AP Psychology - Parts of the Brain and Neurotransmitters

Cerebral cortex

Processes and organizes information

Primary motor cortex

Sends signals controlling muscle movements/fine motor movements

Cross functional

Frontal lobe

Executive functioning, decision making, and judgements

Prefrontal cortex

Judgement, planning, and processing of new memories

Broca’s area

Controls the muscles that produce speech

Wernicke’s area

Word processing

Somatosensory cortex

Registers information from the skin senses and body movement

Angular gyrus

Translates visual representation into auditory code

Parietal lobe

Spatial reasoning

Occipital lobe

Visual cortex

Organization and processing of visual information

Temporal lobe

Auditory cortex

Organization and processing of auditory information

Contains Wernicke’s area

Assists memory

Brain stem

Medulla, PONS, Reticular formation, thalamus, and cerebellum

Basic functions of life

Cerebellum

Coordinates movement and balance, processes sensory input, judgement of time, and enables nonverbal learning and memory

Limbic system

Amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus

Associated with drive and emotions

Amygdala

Aggression and fear

Facial recognition

Hippocampus

Processes and stores specific/explicit memories and facts

Short term memory

Thalamus

Receives sensory information and sends them to the proper cortex

Hypothalamus

Rewards good behavior

Body maintenance such as sweating, hunger, and thirst

Regulates endocrine system

Medulla

Controls heartbeat and breathing

Reticular formation

Arousal

Gets you to do things

PONS

Unconscious movement

Sleeping and breathing

Corpus callosum

Connects the two hemispheres allowing for communication between them

Pituitary gland

Controlled by the hypothalamus, responsible for the release of hormones

Pineal gland

Controls melatonin and sleep cycle

Glial cells

Support cells for the nervous sytem
“Worker bees”

Synaptic gap

The space between two neurons where reuptake occurs

Enzyme

Breaks down old/messed up neurotransmitters

Dendrite

Receives signals from other cells

Axon terminal

Forms junction with other cells

Reuptake

Occurs after the “button” gets pushed by the neurotransmitter

Myelin sheath

Increases speed of the neuron’s signal

Axon

Transfers signals to other cells and organs

Cell body

Organizes and keeps the cell functional

Depolarization and threshold

First part of a neurotransmitter reaction, energy builds up and shoots the neuron down the axon.

Action potential

the rapid, electrical impulse that travels along a neuron's axon, enabling it to send signals to other neurons

Multiple sclerosis

Breaks down the Myelin sheath, slowing down signals

Dopamine

Controls movement, learning, attention, and emotion

Serotonin

Controls mood, sleep, and hunger

Norepinephrine

Controls alertness and arousal

Glutamate

Controls learning and memory

GABA

Controls sleep

Endorphins

Controls your perception of pain or pleasure

Substance p

Controls your immune function

ACh

Controls muscle action and attention

Agonist

Mimics a neurotransmitter

Antagonist

Blocks the neurotransmitter’s receptor

Prozac (SSRI)

Blocks the reuptake of serotonin

Ritalin

Blocks dopamine and norepinephrine transporters

Caffeine

Blocks adenosine receptors

Stimulant

Cocaine

Blocks dopamine reuptake

Stimulant

Alcohol

Enhances GABA function
Depressant

Marijuana

Suppresses neurotransmitters release

Hallucinogen

Opioids

Reduces neurotransmitter release

Depressant

Heroin

Agonist that mimics the effect of endorphins

Depressant

Hallucinogens

Interferes with serotonin and glutamate

Myasthenia gravis (MG)

Blocks Ach receptors

Sensory neurons

Send messages from sensory receptors to inter neurons

Inter neurons

Process information from sensory neurons and motor neurons

Motor neurons

Carry instructions from inter neurons to muscles and glands

Leptin

Inhibits hunger when you don’t need energy

Comes from pituitary gland/body fat

Melatonin

Regulates the body’s circadian rhythm

Comes from the pineal gland

Ghrelin

Triggers hunger, growth hormones, insulin release, and protects cardiovascular health

Comes from the pituitary gland

Oxytocin

Improves relationships/bonding hormone

Comes from pituitary gland

Cortisol

Stress hormone

Comes from adrenal glands

Adrenalin

Prepares body for emergencies/fight or flight response

Comes from adrenal glands

Impact of stress on the nervous system

Pupils dilate, heartbeat accelerates, digestion inhibition, glucose release, and bladder relaxation