Honors Psychology - Unit 2 Review: Nervous & Endocrine Systems and the Brain

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering neural communication, the nervous and endocrine systems, brain structures and functions, imaging methods, and neurological conditions from the Unit 2 Review Sheet.

Neuron

A specialized nerve cell that functions as the fundamental building block of the nervous system.

Axon

The extension of a neuron that carries messages and electrical impulses away from the cell body toward other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Dendrites

The branching extensions of a neuron that receive chemical messages and conduct electrical impulses toward the soma.

Soma

The cell body of a neuron containing the nucleus, which maintains the cell's life and metabolic functions.

Myelin Sheath

A layer of fatty tissue encasing the axon of a neuron that insulates it and speeds up the transmission of electrical impulses.

Terminal Branches

The branched endings of an axon that form synaptic junctions with other cells and release neurotransmitters.

Synapse

The tiny junction between the axon terminal of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron (not a physical structure).

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that carry incoming signals and sensory information from the sensory receptors toward the central nervous system.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that transmit outgoing instructions from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.

Interneurons

Neurons located within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Resting Potential

The baseline electrical state of a neuron when it is polarized and ready to generate a nerve impulse.

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge or neural impulse that travels down the axon when a neuron fires.

Refractory Period

A brief period of inactivity following an action potential during which a neuron cannot fire again until it repolarizes.

Reuptake

The reabsorption of excess neurotransmitters by the presynaptic (sending) neuron after releasing them into the synapse.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that travel across the synaptic cleft to transmit signals from one neuron to another, distinct from hormones which travel in the bloodstream.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that plays a primary role in muscle action, learning, and memory.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that influences voluntary movement, learning, attention, and reward/pleasure pathways.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood, hunger, sleep, and emotional arousal.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in controlling alertness, physical arousal, and the body's response to stress.

Agonist

A chemical substance that binds to a neurotransmitter receptor site and mimics or increases the effect of that neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

A chemical substance that binds to a neurotransmitter receptor site and blocks or inhibits the normal action of that neurotransmitter.

Central Nervous System

The primary division of the nervous system composed exclusively of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

The sensory and motor neuron network outside the brain and spinal cord that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Somatic Nervous System

A division of the peripheral nervous system responsible for voluntary control of skeletal muscles and conveying sensory information to the CNS.

Autonomic Nervous System

A division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary, automatic functions of internal organs and glands.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body during stressful situations by triggering the 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body and conserves energy, supporting 'rest and digest' activities.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that are secreted directly into the bloodstream to regulate distant target organs and tissues.

Adrenal Gland

An endocrine gland that secretes adrenaline (epinephrine) to trigger physical arousal and energy release during times of stress.

Pituitary Gland

The endocrine system's 'master gland' that releases Human Growth Hormone and chemical signals controlling other endocrine glands.

Ovaries

The female endocrine sex glands that produce and secrete the sex hormone estrogen.

Testes

The male endocrine sex glands that produce and secrete the sex hormone testosterone.

Pancreas

An endocrine gland responsible for regulating blood sugar levels by producing and secreting insulin.

EEG

Electroencephalogram; a functional method of studying the brain by recording electrical activity waves across the scalp using electrodes.

PET

Positron Emission Tomography; a functional imaging technique that tracks the brain's consumption of radioactive glucose during active tasks.

CAT/CT Scan

Computed Axial Tomography; a structural imaging technique that uses a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles to construct composite cross-sectional images of the brain.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging; a structural imaging technique using strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of brain soft tissue.

Medulla

A brainstem structure located at the base of the skull that controls vital autonomic functions like heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

A brainstem structure located directly above the medulla that coordinates movements and plays a key role in sleep and dreaming.

Reticular Formation (RAS)

A network of nerve pathways traversing the brainstem that is crucial for regulating physiological arousal and alertness.

Thalamus

The brain's primary sensory relay center situated atop the brainstem, routing incoming sensory information to appropriate cerebral cortex areas.

Cerebellum

The 'little brain' located at the rear of the brainstem that processes sensory input, coordinates voluntary movement balance, and aids procedural memory.

Amygdala

Two small almond-shaped neural clusters in the limbic system strongly associated with processing emotions such as fear and aggression.

Hypothalamus

A limbic system structure below the thalamus that regulates bodily maintenance (hunger, thirst, body temperature) and controls the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

Hippocampus

A limbic system component essential for processing, consolidating, and forming new explicit memories.

Frontal Lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying behind the forehead involved in speaking, muscle movements, planning, and judgment.

Pre-frontal cortex

The anterior part of the frontal lobes responsible for executive functions, complex cognition, decision-making, and personality expression.

Broca’s Area

A specialized region of the frontal lobe (usually in the left hemisphere) that controls muscle movements necessary for speech production.

Motor cortex

An area at the rear boundary of the frontal lobes that directs and controls voluntary muscular movements.

Parietal Lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex positioned at the top-rear of the head that receives and processes sensory input for touch and spatial orientation.

Soma-sensory cortex

An area at the anterior section of the parietal lobes that registers and processes bodily tactile sensations and skin inputs.

Occipital Lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex located at the back of the head dedicated to visual processing.

Visual cortex

The specific region within the occipital lobes that receives and interprets visual signals from the eyes.

Temporal Lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex located roughly above the ears involved in auditory processing, language comprehension, and memory.

Auditory cortex

The specific region in the temporal lobes that receives and processes sound input received from the ears.

Wernicke’s Area

A brain area located in the temporal lobe (typically left hemisphere) crucial for language comprehension and meaningful speech formulation.

Corpus Callosum

The broad band of neural axon fibers connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres, facilitating interhemispheric communication.

Left Hemisphere

The cerebral hemisphere typically specialized in verbal tasks, speech, mathematical calculations, and logical, analytic processing.

Right Hemisphere

The cerebral hemisphere typically specialized in spatial perception, facial recognition, emotional expression, and nonverbal tasks.

Phineas Gage

A famous 19th-century railroad worker who survived a tamping iron through his frontal lobes, providing early evidence of the frontal cortex's role in personality and executive control.

Aphasia

An impairment of language comprehension or production, typically caused by damage to cortical regions such as Broca's area or Wernicke's area.

Plasticity

The brain's capacity to modify its neural pathways, reorganize following damage, and adapt in response to experience.

Split Brain

A surgical condition resulting from the severing of the corpus callosum, isolating communication between the left and right cerebral hemispheres.