Unit 2 - BioPsychology

Autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

Myelin Sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Central nervous system

consists of the brain and spinal cord

Somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

endocrine system

Glands secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use (metabolism) by body cells.

Neural network

refers to interconnected neuron cells

Lesioning

destroying a piece of the brain

Medulla Oblongata

Part of the brainstem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.

Reticular Formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling alertness and awareness

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills and balance

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Amygdala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

Glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Parietal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

Temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

Motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

Sensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

Association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

Aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).

Broca's area

Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

hemispheric specialization

The control of distinct neurological functions by the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

Phrenology

the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium (skull enclosing the brain) as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities.

Nueron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Motor nuerons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

Dendrite

the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Axon

A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

Action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Synapse

A junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next.

Nuerotransmitters

Chemical messangers released from nueron to nueron.

Reuptake

action by which a neurotransmitter is quickly drawn back into the discharging neuron after being released into a synaptic cleft

Endorphins

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure (feel good)

Nervous system

the network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.

Peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body (deals with movement) consists of the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord.

Sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that awakens/evokes the body, activating its energy in stressful situations (FIGHT OR FLIGHT FIGHT OR FLIGHT FIGHT OR FLIGHT )

Parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Adernal glands

Glands at the top of each kidney that are responsible for regulating moods, energy level, and the ability to cope with stress.

Pituitary gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Multiple Sclerosis

myelin sheath destruction. disruptions in nerve impulse conduction

Parkinson's disease

A disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often including tremors.

EEG

electroencephalogram: An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

PET

positron emission tomography: a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

Brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull;

Thalamus

relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion

Frontal lobe

associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving

Wernicke's area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension; usually in the left temporal lobe

Plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them