PSY Chapter 3 Key Terms

Hindbrain

An area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord

Medulla

An extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration

Reticular Formation

Regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills

Pons

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

Tectum

Orients an organism in the environment

Tegmentum

Involved in movement and arousal

The Cerebral Cortex

The outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye, and divided into two hemispheres

Subcortical Structures

Areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the center of the brain

Thalamus

Relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex

Hypothalamus (hypo- is Greek for “under”)

located below the thalamus; regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior

Hippocampus (Latin for “sea horse,” due to its shape)

Critical for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex

Amygdala (Latin for “almond,” also to its shape)

Located at the tip of each horn of the hippocampus, plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories

Basal Ganglia

A set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements and plays a role in reward processing

The Endocrine System

A network of glands that produce and secrete into the bloodstream chemical messages known as hormones, which influence a wide variety of basic functions, including metabolism, growth, and sexual development

Pituitary Gland

The “master gland” of the body’s hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body

Corpus Callosum

which connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres

Occipital Lobe

Located at the back of the cerebral cortex, processes visual information

The Parietal Lobe

Located in front of the occipital lobe, carries out several functions that include processing information about touch

The Temporal Lobe

Located on the lower side of each hemisphere, is responsible for hearing and language

Frontal Lobe

Which sits behind the forehead; Has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgment

Association Areas

Composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex

Mirror Neurons

Active when an animal performs a behavior, such as reaching for or manipulating an object, and are also activated when another animal observes that animal performing the same behavior

Cultural Neuroscience

The study of how culture and neurobiological processes influence one another

Gene

Sodium channels in cell membrane open and Na+ ions rush in almost instantaneously causing local electric charge surge more positive (+40mv)

Chromosomes

strands of DNA wound around each other in a double-helix configuration

Epigenetics

The study of environmental influences that determine whether or not genes are expressed, or the degree to which they are expressed, without altering the basic DNA sequences that constitute the genes themselves

Epigenetic Marks

Chemical modifications to DNA that can turn genes on or off

DNA Methylation

Adding a methyl group to DNA

Histone Modification

Adding chemical modifications to proteins called histones that are involved in packaging DNA

Heritability

A measure of the variability of behavioral traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors

An Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A device used to record electrical activity in the brain