Neuroscience and Behavior

cell body

keeps the cell alive and organizes information

dendrites

receives information from other neurons and passes the information to the cell body

axon

passes information from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

myelin sheath

insulating layer around the axon, made of glial cells

synapse

junction between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another neuron

sensory neurons

receive information from the external world and convey it to critical parts of the brain

motor neurons

carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement

interneurons

connect sensory, motor, and other interneurons; the most common type of neurons

resting potential

non stimulated conditions, -70 millivolts

action potential

after stimulation, 40 millivolts

refractory period

after an action potential a new action potential cannot be initiated

terminal buttons

knoblike structures at the end of an axon that represent the presynaptic side, stores vesicles of neurotransmitters that are released following an action potential

neurotransmitters

chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to the dendrite

receptors

receive the neurotransmitters and either initiate or prevent a new electrical signal

glutamate

excitatory neurotransmitter

GABA

inhibitory neurotransmitter

acetylcholine

neurotransmitter for voluntary motor movement

dopamine

neurotransmitter for motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal

norepinephrine

neurotransmitter for vigilance or heightened awareness of dangers

serotonin

neurotransmitter for eating and aggressive behavior

endorphins

neurotransmitters for pain and emotion

nervous system

interacting network of neurons that convey electrochemical information throughout the body

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

brain

used for higher order functioning like learning, cognition, and processing stimuli

spinal cord

signal messaging to organs and muscles

spinal reflexes

simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions

reflex arc

neural pathway that controls reflex actions

agonist

increase the action of a neurotransmitter

antagonist

block the function of a neurotransmitter

peripheral nervous system

connects CNS to organs and muslces

autonomic nervous system

involuntary control of glands and organs

sympathetic nervous system

fight or flight

parasympathetic nervous system

rest and digest

somatic nervous system

nerves that convey information to voluntary muscles

hindbrain

part of the brain that coordinates information into and out of the spinal cord and controls basic functions of life

midbrain

part of the brain that controls orientation and movement

forebrain

part of the brain for complex cognitive, emotional, sensory and motor functions

basal ganglia

part of the brain that directs intentional movements

thalamus

part of the brain that receives information and transmits it from the senses to the cerebral cortex

hippocampus

part of the brain that creates and integrates new memories

amygdala

part of the brain that processes emotions

hypothalamus

part of the brain that regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst and sexual behavior

endocrine system

glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream for basic functions

pituitary gland

master gland of the body’s hormone producing system

gene

major unit of hereditary transmission

chromosomes

strands of DNA wound around each other

epigenetics

study of environmental influences that determine whether or not genes are expressed or the degree they are expressed without altering the basic DNA sequence

epigenetic marks

modifications to DNA that can turn on or off the gene

heritability

measure of the variability of behavioral traits among individuals that are caused by genes

contralateral processing

stimuli on the right is sent to the left

split brain

condition where the corpus callosum is severed and info is not shared across hemispheres

electroencephalograph (EEG)

collects electrical activity in the brain

CT scan

x ray photographs around the head, used to localize brain damage

MRI scan

uses magnets to adjust nuclei in the brain tissue, used to localize brain damage

diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

modified MRI that measures rate and direction of diffusion or movement of water molecules

functional magnetic resonance imaging

detects the difference between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin when exposed to magnets

positron emission tomography

measures radioactive tracer that has been injected into a person’s bloodstream