AP pysch unit 1 part 1

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

autonomic nervous system

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

glial cells

support, nourish, and protect neurons

Reflex arc

the nerve pathway involved in a reflex action including at its simplest a sensory nerve and a motor nerve with a synapse between.

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

Neural Transmission

electrochemical communication within and between neurons and the final destination

Depolarization

The process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

resting potential

the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse

multiple sclerosis

A chronic disease of the central nervous system marked by damage to the myelin sheath

myasthenia gravis

a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction and produces serious weakness of voluntary muscles

excitatory neurotransmitters

excite the next cell into firing

inhibitory neurotransmitters

inhibit the next cell from firing

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

GABA

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter

Endorphins

"morphine within"--natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Substance p

a neurotransmitter involved in pain perception

acteylcholine

chemical transmitter released by some nerve endings

Adrenaline

A hormone released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress

Leptin

hormone that signals the hypothalamus and brain stem to reduce appetite and increase the amount of energy used

Oxytocin

Stimulates uterine contractions and milk ejection.

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular activating system

Part of brain stem involved in arousal and attention, sleep and wakefulness, and control of reflexes.

Cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

cerebral cortex

outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Thalamus

relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex

Hypothalamus

brain region controlling the pituitary gland

Association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

frontal lobe

associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving

executive functioning

The ability to set priorities or make decisions.

Prefrontal cortex

part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Broca's area

speech production

Wernicke's area

language comprehension

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

left side of brain controls right side of body while right brain controls left body except smell

Neuroplasticity

the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma

EEG

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

fMRI

a form of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that registers blood flow to functioning areas of the brain