1.5-1.6: Chemical Messengers, Neuroplasticity & Specialization

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