Term
|
Definition
| The psychological specialty focused on the physical and chemical changes that cause, and occur in response to, behavior and mental process. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A complex combination of cells whose primary function is to allow an organism to gain information about what is going on inside and outside the body and to respond appropriately. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Fundamental units of the nervous system; nerve cells. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Cells in the the nervous system that hold neurons together and help them communicate with one another. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Fibers that carry signals from the body of a neuron out to where communication occurs with other neurons. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Neuron fibers that receive signals from the axons of other neurons and carry those signals to the cell body. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The tiny gaps between neurons across which they communicate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An abrupt wave of electrochemical changes traveling down an axon when a neuron becomes depolarized. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A fatty substance that wraps around some axons and increases the speed of action potentials. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A short rest period between action potentials. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Chemicals that assist in the transfer of neurons from one neuron to another. |
|
|
Term
| Neural Receptors (Receptors) |
|
Definition
| Sites on the surface of a cell that allow only one type of neurotransmitter to fit into them, triggering a chemical response that may lead to an action potential. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The change in in the membrane potential of a neuron that received stimulation from another neuron. |
|
|
Term
| Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential |
|
Definition
| The change in the membrane potential that depolarizes the neuronal membrane, making the cell more likely to fire an action potential. |
|
|
Term
| Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential |
|
Definition
| A postsynaptic potential that hyperpolarizes the neuronal membrane, making a cell less likely to fire an action potential. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Neurons that operate together to perform complex functions. |
|
|
Term
| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) |
|
Definition
| The parts of the nervous system not housed in the bone. |
|
|
Term
| Central Nervous System (CNS) |
|
Definition
| The parts of the nervous system encased in the bone; specifically, the brain and the spinal cord. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The subsystem of the peripheral nervous system that transmits information from the senses to the central nervous system and carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Cells in the nervous system that provide information to the brain about the environment. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Cells in the nervous system that the brain uses to influence muscles and other organs to respond to the environment in some way. |
|
|
Term
| Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) |
|
Definition
| A subsystem of the peripheral nervous system that carries messages between the central nervous system and the heart, lungs, and other organs and glands. |
|
|
Term
| Sympathetic Nervous System |
|
Definition
| The subsystem of the autonomic nervous system that usually prepares the organism for vigorous activity. |
|
|
Term
| Parasympathetic Nervous System |
|
Definition
| The subsystem of the autonomic nervous system that typically influences activity related to the protection, nourishment, and growth of the body. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The part of the central nervous system within the spinal column that relays signals from peripheral senses to the brain and conveys messages from the brain to the rest of the body. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Simple, involuntary, unlearned behaviors directed by the spinal cord without instructions from the brain. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An extension of the spinal cord contained inside the skull where nuclei control blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and other vital functions. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An area in the hindbrain that controls blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and other vital functions. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A collection of cells and fibers in the hindbrain and midbrain that are involved in arousal and attention. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A small nucleus in the reticular formation that is involved in directing attention. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The part of the hindbrain whose main functions include controlling finely coordinated movements and storing memories about movement but which may also be involved in impulse control, emotion, and language. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A small structure between the hindbrain and forebrain that relays information from the eyes, ears, and skin and that controls certain types of automatic behaviors. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The most highly developed part of the brain; it is responsible for the most complex aspects of behavoir and mental life. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A forebrain structure that relays signals from most sense organs to higher levels in the brain and plays an important role in processing and making sense out o this information. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A structure in the forebrain that regulates hunger, thirst, and sex drive. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Nuclei in the hypothalamus that generate biological rhythms. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A structure in the forebrain, that among other things, associates features of the stimuli from two sensory modalities. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A structure in the forebrain associated with the formation of new memories. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A set of brain structures that play important roles in regulating emotion and memory. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The left and right halves of the rounded, outermost part of the brain. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The outer surface of the brain. |
|
|
Term
| Sensory Complex (Sensory Area) |
|
Definition
| The parts of the cerebral cortex that receive stimulus information from the senses. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The part of the cerebral cortex whose neurons control voluntary movements in specific parts of the body. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The parts of the cerebral cortex the receive information from more than on sense or that combine sensory and motor information to perform complex cognitive tasks. |
|
|
Term
| Lateral Dominance (Lateralization) |
|
Definition
| The tendency for one cerebral hemisphere to excel at a particular function or skill compared with the other hemisphere |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A massive bundle of fibers that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres and allows them to communicate with each other. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The ability to create new synapses and to charge the strength of synapses. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Specials cells in the nervous system that are capable of dividing to form a new tissue, including new neurons. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A neurotransmitter used by neurons in the peripheral and central nervous system in the control of functions ranging from muscle contraction and heart rate to digestion and memory. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as learning and mood regulation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A neurotransmitter used by cells in part of the brain involved in the regulation of sleep, mood, and eating. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A neurotransmitter used in the parts of the brain involved in regulating movement and experiencing pleasures. |
|
|
Term
| Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) |
|
Definition
| A neurotransmitter that inhibits the firing of neurons. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A class of neurotransmitters that bind to opiate receptors and moderate pain. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Cells that form organs called glands and that communicate with one another by secreting chemicals called hormones. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Organs that secrete hormones into the blood stream. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Chemicals secreted by a gland into the blood stream, which carries them throughout the body. |
|
|
Term
| Fight-or-Flight Syndrome (Fight-Flight Reaction) |
|
Definition
| A physical reaction triggered by the sympathetic nervous system that prepares the body to fight or to run from a threatening situation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Sleep stages 1,2,3, and 4; they are accompanied by gradually slower and deeper breathing, a calm and regular heartbeat, reduced blood pressure, and slower brain waves. (Stages 3 and 4 are called slow-wave sleep) |
|
|
Term
| Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep |
|
Definition
| A stage of sleep in which brain activity and other functions resemble the waking state but that is accompanied by rapid eye movements and virtual muscle paralysis. |
|
|
Term
| Circadian Rhythm (Human Biological Rhythm) |
|
Definition
| A cycle, such as waking and sleeping, that repeats about once a day. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A sleep disorder involving difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at night. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A daytime sleep disorder in which a person shifts abruptly from an active, often emotional, waking state into several minutes of REM sleep. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A sleep disorder in which people briefly but repetitively stop breathing during the night. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A frightening dream that takes place during REM sleep. |
|
|
Term
| Sleep Terror Disorder (Night Terrors) |
|
Definition
| The occurance of horrific dream images during stage 4 sleep, followed by rapid awakening in a state of intense fear. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A phenomenon primarily occurring in non-REM sleep in which people walk while asleep. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A sleep disorder in which a person does not lose muscle tone during REM sleep, allowing the person to act out dreams. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The experience of storylike sequences of images, sensations, and perceptions occurring mainly during REM sleep. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Awareness that a dream is a dream while it is happening. |
|
|
