Ch. 6-8 Psychology, McGraw Hill

neurotransmitters

Chemical substances that are stored in very tiny sacs within the terminal buttons and involved in transmitting information across a synaptic gap to the next neuron.

Adrenal glands

Glands at the top of each kidney that are responsible for regulating moods, energy level, and the ability to cope with stress.

resting potential

In an inactive neuron, the voltage between the inside and outside of the axon wall. -Potassium ions are released from the axon, polarizing/unbalancing the charge.

cerebellum

It extends from the rear of the hindbrain. It consists of two rounded structures thought to play important roles in motor coordination. Some damage to this area creates jerky movements. Extensive damage paralyzes. Alcohol impairs this area.

hindbrain

Located at the skull's rear, the lowest portion of the brain, consisting of the medulla, cerebellum, and pons.

midbrain

Located between the hindbrain and forebrain, an area in which many nerve-fiber systems ascend and descend to connect the higher and lower portions of the brain; in particular, the midbrain relays information between the brain and the eyes and ears. The reticular formation is found here.

neuron

One of two types of cells in the nervous system; neurons are the nerve cells that handle the information-processing function.

Nerve cell bodies, dendrites, muscles, glands.

Receptor sites sensitive to neurotransmitters.

association cortex

Sometimes called association areas, the region of the cerebral cortex that is the site of the highest intellectual functions, such as thinking and problem solving. Frontal lobe location.

200 mph

Speed of electric impulses through neurons.

parietal lobes

Structures at the top and toward the rear of the head that are involved in registering spatial location, attention, and motor control.

temporal lobes

Structures in the cerebral cortex that are located just above the ears and are involved in hearing, language processing, and memory.

occipital lobes

Structures located at the back of the head that respond to visual stimuli.

endocrine system

The body system consisting of a set of glands that regulate the activities of certain organs by releasing their chemical products into the bloodstream.

somatic nervous system

The body system consisting of the sensory nerves(afferent), whose function is to convey information from the skin and muscles to the CNS about conditions such as pain and temperature, and the motor nerves(efferent), whose function is to tell muscles what to do.

autonomic nervous system

The body system that takes messages to and from the body's internal organs, monitoring such processes as breathing, heart rate, and digestion. Contains the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord.

forebrain

The brain's largest division and its most foreward part. It contains the limbic system (amygdala and hippocampus), thalamus, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex.

plasticity

The brain's special capacity for change.

action potential

The brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon. -Sodium ions rush in from the nerve cell to the axon making the charge non-polar/balanced. -also known as nerve impulse

corpus callosum

The large bundle of axons that connects the brain's two hemispheres, responsible for relaying information between the two sides.

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The network of nerves that connects the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body. Contains the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

neocortex

The outermost part of the cerbral cortex, making up 80 percent of the cortex in the human brain. "New brain"

sympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body.

parasympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body.

frontal lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead, involved in personality, intelligence, and the control of voluntary muscles.

all or nothing principle

The principle that once the electrical impulse reaches a certain level of intensity (its threshold), it fires and moves all the way down the axon without losing any intensity.

glial cells

The second of two types of cells in the nervous system; glial cells provide support, nutritional benefits, and other functions and keep neurons running smoothly.

brain stem

The stemlike brain area that includes much of the hindbrain (it does not include the cerebellum) and the midbrain; it connects with the spinal cord at its lower end and then extends upward to encase the reticular formation in the midbrain.

hippocampus

The structure in the limbic system that has a special role in the storage of memories.

medulla

This begins where the spinal cord enters the skull. It controls many vital functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and reflexes. A hit in the head here causes a black out.

dendrites

Treelike fibers projecting from a neuron, which receive information and orient it toward the neuron's cell body.

neurons and glia

Two types of cells in the nervous system.

left hemisphere

complex language processing

thalamus

forebrain structures that sits at the top of the brain stem in the brain's central core and serves as an important relay station.

basal ganglia

large neron clusters located above the thalamus and under the cerebral cortex that work with the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex to control and coordinate voluntary movements

Broca's area

left hemisphere, speaking language

occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal

lobes of the cerebral cortex of the brain

reticular formation

-"silk stocking" around the pons and medulla, semi permeable, responds to danger and odd noises, filters out "normal," involved in muscle control and cardiac activity. -A system in the midbrain comprising a diffuse collection of neurons involved in stereotyped patterns of behavior such as walking, sleeping, and turning to attend to a sudden noise.

acetylcholine

-Helps movement, learning, memory -excitatory -Alzheimers deficient in this.

axon

-The part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body toward other cells.

cell body

-The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus, which directs the manufacture of substances that the the neuron needs for growth and maintenance. -collects and combines incoming information -also called the soma

synapses

-Tiny spaces between neurons; the gaps between neurons are referred to as synaptic gaps. -not a part of the actual neuron, TINY SPACES BETWEEN NEURONS

endorphins

-controls pain and pleasure -natural opiates -morphine and codeine mimic these -acupuncture

amygdala

-emotional awareness and expression -Is active in response to unpredictable stimuli. -PTSD An almond-shaped structure within the base of the temporal lobe that is involved in the discrimination of objects that are necessary for the organism's survival, such as appropriate food, mates, and social rivals.

glutamate

-excitatory -learning and memory -seizures and migraines are the result of excess of this neurotransmitter -effects anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer, and Parkinson

gaba

-inhibitory, brake pedal -low levels linked with anxiety -valium, alcohol increase it's effects

norepinephrine

-inhibits CNS -excites heart, intestines, and urogenital tract -arousal, controls alertness -Too little is associated with depression -Excess triggers agitation: amphetamines and cocaine

oxytocin

-love, social bonding, stress -mothers who have just given birth -lactation -sexual orgasm

dopamine

-movement, attention, learning, sleep, mood, discernment -Parkinsons indicates low levels of this -schizophrenia indicates high levels of this -elderly falling indicates low levels of this -cocaine and amphetamines activate its receptors

serotonin

-sleep, depression, attention, learning -depression associated with low levels of this -Prozac keeps it in the synapse longer

pons

A bridge in the hindbrain that connects the cerebellum and the brain stem. It contains several clusters of fibers involved in sleep and arousal, balance, and hearing.

pancreas

A dual-purpose gland under the stomach that performs both digestive and endocrine functions.

myelin sheath

A layer of fat cells that encases and insulates most axons.

limbic system

A loosely connected network of structures under the cerebral cortex, important in both memory and emotion. Its two principal structures are the amygdala and the hippocampus.

pituitary gland

A pea-sized gland just beneath the hypothalamus that controls growth and regulated other glands.

motor cortex

A region at the rear of the frontal lobes that processes information about voluntary movement.

somatosensory cortex

A region in the cerebral cortex that processes information about body sensations, located at the front of the parietal lobes.

hypothalamus

A small forebrain structure located just velow the thalamus, that monitors three pleasurable activities-eating, drinking, and sex-as well as emotion, stress, and reward.

efferent neuron

Also called motor nerves; nerves that carry information out of the brain and spinal cord to other areas of the body.

afferent nerves

Also called sensory nerves; nerves that carry information about the external environment to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors.

genotype

An individual's genetic heritage; his or her actual genetic material.

phenotype

An individual's observable characteristics.

hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain

Basic brain division

axon terminals

Branches at the end of the axon that contain tiny pouches, or sacs, called synaptic vesicles which contain neurotransmitters.

Wernicke's area

right hemisphere, understanding language

right hemisphere

simple comprehension, spatial, visual, recognition, emotion