CH 3 PSYCH

acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter important for muscle movement and learning/memory.

action potential

A quick

agonist

A drug or substance that increases the effect of a neurotransmitter.

analgesic

A substance that reduces or blocks pain.

antagonist

A drug or substance that decreases or blocks the effect of a neurotransmitter.

aphasia

A language disorder

autonomic nervous system

The part of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions like heartbeat

axon

The long

Broca's area

A region

central nervous system (CNS)

Made up of the brain and spinal cord.

cerebellum

The "little brain" near the brainstem

corpus callosum

A thick band of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain

corpus callosotomy

A surgical procedure that cuts the corpus callosum

cortex

The wrinkly outer layer of the brain (cerebral cortex)

dendrite

Branching parts of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.

dorsolateral

Refers to the upper and side parts of something

frontal lobe

The front part of the brain involved in planning

fusiform face area (FFA)

A specific region

glial cells

Brain cells that support

hemisphere

One of the two halves of the brain (left or right).

hypothalamus

A brain region that controls basic drives (like hunger

interneuron

A type of neuron that acts as a connector

ion channels

Tiny pores in the neuron's membrane that allow charged particles (ions) to pass through

limbic system

A group of brain structures involved in emotion

medulla

The lowest part of the brainstem

morphine

A powerful opioid pain reliever; it mimics natural endorphins.

myelin

A fatty substance that wraps around axons like insulation

neglect

A condition

neuromuscular junction

The specialized synapse where a motor neuron communicates with a muscle fiber.

neuron

A basic brain cell that stores and processes information using electrical and chemical signals.

neuron doctrine

The idea that neurons are individual

neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers released by neurons to communicate with other neurons across synapses.

nucleus accumbens

A brain area important for reward

occipital lobe

The back part of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

parasympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body

parietal lobe

The part of the brain that processes touch

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

All the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

phrenology

An outdated and unscientific idea that personality traits could be determined by bumps on the skull.

primary motor cortex (M1)

An area in the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements.

primary somatosensory cortex (S1)

An area in the parietal lobe that processes touch sensations from the body.

prosopagnosia

The inability to recognize faces

receptor site

A specific location on a neuron where neurotransmitters bind

resting potential

The steady electrical charge of a neuron when it's not actively sending signals (about −70 mV −70mV).

reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron after they've done their job

serotonin

A neurotransmitter involved in mood

soma

The cell body of a neuron

sympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for "fight or flight" responses.

synapse

The tiny gap between two neurons where chemical signals (neurotransmitters) are transmitted.