ap psych unit 1 vocab 65-118 (incomplete so use keira's)

medulla

the hindbrain structure that is the brainstem’s base; controls heartbeat and breathing.

cerebellum

the hindbrain’s “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain’s cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.

limbic system

neural system located mostly in the forebrain — below the cerebral hemispheres — that includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary gland; associated with emotions and drives.

thalamus

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

hippocampus

a neural center in the limbic system that helps process explicit (conscious) memories — of facts and events — for storage.

amygdala

two lima-bean–sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

occipital lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.

temporal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each of which receives information primarily from the opposite ear. They also enable language processing.

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions, but rather are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

frontal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead. They enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher- order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and judgments).

motor cortex

a cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

electroencephalogram (eeg)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

fMRI

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. scans show brain function as well as structure.

consciousness

our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

circadian rhythm

our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

REM sleep

rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active. (Sometimes called R sleep.)

brain stem

the part of the brain that connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord

reticular activating system

a structure in the brain stem that is responsible for arousal and sleep. The reticular activation system is responsible for getting you up in the morning and putting you asleep at night

reward center

a group of structures that are activated when we experience something rewarding

pituitary gland

a small structure located just below the hypothalamus. This is a very influential gland that releases hormones that affect your growth as well as influencing the activities of other glands. For this reason it is often referred to as the master gland

parietal lobes

area in the brain which plays a major part in touch, pressure, and temperature. major sensory processing hub for brain

somatosensory cortex

an area of the brain, located in the parietal lobe, that processes sensory input from the skin, muscles, and joints. This area detects and interprets information on touch, temperature, pain, and pressure and allows us to perceive the size, shape, and texture of an object via touch

linguistic processing

the study of how humans use words to communicate ideas and feelings, and how those communications are understood and processed

higher-order thinking

thinking on a level that is higher than memorizing facts or telling something back to someone exactly the way it was told to you

executive functioning

a set of neurocognitive skills that help people organize their lives, plan, and implement their plans

prefrontal cortex

part of the brain located behind our forehead that is responsible for the executive function, meaning that it acts like a conductor communicating, guiding, and coordinating the functions of the different parts of the brain

split brain research

a field of psychology and neuroscience that studies the brain's two hemispheres by observing patients who have had their corpus callosum surgically severed

hemispheric specialization

the different and specific functions performed by the two hemispheres of the brain. Referred to colloquially as "right brain/left brain" the hemispheres separately are generally responsible for different neurological functions

broca’s area

located in the frontal lobe of the brain and acts as the speech center

wernicke’s area

an area of the brain that is very important in the development of language. The area is located on the left side of the brain, specifically on the left temporal lobe

aphasia

the inability to use language appropriately and may include problems speaking language, hearing language, and reading language

contralateral hemispheric organization

a property of the forebrain in vertebrates that causes the hemispheres to represent the opposite side of the body

plasticity

the ability for nerve cells to change through new experiences

lesioning

a research method in which areas of the brain are removed or disabled in order to determine their specific functions

jet lag

the feeling of tiredness and mild disorientation that is experienced following a long airplane trip. It is a combination of changing time zones and the resulting shift in the body's diurnal clock (eating and sleeping cycles)

shift work

work scheduled during the swing shift (usually 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.) or night shift (12 a.m. to 8 a.m.). Studies show wide variations in the attitudes of employees toward shift work and their ability to adjust their circadian rhythms and adapt to changes in sleep, eating, and social patterns