unit 3 glossary

definitions of concepts, functions, etc.

central nervous system

comprises of the brain and spinal cord, it controls the body by processing and responding to sensory input from the peripheral nervous system and is responsible for outgoing motor messages

spinal cord

the bundle of nerve fibers connecting the brain with the peripheral nervous system

cerebellum

the area of the brain responsible for coordinating and remembering smooth, well-sequenced movements and coordination

cerebrum

the part of the brain most responsible for voluntary movement and complex thought such as perception, imagination, judgement, and decision-making

neurons

nerve cells, responsible for communication within the body

sensory neurons

neurons that carry information from the body and from the environment into the central nervous system; also known as effector neurons

motor neurons

neurons that communicate messages from the central nervous system to the particular muscles that an organism intends to move at any specific moment; also known as efferent neurons

efferent neurons are also known as

motor neurons

effector neurons are also known as

sensory neurons

monosynaptic reflex arc

a reflex arc made up of only two neurons (one sensory and one motor)

polysynaptic reflex arc

a reflex arc made up of multiple neurons with one or more interneurons connecting the sensory and motor neurons

peripheral nervous system

communicates information from the body to the central nervous system

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information into the central nervous system

autonomic nervous system

responsible for the communication between the body’s non-skeletal muscles and the internal organs and the glands that carry out bodily functions

sympathetic nervous system

a branch of the autonomic nervous system that activates the flight-fight-freeze response

parasympathetic nervous system

a branch of the autonomic nervous system, responsible for daily functioning

cerebral cortex

the multilayered outer surface of the cerebrum responsible for receiving information from the environment, controlling our responses and allowing complex voluntary movements and higher-order thinking processes

primary motor cortex

located at the rear of the frontal lobe; responsible for movement of the skeletal muscles

primary auditory cortex

located in the upper part of the temporal lobe; receives auditory information and stimulus

primary somatosensory cortex

located at the front of each parietal lobe; processes sensations such as touch, pressure, temperature, and pain

primary visual cortex

located in the occipital lobe; processes visual information and stimuli

broca’s area

located at the left frontal lobe; the speech production centre of the brain

wernicke’s area

part of the left temporal lobe; responsible for language reception and interpretation and for the creation of grammatically correct speech

geschwinds territory

provides a connection between the broca’s and we nicked area via the parietal lobe to enable speech

basal ganglia

a set of structures involved in the control of goal-directed voluntary movement

lambic system

structure of the brain consisting of the amygdala, hypothalamus, and midbrain; implicates in memory, emotion, behaviour, and motivation

hippocampus

a structure in the forebrain that plays a major role in controlling emotion and motivated behaviours eg eating and drinking

amygdala

located in the left temporal lobe; central to emotion, aggression, and implicit learning

prefrontal cortex

part of the cerebral cortex; connects brain regions that are involved in the processing and production of emotion

excitatory synapses

cause the target fell to become excited and more likely to fire and cause an action potential

inhibitory synapses

cause the target cell to become inhibited and less likely to fire and cause an action potential

neurotransmitters

chemicals that help communication across nerve systems

dendrite

a component of a nerve cell that receives information from other nerve cells and transports this information to the cell body

action potential

a momentary change in the electrical potential of a cell, which allows a nerve cell to transmit a signal or impulse towards another nerve cell

axon

the part of the neuron along which the electrochemical nerve impulse is transmitted

synapse

the connection between two neurons

glutamate

an excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning

GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid)

an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in arousal and sleep

acetylcholine

a neurotransmitter involved in muscle contractions, learning and memory, and REM sleep

epinephrine

a neurotransmitter AND hormone involved in stress response

norepinephrine

a neurotransmitter AND hormone involved in stress response, alertness, arousal, emotional regulation, and attention

dopamine

a neurotransmitter involved in thoughts, feelings, pleasure, motivation, and voluntary movement

serotonin

a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, sleep, eating, arousal, and pain

parkinson’s disease

a progressive neurological condition known to affect movement control

alzheimers disease

a disease that progressively destroys neurons in the brain, causing memory loss