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| The study of the connection between brain and behavior. |
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| The cells in the nervous system that receive, transmit, and integrate information. |
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| The language used by neurons to communicate. |
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| Cells that make the initial contact with the environment and carry those environmental messages toward the spinal chord and brain. |
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| Cells that convey information from one internal processing site to another (neuron to neuron). These type of neurons make no direct contact with the world. |
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| Cells that carry information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands that directly produce responses/behavior. |
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| Cells that perform a variety of functions such as removing waste, filling in empty space between neurons, and helping neurons communicate efficiently. These greatly outnumber neurons by about 10 to 1. |
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| Glial cells that wrap around portions of neurons, insulating and protecting the axon, and helping to speed up neural transmission. |
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| This automatic action requires no input from the brain and is primarily controlled by spinal cord pathways. |
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1- Dendrites
The tree-branch-like fiber that extends outward from a neuron and receive information from other neurons. |
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2- Soma
The cell body of neuron that processes messages. |
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4- Axon
The long tail of a cell that serves as transmitter. It sends messages to other neurons |
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| What is the flow inside a neuron? |
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| Dendrites->Soma->Axon->Terminal Buttons |
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| The tiny swellings at the end of the axon that contain chemicals important to neural transmission. Chemicals released by the terminal buttons pass the message on to the next neuron. |
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| The small gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the dendrite or cell body of another. |
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| The tiny electrical charge in place between the inside and outside of the resting neuron. |
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| What ions exist in neural transmission? |
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| Positively charged sodium and potassium ions and negatively charged chloride ions. |
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| The "all-or-none" electrical signal that travels down a neuron's axon. |
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| When a message is excitatory and the cell membrane changes,ion channels open up, and sodium ions flow into the cell. |
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| Chemical messengers that are released from the axon, spill out into the synapse, and relay information from one neuron to the next. |
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| The most common neurotransmitter in the brain. Glutamate is usually excitatory and is involved in much of the brain's functioning including memory. |
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| The neurotransmitter that acts as the primary transmitter between motor neurons and muscle cells-leads to muscle contraction. |
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| A neurotransmitter that has been linked to reward and pleasure systems in the brain. |
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| A neurotransmitter that has been linked to sleep, dreaming, and general arousal. |
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| Gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) |
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Definition
| A neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating anxiety. |
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| A chemical that acts as the brain's natural pain-killers as they are released under conditions of stress or exertion. |
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| The amount of time in between when one action potential is fired and when more action potentials can be generated. |
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| What parts of the body does the central nervous system contain? |
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| The brain and the spinal cord |
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| What is the peripheral nervous system and what subsystems does it contain? |
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| The network of nerves that links the central nervous system to the rest of the body, and contains the autonomic and somatic systems. |
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| A group of nerves that transmit information to the brain and connect the skeletal muscles to initiate movement- a part of the peripheral nervous system. |
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| A group of nerves that control the bod's automatic needs (heart rate, digestion, etc.)- a part of the peripheral nervous system. Also helps the body handle and recover emergencies. |
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| Electroencephalograph (EEG) |
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Definition
| A device that monitors and stimulates the gross electrical activity of the brain |
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| Computerized tomography scan (CT scan) |
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| A scanner that uses computers ad x-rays to construct detailed anatomical maps of the living brain. |
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| Position emission tomography (PET) |
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| This method is used to detect how specific tasks activate different areas of the brain. It measures radioactive substances absorbed in the brain. |
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| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) |
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Definition
| This device uses magnetic fields and radio wave pulses to construct 3D images of the brain. "Functional" MRI's can be used to map changes in blood oxygen due to task activity. |
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| The most primitive part of the brain that sits where the spinal cord and brain merge. Structures function as basic life-support system, and no creative thoughts occur here. |
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| What structures are in the hindbrain? |
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| Medulla, pons, and reticular formation |
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| A hindbrain structure that sits at the base of the brain and is involved in coordination of complex motor skills. |
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| The portion that lies deep within the brain atop the hindbrain. Its structures include the tectum, superior colliculus, and inferior colliculus. This serves to relay visual and auditory information as well as coordinate reactions to sensory events. |
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| This is the outer portion of the brain, including the cerebral cortex and the limbic system. |
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| A structure of the outer layer of the forebrain that controls complex though and higher level thinking. |
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| A part of the forebrain that acts as a relay station that gathers input from the senses. |
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| A part of the forebrain structure that may be involved in motivational activities such as eating, drinking, and sexual activities. |
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| A system of structures that may be involved in emotional behaviors (the amygdala) and memory (the hippocampus). |
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| The largest lobe in the cerebral cortex that is located on top of the brain. It contains the motor cortex and may be involved in higher-level though processes. |
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| Contains the somatosensory cortex thought to be the region in which we experience touch. It is located on the top middle portion of the brain. |
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| Involved in certain aspects of speech and language perception. It is located on the sides of the brain. |
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| Located at the back of the brain, this is the control center for visual processing. |
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| Portions of the frontal lobe that light up when we think about or see others engage in a behavior |
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| The group of nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres (right and left) and allows information to pass from one side to the other. |
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| What is the endocrine system? |
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| This is a network of glands that uses the bloodstream to carry information. It regulates growth and other internal functions. |
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| A type of chemical released into the blood by the endocrine glands to help control and regulate internal functions. |
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| A kind of gland that controls the release of hormones in the body. It in-turn controls many important hormonal functions in the body. |
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| In the "survival of the fittest" this is a type of trait that has been selected by nature as it increases the reproductive fitness of the organism. |
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| Chromosomes that contain instructions for influencing and creating inherited characteristics. |
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| The actual genetic information inherited from parents. |
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| An individual's observable characteristics, controlled much by the genes but influenced also by the environment. |
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| A change in genes that occurs during the gene replication process. |
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| The comparison among biological relatives are studied to reveal the role heredity plays in physical or psychological traits. |
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| The study of identical twins versus fraternal twins in order to determine the role heredity and environment play in psychological traits. |
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