Psychology Study Notes: Nervous System and Brain Structures

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and structures of the nervous system and brain, neurons, neurotransmitters, and neuroplasticity.

Medulla

Regulates breathing and heart rate; essential for survival, with damage being fatal.

Pons

Active during sleep and dreaming; acts as a 'bridge' connecting lower and upper brain structures.

Cerebellum

Controls voluntary muscle movements and balance; responsible for procedural memories.

Limbic System

Responsible for emotional experiences; sometimes called the emotional center.

Hypothalamus

Regulates stress, hunger, thirst, sex drive, and sleep; maintains homeostasis.

Thalamus

A sensory relay station that directs sensory information (except smell) to the cortex.

Amygdala

Central to fear and emotional responses.

Hippocampus

Forms new long-term memories; affected by alcohol, leading to blackouts.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer, highly wrinkled layer of the brain, increasing surface area and processing power, divided into left and right hemispheres with four lobes.

Occipital Lobe

Located at the back of the head, primarily processes visual information from the eyes.

Temporal Lobe

Located near the ears, processes auditory information and includes Wernicke’s area for understanding language.

Wernicke's area

A region within the temporal lobe responsible for understanding language.

Parietal Lation Lobe

Processes taste, temperature, and touch; contains the somatosensory cortex.

Somatosensory cortex

Interprets body sensations, with larger areas dedicated to parts with more sensory receptors (e.g., lips vs. elbow).

Frontal Lobe

Manages planning, impulse control, and complex cognitive behaviors (prefrontal cortex); contains the motor cortex and Broca’s area.

Prefrontal cortex

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for planning, impulse control, and complex cognitive behaviors.

Motor cortex

Located in the frontal lobe, controls voluntary movement.

Broca's area

A region within the frontal lobe responsible for speech production.

Corpus Callosum

A bundle of fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres, allowing communication between them.

Contralateral Control

The principle that the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body, and the right hemisphere controls the left side.

Left Hemisphere

Responsible for language (spoken/written), logic, math, and detail-oriented processes.

Right Hemisphere

Responsible for nonverbal functions, visual-spatial perception, music, emotional processing, and pattern/facial recognition.

Neuron

Cells that relay information throughout the nervous system.

Dendrites

Parts of a neuron that receive information.

Axons

Parts of a neuron that send information.

Synapse

The gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released.

Myelin sheath

A covering around axons that speeds impulse transmission.

Norepinephrine

An excitatory neurotransmitter involved in alertness, arousal, and mood.

Glutamate

An excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory; high levels are implicated in migraines.

Dopamine

An excitatory neurotransmitter involved in pleasure and movement; implicated in schizophrenia and addiction.

Endorphins

An inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for pain relief and the 'runners’ high'.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in sleep regulation.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter (both excitatory and inhibitory) involved in muscle contraction, attention, and memory; low levels are found in Alzheimer’s.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter (both excitatory and inhibitory) involved in mood, arousal, sleep, and appetite; low levels are linked to depression and anxiety.

Agonist

A substance that mimics a neurotransmitter, activating its receptor.

Antagonist

A substance that blocks a neurotransmitter, preventing its activation.

Neuroplasticity

The brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life, forming new neural pathways and weakening old ones.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Composed of the brain and spinal cord, acting as the primary control center for the body.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Consists of all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, linking the CNS to the rest of the body.

Somatic Nervous System

A division of the PNS that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information from the skin and muscles to the CNS.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A division of the PNS that controls involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, respiration, and arousal.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A subdivision of the ANS responsible for the 'fight or flight' response, preparing the body for stressful situations.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A subdivision of the ANS responsible for the 'rest and digest' response, calming the body and conserving energy.