Biol 216 Topic 6: The Brain & Nervous System

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the brain and nervous system as outlined in the lecture notes.

CNS

Central Nervous System, consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

PNS

Peripheral Nervous System, which includes all nerves outside the CNS.

Afferent System

Part of the PNS that transmits signals to the CNS from sensory receptors.

Efferent System

Part of the PNS that transmits signals from the CNS to muscles and glands.

Somatic Nervous System

A division of the PNS that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate and digestion.

Sympathetic Division

Part of the ANS responsible for the fight or flight response in stressful situations.

Parasympathetic Division

Part of the ANS responsible for rest and digest functions.

Vagus Nerve

Cranial nerve that innervates organs and conveys sensory information to the CNS.

Homunculus

A representation of the correlation between sensory information and the body in the sensory cortex.

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

A lasting enhancement in signal transmission between neurons that is associated with memory storage.

Broca's Area

Brain region involved in speech production and coordination of movements necessary for speech.

Wernicke's Area

Brain region involved in understanding and formulating coherent speech.

Memory

The storage and retrieval of sensory or motor experiences; includes short-term and long-term memory.

Consciousness

The state of awareness of oneself and one's environment.