chapter 2 review
Frontal lobe
the parts of the cerebral cortex, located at the front of the cerebral hemispheres, that are considered the "executive center" of the brain because of their role in higher mental functions.
Pariental lobe
the parts of the cerebral cortex, located on the side of each cerebral hemisphere, that process bodily sensations.
Soma
Cell body containing the nucleus. Performs metabolic, or life sustaining, functions of the cell. Part of the Neuron.
Excitatory neurotransmitters
Makes an action potential more likely to occur.
Adoptee studies
Studies that examine whether adoptees are more similar to their biological or adoptive parents with respect to their psychological traits or to the disorders they develop.
Nature-nurture debate
The debate in psychology about the relative influences of genetics and environment in determining behavior.
Nerve
A bundle of axons from different neurons that transmit neural impulses. Can contain more than a million axons.
EEG (electroencephalograph)
A device that recorded electrical activity in the brain.
Zygote
A fertilized egg cell
Limbic system (Forebrain)
A formation of structures in the forebrain that includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and parts of the thalamus and hypothalamus.
Epilepsy
A neurological disorder characterized by seizures that involve sudden, violent discharges of electrical activity in the brain.
Parkinson's disease
A progressive brain disease involving destruction of dopamine producing brain cells and characterized by muscle tremors, shakiness, rigidity, and difficulty in walking and controlling fine body movements.
Motor cortex
A region of the frontal lobes involved in regulating body movement.
Amygdala (Limbic system) (Forebrain)
A set of almond-shaped structures in the limbic system believed to play an important role in aggression, rage, and fear.
Receptor site
A site on the receiving neuron in which neurotransmitters dock.
Hypothalamus (Forebrain)
A small, pea-sized structure in the forebrain that helps regulate many vital bodily functions, including body temperature and reproduction, as well as emotional states, aggression, and responses to stress.
Thalamus (Limbic system) (Forebrain)
A structure in the forebrain that serves as a relay station for sensory information and that plays a key role in regulating states of wakefulness and sleep.
Hindbrain (cerebellum)
A structure in the hindbrain involved in controlling coordination and balance.
Hindbrain (medulla)
A structure in the hindbrain involved in regulating basic life functions, such as heartbeat and respiration.
Hindbrain (pons)
A structure in the hindbrain involved in regulating states of wakefulness and sleep.
Hippocampus (Limbic system) (Forebrain)
A structure in the limbic system involved in memory formation.
Refractory period
A temporary state in which a neuron is unable to fire in response to continued stimulation.
Reticular formation or RAS (reticular activating system)
A weblike formation of neurons involved in regulating states of attention, alertness, and arousal.
Action potential
An abrupt change from a negative to a positive charge of a nerve cell, also called a neural impulse. typically begins at the juncture between the soma and the axon, which is called the axon hillock.
Broca's area
An area of the left frontal lobe involved in speech.
Wernicke's area
An area of the left temporal lobe involved in processing written and spoken language
Basal ganglia (Forebrain)
An assemblage of neurons lying in the forebrain that is important in controlling movement and coordination.
PET (positron emission tomography)
An imaging technique in which a radioactive sugar tracer is injected into the bloodstream and used to measure levels of activity of various parts of the brain.
Genotype
An organisms genetic code
Vesicles
Are located in the axons terminal buttons and release molecules of neurotransmitters into the synaptic gap.
Association areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that piece together sensory information to form meaningful perceptions of the world and perform higher mental functions.
Electrical stimulation
As a method of investigating brain functioning, a process of electrically stimulating particular parts of the brain to observe the effects on behavior.
Electrical recording
As a method of investigating brain functioning, a process of recording the electrical changes that occur in a specific neuron of groups of neurons in the brain in relation to particular activities or behaviors.
Glands
Body organs or structures that produce secretions called hormones. Messages are relayed to these by motor neurons.
Neuromodulators
Chemicals released in the nervous system that influence the sensitivity of the receiving neuron to neurotransmitters.
Antagonist
Drugs that block the action of neurotransmitters by occupying the receptor sites in which the neurotransmitters dock.
Agonist
Drugs that either increase the availability or effectiveness of neurotransmitters or mimic their actions.
Lesioning
In studies of brain functioning, the intentional destruction of brain tissue in order to observe the effects on behavior.
Concordance rates
In twin studies, the percentages of cases in which both members of twin pairs share the same trait or disorder.
Aphasia
Loss or impairment of the ability to understand or express language.
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
Makes an action potential less likely to occur.
Endorphins
Natural chemicals released in the brain that have painkilling and pleasure inducing effects.
Interneuron
Nerve cells within the central nervous system that process information. Also called associative neurons. Are the most common type of neuron in the nervous system. They connect neurons to neurons. In the spinal cord, they connect sensory neurons to motor neurons. In the brain, they form complex assemblages of interconnected nerve cells that process information from sensory organs and control higher mental functions, such as planning and thinking.
Motor neuron
Neurons that convey neural impulses from the central nervous system to muscles and glands. Also called efferent neurons. Convey messages from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles that control the movements of your body. They also convey messages to your glands, causing them to release hormones.
Mirror neurons
Neurons that fire both when an action is performed and when the same action is merely observed
Sensory neuron
Neurons that transmit information from sensory organs, muscles, and inner organs to the spinal cord and brain. Also called afferent neurons. Transmit information about the outside world to the spinal cord and brain. page 42
Resting potential
The electrical potential across the cell membrane of a neuron in its resting state. A greater concentration of positively charged sodium ions remains outside the cell.
Enzymes
Organic substances that produce certain chemical changes in other organic substances through a catalytic action.
Myelin sheath
Part of the Neuron. Axons of many neurons are covered with these, which are a type of insulating layer that helps speed transmission of neural impulses. Made up of glial cells.
Nucleus
Part of the Neuron. Inside the Soma, or cell body.
Axon
Part of the Neuron. Long cable projecting from the soma. Carries neural impulses to the terminal buttons.
Terminal button
Part of the Neuron. Swellings at ends of axons. Release chemicals, called neurotransmitters, that carry neural messages to adjacent neurons.
Split-brain patients
People with a corpus callosum that has been surgically severed.
Nodes of ranvier
Periodic gap in the insulating sheath on the axon of certain neurons that serves to facilitate the rapid conduction of nerve impulses. Gaps in the myelin sheath that create non insulated areas along the axon.
Chromosomes
Rodlike structures in the cell nucleus that house an individual's genes.
Hormones
Secretions from endocrine glands that help regulate bodily processes.
Glial cells
Small but numerous cells in the nervous system that support neurons and that form the myelin sheath found on many axons.
Synapse
Space between neurons
Twin studies
Studies that examine the degree to which concordance rates between twin pairs for particular disorders or characteristics vary in relation to whether the twins are identical or fraternal.
Brainstem
The "stalk" in the lower part of the brain that connects the spinal cord to higher regions of the brain.
Plasticity
The ability of the brain to adapt itself after trauma or surgical alteration.
Prefrontal cortex
The area of the frontal lobe that lies in front of the motor cortex and that is involved in higher mental functions, including thinking, planning, impulse control, and weighing the consequences of behavior.
DNA
The basic chemical material in chromosomes that carries an individual's genetic code.
Neurotransmitter
The chemical agents or messengers that carry the message across the synapse.
Forebrain
The largest and uppermost part of the brain; contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex.
Cerebrum (Forebrain)
The largest mass of the forebrain, consisting of two cerebral hemispheres.
Phenotype
The observable physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism, representing the influences of the genotype and environment.
Midbrain
The part of the brain that lies on top of the hindbrain and below the forebrain.
Somatosensory cortex
The part of the parental love that processes information about touch and pressure on the skin, as well as the position of the parts of our bodies as we move about.
Temporal lobe
The parts of the cerebral cortex lying beneath and somewhat behind the frontal lobes that are involved in processing auditory stimuli.
Occipital lobe
The parts of the cerebral cortex, located at the back of both cerebral hemispheres, that process visual stimuli.
All of none principle
The principle by which neurons will fire only when a change in the level of excitation occurs that is sufficient to produce an action potential.
Reuptake
The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the transmitting neuron.
Left and right Cerebral hemispheres (Forebrain)
The right and left masses of the cerebrum, which are joined by the corpus callosum.
Corpus callosum (Forebrain)
The thick bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.
Cerebral cortex (Forebrain)
The wrinkled, outer layer of gray matter that covers the cerebral hemispheres; controls higher mental functions, such as thought and language.
Polygenic traits
Traits that are influenced by multiple genes interacting in complex ways.