Inhibitory neurotransmitters
chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that make it LESS likely that the next neuron will fire
Excitatory neurotransmitters
chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that make it MORE likely that the next neuron will fire
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that affects hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood.
Norepinephrine
A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation
Glutamate
Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.
GABA
The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.
Endorphins
natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Substance P
A neurotransmitter that is involved in the transmission of pain messages to the brain.
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction
Pituitary Gland
Master gland controlling hormone release.
Adrenaline
Hormone that prepares body for fight-or-flight.
Leptin
Hormone regulating energy balance and hunger.
Ghrelin
Hormone that stimulates appetite and hunger.
Melatonin
Hormone regulating sleep-wake cycles.
Oxytocin
Hormone associated with bonding and social behavior.
Split brain research
The study of patients with severed corpus callosum (involves sending messages to only one side of the brain) which demonstrated right and left brain specialization
Epilepsy
Neurological disorder causing recurrent seizures.
Hemispheric specialization
The control of distinct neurological functions by the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
Broca's area
Brain region responsible for speech production.
Wernicke's area
Brain region important for language comprehension.
Aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).
Contralateral hemispheric organization
left side of brain controls right side of body while right brain controls left body except smell
Plasticity
the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
EEG
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
fMRI
A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.
Lesioning
removal or destruction of part of the brain