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Central Nervous System
Comprises the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System
Includes voluntary (Somatic) and involuntary (Autonomic) functions.
Parasympathetic
The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for 'rest and digest' activities.
Sympathetic
The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for 'fight or flight' responses.
Soma
The cell body of a neuron.
Dendrites
Parts of a neuron that receive signals.
Receptor sites
Locations that bind neurotransmitters on a neuron's surface.
Axon
The part of a neuron that transmits signals away from the soma.
Myelin sheath
Insulating layer around an axon that increases signal transmission speed.
Axon terminal branches/buttons
The structures at the end of axons that release neurotransmitters.
Synaptic vesicles
Small sacs that store neurotransmitters before release.
Synapse
The gap between neurons where communication occurs.
Glial cells
Support cells that assist neurons in various functions.
Sensory neuron
A neuron that receives stimuli from the environment.
Motor neuron
A neuron that initiates and transmits movement signals.
Brain plasticity
The brain's ability to adapt and reorganize itself.
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter associated with reward and movement.
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and sleep.
Norepinephrine
A neurotransmitter that influences alertness.
Glutamate
The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.
GABA
The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
Endorphins
Neurotransmitters that provide pain relief.
Substance P
A neurotransmitter involved in pain signaling.
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter important for muscle action and memory.
Ghrelin
A hormone that stimulates hunger.
Leptin
A hormone that signals satiety or fullness.
Melatonin
A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.
Oxytocin
A hormone associated with bonding and social connections.
Adrenaline
A hormone involved in stress response.
Brain stem
Area of the brain responsible for survival functions.
Medulla
Part of the brain stem that controls breathing and heart rate.
Reticular Activating System
A network involved in arousal and consciousness.
Cerebellum
Brain region that coordinates movement and balance.
Cerebral Cortex
The outer layer of the brain involved in higher cognitive functions.
Corpus callosum
The structure that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
Occipital lobe
Brain area responsible for processing vision.
Temporal lobe
Brain area involved in hearing and memory.
Parietal lobe
Brain region associated with sensory processing.
Frontal lobe
Brain area involved in decision-making and executive functions.
Wernicke’s area
Brain region important for language comprehension.
Broca’s area
Brain region responsible for speech production.
Somatosensory cortex
Area of the brain that processes touch sensations.
Prefrontal cortex
Part of the frontal lobe involved in planning and complex behavior.
Motor cortex
Region of the brain that initiates voluntary movements.
Thalamus
Brain structure that relays sensory information.
Hypothalamus
Brain region that maintains homeostasis.
Hippocampus
Brain structure associated with memory formation.
Amygdala
Brain region involved in emotion processing.
Pituitary gland
Gland that produces hormones regulating various bodily functions.
Circadian rhythms
Biological processes that follow a 24-hour cycle.
Beta waves
Brain activity associated with being awake.
Alpha waves
Brain activity associated with relaxed awareness.
Theta waves
Brain activity associated with light sleep.
Delta waves
Brain activity associated with deep sleep.
NREM 1
Stage of light sleep.
NREM 2
Stage of sleep characterized by sleep spindles and K-complexes.
NREM 3-4
Stages of deep sleep.
REM sleep
Stage of sleep where dreaming occurs.
Activation-synthesis theory
Theory suggesting dreams result from random brain activity.
Information-processing theory
Theory suggesting dreams aid in memory consolidation.
Sleep theories
Concepts explaining the purpose of sleep, including restorative and evolutionary theories.
Insomnia
A sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder that causes excessive sleepiness.
Apnea
A sleep disorder characterized by temporary pauses in breathing.
Sensation
The process of receiving stimulus information from the environment.
Absolute threshold
The minimum level of stimulus required to detect a sensation.
Just-noticeable difference
The minimum change in a stimulus that can be detected.
Weber’s law
Principle that the just-noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus.
Retina
Layer in the eye that processes images.
Rods
Photoreceptors in the eye that detect low light.
Cones
Photoreceptors in the eye that detect color.
Fovea
The area of the retina responsible for sharp vision.
Lens
The eye structure that focuses light on the retina.
Optic nerve
Nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.
Blindspot
Area of the retina with no light receptors.
Bipolar cells
Neurons that transmit signals from the photoreceptors to ganglion cells in the retina.
Ganglion cells
Neurons that transmit visual information from the retina to the brain.
Trichromatic theory
Theory stating that color perception is based on three types of cones (red, green, blue).
Opponent-process theory
Theory explaining color perception through opposing color pairs.
Wavelength
The distance between peaks in a wave, associated with pitch in sound.
Amplitude
The height of a wave, associated with volume in sound.
Eardrum
Membrane that vibrates with sound waves and transmits them to the ossicles.
Ossicles
Three tiny bones in the middle ear that amplify sound.
Oval window
Membrane that transfers vibrations from the ossicles to the cochlea.
Cochlea
Fluid-filled structure in the inner ear responsible for sound processing.
Basilar membrane
Membrane in the cochlea that varies in thickness and frequency response.
Auditory cilia
Hair cells in the cochlea that detect sound waves.
Conduction deafness
Hearing loss due to problems in the outer or middle ear.
Sensorineural deafness
Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve.
Olfactory bulb
Brain structure that relays information about smell.
Gustatory system
System responsible for processing taste information.
5 tastes
Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami.
Gate control theory
Theory that explains how the nervous system blocks or allows pain signals.
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