Studied by 0 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
Nature vs. Nurture
The debate concerning the relative importance of heredity (nature) and environment (nurture) in shaping human behavior and mental processes.
Epigenetics
The study of how environmental factors influence gene expression and how genes can be turned on or off.
Plasticity
The brain's ability to change and adapt in response to experience by strengthening or weakening neural connections.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
All the nerves that branch off from the brain and spinal cord, connecting the CNS to the body's organs and muscles.
Afferent Neurons
Also known as sensory neurons; these carry signals from sensory receptors to the CNS.
Efferent Neurons
Also known as motor neurons; they transmit signals from the CNS to the PNS.
Somatic Nervous System
Part of the PNS that controls voluntary movements and the five senses.
Autonomic Nervous System
Part of the PNS that controls involuntary activities like heart rate and digestion.
Sympathetic Division
Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for action (fight or flight response).
Parasympathetic Division
Part of the autonomic nervous system that relaxes the body, conserving energy (rest and digest).
Glial Cells
Cells in the nervous system that provide support and protection for neurons.
Neurons
The basic functional unit of the nervous system responsible for transmitting information through electrical impulses and chemical signals.
Reflex Arc
A neural pathway that allows for a rapid response to a stimulus without input from the brain.
Synapse
The small gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synapse between neurons.
Action Potential
The electrical signal that travels down the axon of a neuron when it communicates with another neuron.
Resting Potential
The state of a neuron when it is not actively transmitting signals, characterized by a resting difference in electrical charge across its membrane.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
A neurological disorder characterized by damage to the myelin sheath, leading to disrupted signal transmission in the nervous system.
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter involved in muscle action, learning, and memory.
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter associated with movement, learning, attention, and emotions.
Endocrine System vs. Nervous System
The endocrine system uses hormones for slower, widespread communication, while the nervous system uses electrical signals for fast, localized communication.
Agonist Drugs
Substances that increase the effectiveness of neurotransmitters.
Antagonist Drugs
Substances that decrease the effectiveness of neurotransmitters.
Hindbrain
The lower part of the brain, including structures that control fundamental bodily functions.
Cerebrum
The largest part of the brain responsible for complex thoughts, divided into two hemispheres.
Lateralization
The concept that different functions are more dominant in one hemisphere of the brain than the other.
Circadian Rhythm
Biological clock governing the 24-hour cycle of physiological processes in the body.
REM Sleep
Rapid Eye Movement sleep, characterized by increased brain activity and vivid dreams.
Nociceptors
Sensory receptors that detect harmful stimuli, resulting in the perception of pain.
Vestibular Sense
The sense of balance and spatial orientation resulting from the movement of fluid in the inner ear.
Kinesthesis
The sense that provides information about the position and movement of body parts.
