L&M Chapter 2

Nervous System

System of tissue for monitoring sensations and movement and mainting function of most internal organs

Neuron

A cell that is one of the main compontents of the nervous system

Central Nervous System

Brain and Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System

transmits signals from sensory recpetors to the CNS and carries commands from CNS to muscles

Cerebral Cortex

Tissue that covers top and sides of the brain; Involved in storage and processing sensory outputs

Frontal Lobe

Front of the brain; Enbales planning and perform actvities

Partiel Lobe

Top of the brain; process somatosensory (touch) inputs

Temporal Lobe

Sides of the brain; Important for language and auditory processing, learning and forming new memories

Occipital Lobe

Rear of the brain; Visual Processing

Cerebellum

Below cerbral cortex in the back of the head; Regulates and coordinates complex voulantary muscular movement, classical conditioning of motor reflex respnses

Brainstem

A group of structures that connect the rest of the brain to the spinal cord; regulates automatic functions such as breathing and body temp

Phrenology

An obsolete field of study that attempted to dertermine mental ablties shape and size

Structural Neuroimaging

Anitomical Imaging of the brain

Lesion

damage caused by injury or illness

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Records changes in magnetic field

Diffusion Tensor Imgaing (DTI)

A type of MRI that measures connections in brain regions

Dendrite

On a neuron an extension that is speaclized to receive signals from other neurons

Cell Body

Central part of the prototypical neuron; nucleus and intragrates signals from all the dendrites/ aka Soma

Axon

the output extention of a neuron; transmits signals to other neurons or muscles

Glia

cells types that provide functional/structural support to neurons ; some contribute to changes in connections between neurons

Plasticity

The capacity of brain structure to change over time

Neural Connectivity

The connections between neurons through which brain systems interact

Hebbian Learning

The principle that learning involves strengthing the connections of coactive neurons

Reflex

an involuntary and automatic (unlearned) response

Functional Neuroimaging

Techniques (such as fMRI) for observing the activity or function of a living brain

Single Cell recording

Use of an implant electrode to detect electrical activity in a single cell

Synapse

A narrow gap between two neurons; across which chemical messages can be transmitted

Presynaptic

On the sending side of a synapse

Postsynaptic

In the receiving side of a synapse

Receptor

A molecule located on the surface of a neuron, to which multiple neurotransmitter can bind to; when activated it can effects can be intiated in the neuron

Neuromodulator

Activates a large number of neurons rather than just one synapse

Synaptic Plasticity

The ablity for synapse to change as a result of experince

Long Term Poteniation (LTP)

Process in which synaptic transmission becomes more effective as a result of recent activity; With LTD, LTP repersents a form of synaptic placisty that could be the neural mechinism for learning

Long Term Depression (LTD)

Process in which synaptic transmission becomes less effective as a result of recent activity;With LTP, LTD repersents a form of synaptic placisty that could be the neural mechinism for learning