Studied by 3 people
Action potential
Electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon.
Adrenal gland
Sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response.
Agonist drug
Drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter.
All-or-none
Phenomenon that an incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation.
Allele
Specific version of a gene.
Amygdala
Structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories.
Antagonist
Drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter.
Auditory cortex
Strip of cortex in the temporal lobe responsible for processing auditory information.
Autonomic nervous system
Controls our internal organs and glands.
Axon
Major extension of the soma.
Biological perspective
View that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems.
Broca’s area
Region in the left hemisphere essential for language production.
Central nervous system (CNS)
Brain and spinal cord.
Cerebellum
Hindbrain structure that controls balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills; important in processing some types of memory.
Cerebral cortex
Surface of the brain associated with our highest mental capabilities.
Chromosome
Long strand of genetic information.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan
Imaging technique that coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area.
Corpus callosum
Thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres.
Dendrite
Branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs.
Diabetes
Disease related to insufficient insulin production.
Dominant allele
Allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp.
Endocrine system
Series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones.
Epigenetics
Study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes.
Fight or flight response
Activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity.
Forebrain
Largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and limbic system.
Fraternal twins
Twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm.
Frontal lobe
Part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time.
Gene
Sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics.
Genetic environmental correlation
View of gene-environment interaction asserting our genes affect our environment and vice versa.
Glial cell
Nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons.
Gonad
Secretes sexual hormones important for reproduction and mediating sexual motivation and behavior.
Gyrus (plural gyri)
Bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex.
Hemisphere
Left or right half of the brain.
Heterozygous
Consisting of two different alleles.
Hindbrain
Division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.
Hippocampus
Structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory.
Homeostasis
State of equilibrium in biological conditions.
Homozygous
Consisting of two identical alleles.
Hormone
Chemical messenger released by endocrine glands.
Hypothalamus
Forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and homeostatic processes.
Identical twins
Twins that develop from the same sperm and egg.
Lateralization
Concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions.
Limbic system
Collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory.
Longitudinal fissure
Deep groove in the brain’s cortex.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Imaging technique using magnetic fields to produce pictures of tissue.
Medulla
Hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing and heart rate.
Membrane potential
Difference in charge across the neuronal membrane.
Midbrain
Division of the brain located between the forebrain and hindbrain.
Motor cortex
Strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement.
Mutation
Sudden, permanent change in a gene.
Myelin sheath
Fatty substance that insulates axons
