Studied by 2 people
Olfactory bulbs
two projections just under the front of the brain that receive information from the receptors in the nose located just below
Myelin
insulates and produces the axons of neurons that travel in the body
Reticular formation (RF)
an area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond that play a role in general arousal, alertness, and sleep
Roger Sperry
created The Split- Brain Experiment to demonstrate the specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain
Neuroplasticity
the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
equipment designed to record the brain wave patterns produced by electrical activity of the surface of the brain
Antagonists
chemical substances that block or reduce a cells response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters
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
Cerebellum
the upper part of the brain consisting of the two hemispheres and the structures that connect them
Neuron
the basic cell that makes up the nervous system and that receives and sends messages within that system
Soma
the cell body of the neuron responsible for maintaining the life of the cell
Hypothalamus
small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland, responsible for Mortar Behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex
Computed tomography (CT)
brain imaging method using computer- controlled X- rays of the brain
Cerebral hemispheres
the two sections of the cortex on the left and right sides of the brain
Spatial neglect
Condition produced by damage to the association areas of the right hemisphere resulting in an inability to recognize objects or body parts in the last visual field
Positron emission tomography (PET)
brain imaging method in which a radioactive sugar is injected into the subject and a computer compiles a color coded image of the activity of the brain, with lighter colors indicating more activity
Pancreas
endocrine gland; controls the levels of sugar in the blood
Excitatory
or inhibitory; involved in mood sleep, and appetite
Corpus callosum
thick band of neurons that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres
Nerves
bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel together through the body
Interneurons
also make up the bulk of the neurons in the brain
Medulla
the first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain, which is responsible for life- sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate
Afferent (sensory) neuron
a neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system
Pons
the larger swelling above the medulla that connects the top of the brain to the bottom and thar plays a part in sleep, and arousal
Receptor sites
holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters
Interneuron
a neuron found in the center of the spinal cord that receives information from the afferent neurons and sends commands to the afferent neurons and sends commands to the muscles through the efferent neurons
Amygdala
brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear
Parasympathetic division
part of the ANS that restores the body to the normal functioning after the arousal and is responsible for the day- to- day functioning of the organs
Spinal cord
a long bundle of neurons that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system
Neurotransmitter
a chemical found in the synaptic vesicles that, when released, has an effect on the next call
Adrenal glands
endocrine glands located on the top of each kidney that secrete over 30 different hormones to deal with stress, regulate salt intake, and provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual changes that occur during adolescence
Sympathetic division (flight- or- flight)
part of the ANS that is responsible for reacting to the stressful events and bodily arousal
Dendrites
branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons
Cocaine acts
by blocking dopamine reuptake sites, allowing dopamine to remain active in the synapse longer
Thalamus
: part of the limbic system located in the center of the brain, this structure relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex and processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper area
Efferent (motor) neuron
a neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body
Axon
tubelike structure that carries the neural messages to other cells
Dopamine
is removed from the synapse by reuptake sites
Hippocampus
curved structure located within each temporal lobe, responsible for the information of long- term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects
Occipital lobe
section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual centers of the brain
Gonads
sex glands; decrease hormones that regulate sexual development and behavior as well as reproduction
Reflex arc
the connection of the afferent neurons the interneurons to the interneurons tp the efferent neurons, resulting in a reflex action
Somatosensory cortex
area of neurons running down the front of the parietal lobes responsible for processing information from the skin and internal body receptors for touch, temperature, body position, and possibly taste
Reuptake
process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles
Axon terminals
branches at the end of the axon
Limbic system
a group of several brain structures located under the cortex and involved learning, emotion, memory, and motivation
