Psychology 6th edition (James S. Nairne) Chapter 3 review

Neuroscience

The study of the connection between the brain and behavior

Neurons

They receive, transmit, integrate information electrochemically

Sensory Neurons

Make initial contact with the environment and are responsible for carrying the message inward toward the spinal cord and brain

Interneurons

Make no direct contact with the world, but they convey information from one internal processing site to another

Motor Neurons

Carry the message and commands away from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands that directly produce behavior

Myelin Sheath

These are Glial Cells wrapped around portions of the neuron, they insulate it and speed up neural transmission

Reflexes

Largely automatic body reactions, such as the knee jerk, that are controlled by spinal cord pathways

Dendrites

The fibers that extend outward from a neuron and receive information from other neurons

Soma

The cell body of a neuron

Axon

The long tail-like part of a neuron that serves as the cell's transmitter

Terminal Buttons

The tiny swellings at the end of the axon that contain chemicals important to neural transmission

Synapse

The small gap between the terminal buttons of a neuron and the dendrite or cell body of another neuron

Action Potential

The all-or-none electrical signal that travels down a neuron's axon

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that relay information from one neuron to the next

Communication of Neurons

Dendrites-->Soma-->Axon-->Terminal Buttons-->Synapse-->Dendrites-->etc.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and the spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The network of nerves that links the Central Nervous System with the rest of the body

Efferent (Motor) Nerve Pathways

Carry CNS messages outward toward to the muscles and glands

Nerves

Bundles of axons that make up neural "transmission cables"

Somatic System

The collection of nerves that transmit information toward the brain and connects to the skeletal muscles to initiate movement; part of the PNS

Autonomic System

The collection of nerves that controls the more autonomic needs of the body (such as heart rate, digestion, blood pressure); part of the PNS

Assessing brain damage and lesion

Associate areas of brain damage with changes in behavioral function

Electrical Brain Stimulation

Uses electrical or chemical stimulation to excite brain areas

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A device used to monitor the gross electrical activity of the brain

Computerized tomography scan (CT scan)

The use of highly focused beams of X-rays to construct detailed anatomical maps of the living brain

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A method for measuring how radioactive substances are absorbed in the brain; it can be used to detect how specific tasks activate different areas of the living brain

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A device that uses magnetic fields and radio-wave pulses to construct detailed, 3D images of the brain; "Functional" MRI's can be used to map changes in blood oxygen use a function of task activity

Hindbrain

A primitive part of the brain that sits at the juncture point where the brain and spinal cord merge, Structures include the medulla, pons, and reticular formation act as basic life-support system for the body

Cerebellum

A hindbrain structure at the base of the brain that is involved in the coordination of complex motor skills

Midbrain

The middle portion of the brain, containing such structures as the tectum, superior colliculus, and inferior colliculus; structures serve as neural relay stations and may help coordinate reactions to sensory events

Forebrain

The outer portion of the brain, including the cerebral cortex and the structures of the limbic system

Thalamus

A relay station in the forebrain thought to be an important gathering point for input from the senses

Hypothalamus

A forebrain structure thought to play a role in the regulation of various motivational activities, including eating, drinking, and sexual behavior

Limbic System

A system of structures thought to be involved in motivational and emotional behaviors and sexual behavior

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain, considered to be the seat of higher mental processes. Has four anatomical regions called lobes.

Frontal Lobe

One of four anatomical regions of each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex, located on the top front of the brain; it contains the motor cortex and may be involved in higher-level thought processes

Parietal Lobe

One of four anatomical regions of each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex, located roughly on the top middle portion of the brain; it contains the somatosensory cortex, which controls the sense of touch

Temporal Lobe

One of four anatomical regions of each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex, located roughly on the sides of the brain; it's involved in certain aspects of speech and language perception

Occipital Lobe

One of four anatomical regions of each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex, located at the back of the brain; visual processing is controlled here

Corpus Callosum

The collection of nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and allows information to pass from one side to the other

Endocrine System

A network of glands that uses the bloodstream, rather than neurons, to send chemical messages that regulate growth and other internal functions

Hormones

Chemicals released into the blood by the various endocrine glands to help control a variety of internal regulatory functions

Pituitary Gland

A kind of master gland in the body that controls the release of hormones in response to signals from the hypothalmus

Adaptation

A trait that has been selected for by nature because it increases the reproductive "fitness" of the organism