pair are different. |
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Term
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Definition
| gene that is expressed when paired genes are different. |
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Definition
| gene that is masked when paired genes are different. |
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Definition
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Definition
| the ways in which a person's genotype in manifested in observable characteristics. |
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Definition
| characteristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes. |
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Definition
| researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much the resemble one another on a specific trait. |
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Term
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Definition
| researchers assess hereditary influence by comparing the resemblance of identical twins and fraternal twins with respect to a trait. |
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Term
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Definition
| emerge from one zygote that splits for unknown reasons. |
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Term
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Definition
| result when two eggs are fertilized simultaneously by different sperm cells. |
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Term
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Definition
| assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and their adoptive parents. |
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Term
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Definition
| process of determining the location and chemical sequence of specific genes on specific chromosomes. |
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Term
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Definition
| reproductive success of an individual organism relative tot he average reproductive success in the population. |
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Term
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Definition
| posits that heritable characteristics that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations. |
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Term
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Definition
| inherited characteristic that increased in a population because it helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction during the time that it emerged. |
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Term
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Definition
| sum of an individual's own reproductive success plus the effects the organism has on the reproductive success of related others. |
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Term
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Definition
| limited time span in the development of an organism when it is optimal for certain capacities to emerge. |
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