brain pt 2 bottom terms that supposbly nto supposed to be on test but wehre so yah

Blood-brain barrier

a semipermeable membrane-like mechanism that stops some chemicals from passing between the bloodstream and the brain

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

a solution that fills the hollow cavities (ventricles) of the brain and circulates around the brain and spinal cord

Afferent nerve fibers

axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the bodyEfferent nerve fibers

Efferent nerve fibers –

axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body

Electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)

sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate (activate) it

Hindbrain

The part of the brain that includes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brainstem

Inhibitory PSP

An electric potential that decreases the likelihood that postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials

Midbrain

The segment of the brain stem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain

Neuromodulators

Chemicals that increase or decrease (modulate) the activity of specific neurotransmitters

Perceptual Asymmetries

Left-right imbalances between the cerebral hemispheres in the speed of visual or auditory processing

Postsynaptic Potential

A voltage change at the receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane

Soma

The cell body of a neuron; it contains the nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells

Stereotaxic Instrument

a device used to implant electrodes at precise locations of the brain

Synaptic cleft

a microscopic gap between the terminal button of a neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron

Terminal buttons

small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structure with in the brain

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Biological psychology

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

Reflex

a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

Brainstem

the oldest part of the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull

Nervous system

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system

Nerves

neural “cables” containing many axons

Myelin sheath

a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmissions speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next

Synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

Neural networks

interconnected neural cells.

CT scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

PET scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Dendrite

the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory function; remembering, thinking, and speaking