Studied by 8 people
lesion
tissue destruction
electroencephalogram (EEG)
waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface; measured by electrodes on the scalp
magnetoencephalography (MEG)
a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity
computed tomography scan (CT/CAT)
X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure
positron emission tomography scan (PET)
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy
functional MRI (fMRI)
a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure
brainstem
begins at where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
thalamus
the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
reticular formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal
cerebellum
at the rear of the brainstem; functions: processing sensory input, coordinating movement and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
limbic system
neutral system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
amygdala
2 neutral clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
hypothalamus
a neural structure below the thalamus' directs+regulates several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp.), linked to emotion and reward
hippocampus
a neural center located in the limbic system; helps make storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events long term
cerebral cortex
outer level of cerebral hemispheres; body's ultimate control and info-processing center (of receiving and process sensory info and direct movement)
frontal lobes
a part of cerebral cortex; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
parietal lobes
in cerebral cortex @ top; receives sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes
cerebral cortex; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
temporal lobes
cerebral cortex; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
motor cortex
frontal lobes; controls voluntary movements
somatosensory cortex
parietal lobes; registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
association areas
areas of the cerbral cortex that are involved in higher mental functions: learning, remembering, thinking, speaking
plasticity
the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
cell body
the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus
dendrites
a neuron's extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body
axon
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or muscles
myelin sheath
a fatty tissue layer encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; play a role in learning, thinking, and memory
action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
refractory period
a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state
all-or-none response
a neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing
synapse
junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the cell body of the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons; when released, they travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron influencing whether that neuron will generate an impulse
reuptake
a neurotansmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
endorphins
natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
agonist
a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action
antagonist
a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action
nervous system
the body's electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells and central nervous systems
central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
divided by the autonomic and somatic systems
nerves
bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
sensory (afferent) neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the body tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
motor (efferent) neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
interneurons
neurons within the brain and spina cord; communicate internally and process info between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs (like the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parapsympathetic division calms
sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
reflex
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus (like doctors tapping the knee)
interneurons to reflex to brain
endocrine system
the body's "slow" communication system; glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands; travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress
pituitary gland
under the influence of the hypothalamus; regulates growth
Wernicke's Area
language comprehension
Broca's Area
muscles involved in speech
behavior genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
heredity
the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring
environment
every nongenetic influence from prenatal nutrition to the people and thing around
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
DNA
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
genes
the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes, segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
genome
the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes
identical (monozygotic) twins
develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms
fraternal (dizygotic) twins
develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment
heritability
the proportion of variation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes;
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)
molecular genetics
the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes
epigenetics
"in addition to" genetics; the study of environmental influences on genetic expression that occur without a DNA change
evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind using principles of natural selection
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
serotonin
mood regulation, hunger regulation, sleep, emotion too much: hallucinations too little: depression
dopamine
pleasure; reward and motivation, attention and emotion too much: schizophrenia too little: Parkinson's
GABA
inhibitory neurotransmitter which means it blocks signals from getting sent
too little: tremors and insomnia
used to treat GAD
Glutamate
excitatory neurotransmitter which means it causes too many signals to be sent
too little: seizures, migraines, and strokes if there is an oversupply
Note 
Flashcard (20)