Intro to Psych - Chapter 3 Vocabulary

Sympathetic Division

Increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration/breathing to get our autonomic system excited

Cell Body (Soma)

Largest section of the neuron, contains the nucleus of the neuron, and receives chemical signals from dendrites to then transmit signals to the axon

Sensory Cortex

Responsible for processing information in the brain related to the five senses 

Synapse

The junction between the axon and the dendrite 

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

Involves neurons in the remaining periphery of the body

Somatosensory Cortex

The portion of cortex of each parietal lobe responsible for processing touch sensations throughout the body 

Adrenal Glands

Above the kidneys; releases epinephrine and norepinephrine in response to autonomic nervous system actions to help the body respond to stress or emergencies

Neurotransmitter

The neurotransmitters and receptor sites function as a chemical “lock and key”

Synaptic Cleft

The small gap at the junction between the axon and dendrite

Myelin

Fatty substance that insulates the axon

Wernicke’s Aphasia 

Damage to left temporal lobe resulting in inability to understand or comprehend speech

Medulla

Controls vital automatic functions like heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure

Axon Terminal

Bulblike structures at the end of the axon

Thalamus 

Top of the brainstem; Processes and relays sensory information between the cortex and the brainstem

Axon

Projects from the cell body; Receives chemical messages from the body to then transmit the signal along the axon 

Limbic System 

A group of body structures responsible for emotions, memory, and motivated behaviors 

Chemical Ions

Positively and negatively charged particles found inside and surrounding neurons 

Amygdala

An almond-shaped mass of nuclei that controls emotional responses such as rage and fear 

Neuron 

The brain cells responsible for transmitting signals (neural impulses) throughout the body 

Motor Cortex 

Receives information from neurons throughout various areas of the body, producing the body’s voluntary movements 

Action Potential 

Electrical charged state that occurs if the neuron is not stimulated; remains constant at about -70 millivolts (mV)

Lesion Studies 

Studies conducted in which parts of animal brains are cut in order to determine which functions are affected 

Acetylcholine 

Involved in muscle contractions, arousal, learning, and memory 

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Comprised of the brain and spinal cord; referred to as the command center

Aphasia

Impairment in the use of language

Glutamate

Excitatory neurotransmitter considered the mediator of excitatory signals in the central nervous system

Association Areas

Area of the cerebral cortex responsible for higher mental processes including thinking, language, learning, and information processing 

Reuptake

When unbinded neurotransmitters return to the original axon vesicles

Dendrites

Connected to the cell body; Receives chemical signals from neighboring neurons, then transmitting the signals to the cell body

Hypothalamus

Below the thalamus; Regulates body temperature, circadian rhythm, hunger, thirst, and the release of hormones in the pituitary gland

Serotonin/Nonrepinephrine 

Influences alertness, arousal, mood, hunger, and sleep-wake functions 

Parasympathetic Division

Keeps the body calm and allows the heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration to function at a resting state 

Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

The chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, which regulates excitability throughout the nervous system

Peripheral Nervous System

System of neurons in the periphery (everywhere but the brain and spinal cord); broken down into the Somatic Nervous System and Autonomic Nervous System

Pons

Controls the survival functions (sleep, arousal, and cardiac reflexes)

Endorphins

Produces feelings of well-being, morphine-like effects

Dopamine 

Chemical involved in movement, attention, learning, and emotions 

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Neurons going to parts of the body considered automatic in function; broken down into the sympathetic division and parasympathetic division

Reticular Formation 

A bundle of nerves responsible for arousal and regulating the sleep-wake cycle