CH 2

_________ are also called neural impulses.

Action potentials

Who was a pioneer in the discovery of the language areas of the brain?

Paul Broca

__________ is the brain's ability to adapt and reorganize itself following trauma or surgical alteration.

Plasticity

In a split-brain research study, what will happen when a pencil is presented in the patient's visual field?

The patient will be able to say "pencil" when the pencil is presented to the right visual field, but not when presented to the left visual field.

In a neuron, _________ is to sending as _________ is to receiving.

axon; dendrite

Which part of the brain controls balance and coordination?

cerebellum

Split-brain patients are the result of an operation that severs the

corpus callosum

Adoptee studies describe efforts to

examine similarity between adopted children and their biological or adoptive parents.

Agonists ________, whereas antagonists _________.

increase the availability of neurotransmitters; block receptor sites.

Broca's area is located in the ________ lobe, while Wernicke's area is located in the _________ lobe.

left frontal; left temporal

The fundamental building block of the nervous system is the _________.

neuron

A _______ is an automatic, unlearned response to a stimulus.

reflex

Melatonin, which is secreted by the pineal gland, plays a role in regulating

sleep

All of the following are components of a neuron EXCEPT the

synapse

The term lateralization refers to

the division of functions between the right and left hemispheres.