PSY 2440: LVL 3

Flashcards for reviewing the Central Nervous System.

Dendrites

Receiving end of neurons, brings information to the cell body. Contains receptor sites where neurotransmitters bind.

Axon Terminal Buttons

At the end of the axon, responsible for transmitting signals to the next neuron. Contains synaptic vesicles with neurotransmitters released into the synapse.

Uptake

The process where neurotransmitters are taken back up by the neuron and repackaged for later use.

Soma

Cell body of a neuron, contains the cell nucleus and maintains the neuron. Responsible for 'grey matter' in the brain.

Nodes of Ranvier

On myelinated neurons, myelin sheath is broken up by these. Highly capable of generating electrical activity, speeding up transmission.

Axon Hillock

End of the soma where it's determined if a threshold is met to trigger an action potential. High capability of developing electricity.

Myelin Sheath

Fatty insulation covering many axons, protecting the axon and speeding up transmission of the action potential.

Axon

Long, tail-like structure of a neuron that extends from the cell body and transmits information away from it. May or may not be covered in myelin sheath.

Synapse

The space between neurons where neurotransmitters are released to bind to the next neuron.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that allow neurons to communicate with one another.

GABA

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter involved in muscle action, movement, attention, and memory.

Glutamate

Main excitatory neurotransmitter.

Dopamine

Pleasure chemical; helps control movement.

Serotonin

Happy chemical; other functions include sleep, digestion, and sensory perceptions.

Norepinephrine

Helps regulate fight-or-flight response; involved in regulation of mood, memory, learning, and sleep.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the two brain hemispheres.

Frontal Lobe

Executive command center that receives and coordinates messages from all other areas of the brain.

Prefrontal Cortex

Responsible for higher-level executive functions such as emotional regulation, thinking, planning, etc., located at the front-end of the frontal lobe.

Motor Cortex

Located at the very back end of the frontal lobe, responsible for coordination of motor movements.

Temporal Lobe

Located on the sides of the brain next to the temples, helps to process memory, emotion, and information regarding hearing.

Auditory Cortex

Primary cortex in the temporal lobe that processes auditory information.

Parietal Lobe

Upper part of the brain that processes sensory information, including information about the location of parts of the body.

Somatosensory Cortex

Front part of the parietal lobe that is responsible for the sense of touch.

Occipital Lobe

Located at the back of the brain, contains the visual cortex and is responsible for processing information related to vision.

Gyrus

Ridge in the cerebral cortex.

Sulcus

Groove in the cerebral cortex.

Midbrain

Topmost and smallest part of the brainstem; responsible for movements of the eye and eyelids and processes visual & auditory information.

Pons

Connects the upper and lower portions of the brain; serves as a relay station for messages between the cerebrum and cerebellum; believed REM sleep is generated here.

Medulla Oblongata

Lowest portion of the brainstem, most important for our living; carries heart rates, blood pressure, breathing, swallowing, sneezing and vomiting reflex.

Reticular Formation

Consists of a complex set of networks that have a role in consciousness and attention.