AP Psychology - Chapter Two: Brain & Behavior

Neuron

individual nerve cell

Central nervous system

brain & spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

all parts of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord 

Spinal nerves

nerves that carry sensory & motor messages in and out of the spinal cord

Cranial nerves

nerves that leave the brain without passing through the spinal cord

Nerve

bundle of neuron axons

Somatic nervous system

system of nerves linking the spinal cord with the embody and sense organs

Autonomic nervous system

system of nerves carrying information to and from the internal organs and glands

Sympathetic branch

arouses the body’s internal organs

Parasympathetic branc

quiets the body’s internal organs

Dendrites

neuron fibers that receive incoming messages

Soma

main body of a neuron or other cell

Axon

fiber that carries information away from the cell body for a neuron

Axon terminals

bulb-shapped structures at the end of axons that form synapses with the dendrites & somas of other neurons

Handedness

preference for the right or left hand

Sidedness

combination of preference for hand, foot, eye, & ear

Dominant hemisphere

the side of one’s brain that produces language

Endocrine system

system containing glands whose secretions pass directly into the bloodstream or lymph system

Hormones 

glandular secretions that affects bodily functions or behavior

Pituitary gland

master gland at the base of the brain whose hormones influence other endocrine glands 

Oxytocin

a hormone, released by pituitary gland that plays a broad role in regulating pregnancy, parenthood, sexual activity, social bonding, trust, and even reducing stress reactions

Pineal gland

helps regulate body rhythms & sleep cycles

epinephrine

adrenal hormone that tendes to arouse the body; associated with fear/adrenaline

norepinephrine

neurotransmitter & adrenal hormone that tends to arouse the body; associated with anger

Hypothalamus

regulates emotional behaviors & motives

Limbic

system in the forebrain that is closely linked to emotional response

Amygdala

part of limbic system associated with fear responses

Hippocampus

part of limbic system associated with storing memories

Resting potential

electrical charge of an inactive neuron

Threshold

point at which a nerve impulse is triggered

action potential

nerve impluse

Myelin

fatty layer coating axons

Saltatory conduction

process by which nerve impulses traveling down the axons of neurons coated with myelin jump from gap to gap in the myelin layer

Synapse 

microscopic space between two neurons over which messages pass

Neurotransmitter

any chemical released by a neuron that alters activity in other neurons

Receptor sites

areas on the surface of neurons & other cells that are sensitive to neurotransmitters or hormones

Neuropeptides

brain chemicals that regulate the activity of neurons

Neural networks

interlinked collections of neurons that process information int eh brain