Lecture Notes Review: Nervous System & Visual Processing

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering various topics in the nervous system and visual processing.

Medicare program

A federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, and for certain younger people with disabilities.

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

Part of the peripheral nervous system; it manages voluntary movements and sensory information from the skin, muscles, and joints.

Central processing

The process by which the brain integrates and interprets sensory information from the environment.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary bodily functions, such as heartbeat and digestion.

Thalamus

A brain structure that relays sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex.

Cerebral cortex

The outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain, responsible for higher brain functions, including conscious thought.

Sound localization

The ability to determine the location of a sound source.

Binocular vision

Vision in which both eyes are used together, providing depth perception.

Visual processing

The method by which the brain interprets and makes sense of visual stimuli captured by the eyes.

Projection tracts

Bundles of neural axons that transmit information between different regions of the brain.

Neuromuscular junction

The synapse or connection point between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fiber.

Reflex actions

Automatic and involuntary responses to stimuli.

Prosopagnosia

A cognitive disorder characterized by the inability to recognize familiar faces.

Circadian rhythm

The physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness.

Prefrontal cortex

The front part of the frontal lobe, associated with executive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, and complex planning.

Corticospinal tract

A descending pathway that conveys motor commands from the brain to the spinal cord.

Primary visual cortex (V1)

The region of the brain that processes visual information received from the eyes.

Oculomotor reflex

The reflex that helps in stabilizing vision by coordinating eye movements in response to head movement.

Pyramidal decussation

The crossing of motor fibers in the medulla oblongata, which allows for contralateral control of limb movements.

Vestibulo-ocular reflex

A reflexive eye movement that stabilizes images on the retina during head movement.