Neuroscience: The Biological Perspective — Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering nervous system structure, neuron physiology, brain regions, neurotransmitters, and brain imaging techniques from the lecture notes.

Central nervous system (CNS)

Part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

All nerves outside the CNS; connects the CNS to the rest of the body and is divided into the somatic and autonomic systems.

Nervous system

Extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body.

Neuroscience

Field that studies the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue, relating to behavior and learning.

Neuron

The basic cell that makes up the nervous system and transmits information.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons.

Soma (cell body)

The life-sustaining part of the neuron responsible for maintaining the cell.

Axon

Long tube-like structure that carries neural messages to other cells.

Myelin

Fatty substance that coats axons to insulate, protect, and speed neural impulses.

Glial cells

Supportive cells that provide nutrients, remove waste, and form myelin.

Neurilemma

Schwann’s membrane; the outer layer around a nerve fiber aiding repair.

Nerves

Bundles of axons traveling together through the body.

Resting potential

The neuron state when not firing; inside is negatively charged and outside is positively charged.

Action potential

Rapid reversal of the neuron's electrical charge that occurs when a neuron fires.

All-or-none principle

A neuron either fires completely or not at all.

Synapse

The microscopic gap between neurons where communication occurs.

Synaptic vesicles

Sacks inside the synaptic knob containing neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals released into the synapse that affect the next cell.

Receptor sites

Holes on dendrites or muscles shaped to fit specific neurotransmitters.

Reuptake

Process of taking neurotransmitters back into the synaptic vesicles.

Enzyme

Proteins that break down neurotransmitters in the synapse.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter involved in memory and stimulating movement.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, and appetite.

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neural activity and is involved in sleep.

Glutamate

Excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory formation.

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter involved in arousal and mood.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter involved in movement control and sensations of pleasure.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that relieve pain.

Excitatory neurotransmitter

Neurotransmitter that increases the likelihood that the next neuron fires.

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

Neurotransmitter that decreases the likelihood that the next neuron fires.

Agonist

Substance that mimics or enhances a neurotransmitter's effect.

Antagonist

Substance that blocks or reduces a neurotransmitter's effect.

Spinal cord

Long bundle of neurons transmitting messages between the body and the brain; enables fast reflexes.

Reflex arc

Three-neuron pathway: sensory (afferent) neuron, interneuron, motor (efferent) neuron.

Sensory (afferent) neuron

Neurons that carry information from senses to the CNS.

Motor (efferent) neuron

Neurons that carry commands from the CNS to muscles.

Interneuron

Neuron in the spinal cord that connects sensory and motor neurons.

Somatic nervous system

Division of the PNS that carries sensory information to the CNS and controls voluntary muscles.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Division of the PNS that controls involuntary muscles, organs, and glands; includes sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Sympathetic division

Fight-or-flight system that prepares the body for stress and arousal.

Parasympathetic division

Rest-and-digest functions that restore the body to normal operation.

Brain stem

Lower part of the brain including the medulla and pons with reticular formation; controls life sustaining functions and arousal.

Medulla

Lower brain structure controlling breathing, heart rate, and reflexes.

Pons

Brainstem structure involved in sleep, dreaming, and arousal; connects brain to cerebellum.

Reticular formation

Network of neurons in the brainstem involved in alertness and attention.

Cerebellum

Brain region behind the pons that coordinates movement and balance.

Limbic system

Group of structures under the cortex involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation.

Thalamus

Relays sensory information to the cortex and processes some sensory data.

Hypothalamus

Regulates motivational drives and hormones; sits below the thalamus and above the pituitary.

Hippocampus

Structures in the temporal lobe important for long-term memory formation.

Amygdala

Structure near the hippocampus responsible for fear and emotions.

Olfactory bulbs

Receive information from receptors in the nose.

Pituitary gland

Master endocrine gland that secretes growth hormone and controls other glands.

Pineal gland

Endocrine gland that secretes melatonin and helps regulate sleep.

Endocrine glands

Glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Hormones

Chemical messengers released by endocrine glands into the bloodstream.

Gonads

Sex glands that secrete hormones regulating sexual development and reproduction.

Ovaries

Female gonads.

Testes

Male gonads.

Adrenal glands

Glands atop the kidneys that release hormones to handle stress and regulate salt and secondary sex hormones.

Corpus callosum

Thick band of neural fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres.

Cerebral cortex

Outer layer of the brain responsible for higher mental processes.

Corticalization

Wrinkling of the cortex to fit more neurons within the skull.

Occipital lobe

Lobe at the back of the brain that contains visual processing areas.

Primary visual cortex

Region that processes visual information from the eyes.

Visual association cortex

Identifies and makes sense of visual information.

Parietal lobe

Lobe at the top/back of the brain containing touch, taste, and temperature processing.

Somatosensory cortex

Area in the parietal lobe that processes touch and body position.

Temporal lobe

Lobe responsible for hearing and meaningful speech.

Primary auditory cortex

Processes auditory information from the ears.

Auditory association cortex

Interprets auditory information.

Frontal lobe

Lobe involved in higher thought processes, decision making, and fluent speech.

Motor cortex

Part of the frontal lobe that sends motor commands to muscles.

Broca's area

Speech production area; damage causes fluent non fluent speech.

Wernicke's area

Language comprehension area; damage impairs understanding.

Angular gyrus

Brain region involved in language, math, and linking symbols with meaning.

Broca's aphasia

Language production impairment due to damage to Broca's area.

Wernicke's aphasia

Language comprehension impairment due to damage to Wernicke's area.

Spatial neglect

Inability to attend to one side of space due to right hemisphere damage.

Split-brain

Research involving severed corpus callosum to study hemispheric specialization.

Roger Sperry

Researcher known for split-brain studies showing left vs right hemisphere functions.

EEG

Electroencephalograph; records brain wave patterns from the brain's surface.

CT (computed tomography)

Imaging method using X-rays to create brain images.

PET (positron emission tomography)

Imaging method using a radioactive sugar to show brain activity.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Imaging method using magnetic fields to produce detailed brain images.

fMRI

Functional MRI; measures brain activity over time by detecting blood flow changes.

ESB (electrical stimulation of the brain)

Electrical current used to stimulate neurons and study responses.

Deep lesioning

Inserting a wire to destroy brain cells for research or treatment.

Phineas Gage

Famous case showing personality change after frontal lobe damage; used in neuroscience history.