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| A Branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behaviour. |
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| The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. |
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| Chemical messengers that cross the synapse gap between neurons. When by releases by the sending neurons, they travel across the synapse gap and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influence whether that neuron will generate a neuron impulse. |
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| A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron. |
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| Peripheral nervous system (PNS) |
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| The sensory and motor neurons that connects to the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body. |
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| Bundle axons that form neutral “cables” connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs. |
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| The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscle. Also called the skeletal nervous system. |
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| The part of the PNS that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms. |
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| Sympathetic nervous system |
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| The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in the stressful situations. |
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| Parasympathetic nervous system |
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| The division of an automatic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy. |
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| A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk-response. |
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| A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that helps arouse the body in time of stress. |
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| The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, this gland regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. |
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| Tissues destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally of experimentally caused destruction of the brain tissue. |
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| Electroencephalogram (EEG) |
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Definition
| An amplified recording of the waves of electric activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. |
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| PET (positron emission tomography) scan: |
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Definition
| A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive from of glucose while the brain performs a given task. |
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| MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) |
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Definition
| A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produces computer generated image of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy. |
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| A technique for revealing blood flow, and therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MFI scans fMRI scans show brain function. |
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| The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal core swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for the automatic survival functions. |
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| The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing. |
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| A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal. |
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| The brain’s sensory switchboard, located at the top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving area in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. |
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| The “little brain” at eh rear of the brainstem; functions includes processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance. |
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| Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. |
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| Two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion. |
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| A neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward. |
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| The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center. |
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| Cells in the nervous system that supports, nourish, and protect neurons. |
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| Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movement and in making plans and judgments. |
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| Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movement and in making plans and judgments. |
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| Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at eh top of the head and towards to rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position. |
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| Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at eh back of the head; including areas that receive information from the vision field. |
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| Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory area, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear. |
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| An area at the rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement. |
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| Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations. |
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| Area of the cerebral cortex that is not involved in primarily motor and sensory functions; rather they are involved in high mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking. |
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| The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience. |
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| The formation of new neurons. |
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| A large band of neural fibers connecting to 2 brain hemispheres and caring messages between them. |
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| A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s 2 hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them. |
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| A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. |
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Definition
| They are neurons that carry incoming info from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. |
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| Neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and the glands. |
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| Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and the motor outputs. |
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Definition
| The bushy branchy extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body. |
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| The extension of a neuron ending in branching terminal fibers, thro which messages mass to other muscles or glands. |
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| A layer of fatty tissue segmentally incasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulses hops from the node to the next. |
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Definition
| A neurons impulses; a brief electric charge that travels down an axon. |
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| Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine (Ach) |
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Definition
| Enables muscle action, learning, and memory. |
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| Neurotransmitter: Dopamine |
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Definition
| A neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion. Excess receptor activity of this neurotransmitter is linked to schizophrenia. Starved of this neurotransmitter, the brain produces the tremors and decreased mobility of Parkinson’s disease. |
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| Neurotransmitter: Serotonin |
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Definition
| A neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal. Undersupply linked to depression. Prozac and some other antidepressant drugs raise this neurotransmitter levels. |
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| Neurotransmitter: Norepinephrine |
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Definition
| A neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal. Undersupply of this neurotransmitter can depress mood. |
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| Neurotransmitter: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) |
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Definition
| A major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Undersupply of this neurotransmitter is linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia. |
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| Neurotransmitter: Glutamate |
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Definition
| A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory. Oversupply of this neurotransmitter can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures (which is why some people avoid MSG (monosodium glutamate) in food. |
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Definition
| the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems. |
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| Central nervous system (CNS) |
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Definition
| the brain and the spinal chord. |
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Definition
| a molecule that is similar enough to a neurotransmitter to mimic its effects, or to block its reuptake. (Often a drug or noxious chemical.) |
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| a molecule that blocks a neurotransmitter’s functioning. It is similar enough to the neurotransmitter to occupy its receptor site and block its action, but not similar enough to stimulate the receptor. (Often a drug or noxious chemical.) |
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Definition
| natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. (Means “morphine within”.) |
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