psych test

Regions of the brain

cerebral hemispheres (cerebrum)
diencephalon
brain stem
cerebellum

Four lobes of the brain

frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

parietal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

temporal lobe

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information

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

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. sends messages to the central nervous system.

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Midbrain

A small part of the brain above the pons that integrates sensory information and relays it upward.

brain stem function

controls automatic behaviors necessary for survival

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

Thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

limbic system

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

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

split-brain surgery

procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures

Neuroplasticity

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

Agonists

chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell

glands of the endocrine system

pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pineal

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

SSRI function

class of drugs used to relieve anxiety by limiting reuptake of a neurotransmitter

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

EEG scan

Brain scan that records electrical activity in the brain.

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

fMRI

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

components of a neuron

cell body, dendrite, axon, myelin sheath, glial cells, synapse

twin studies

a common method of investigating whether nature or nurture affects behavior

right hemisphere

This half of the brain specializes in perception of physical environment, art, nonverbal communication, music & spiritual aspects. It receives information from and controls the opposite side of the body.

left hemisphere

controls the right side of the body; analytical, language, math

absolute refractory period

The minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin.

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Genotype

genetic makeup of an organism

Phenotype

An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits.

synaptic pruning

a process whereby the synaptic connections in the brain that are used are preserved, and those that are not used are lost

dendritic pruning

refers to the process by which extra neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated in order to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions.

broca's area

the motor speech center in the left hemisphere of the brain in most people. Language production

wernicke's area

the auditory word center; located in the posterior part of the superior temporal convolution in most people. Language comprehension

dendrite

short fiber that conducts toward the cell body of the neuron. this part of the neuron recieves messages from other neurons

prefrontal cortex

responsible for decision making, executive planning, and functioning

afferent nerves

nerves that carry signals toward the central nervous system from the periphery.

efferent nerves

carries nerve impulses away from the central nervous system toward the periphery.

dopamine

a monoamine neurotransmitter found in the brain and essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system. lack of dopamine produces parkinson's

gonads

make sure humans can have children

acetylcholine

a neurotransmitter that is a derivative of choline; released at the ends of nerve fibers in the somatic and parasympathetic nervous systems

thyroid gland

located near the base of the neck. controls body's metabolism

lutemite

gets the body excited. too much of it can give migraines

serotonin

controls mood and is responsible for happiness

endorphins

body releases this hormone when it feels pain or stress

excitatory

neurotransmitters that make the next cell more likely to fire are called

inhibitory

neurotransmitters that make the next cell less likely to fire are called