Unit 3- Neuroscience

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85 Terms

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Acetylcholine (ACh)

neurotransmitter involved in many functions including muscle stimulation, memory formation, and learning

  • neurotransmitter

  • memory

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Action Potential

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

  • Na and K

  • impulse

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Activation-synthesis Theory of Dreams

dreams are the result of the cerebral cortex's attempt to make sense of the neural activity occurring in other parts of the brain during sleep

  • explanation for dreams

  • make sense

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Adrenaline

a hormone your adrenal glands make to help you prepare for stressful or dangerous situations

  • stress

  • hormone

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Agonist Molecules

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

  • binds

  • stimulates

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Alpha Waves

waves are typically observed in relaxed states with minimal mental activity, especially during wakefulness

  • relaxed

  • awake

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Antagonist Molecules

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

  • binds

  • blocks response

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Automatic 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

  • glands

  • muscles

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Axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

  • holds K

  • holds Na

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Brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

  • old

  • survival

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Central Nervous System

the brain and spinal cord; body’s decision maker

  • decisions

  • brain

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Cerebellum

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

  • sensory input

  • movement

  • balance

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Cerebral Cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information - processing center

  • info

  • control center

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Circadian Rhythm

the physical, mental, and behavioral changes an organism experiences over a 24-hour cycle

  • awakefulness

  • 24 hr

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Consolidation Theory of Dreams

dreaming is influenced by the consolidation of memory during sleep

  • to consolidate memories

  • theory of why dreams happen

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Corpus Callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

  • connect hemispheres

  • carries messages

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Delta Waves

a type of high amplitude brain wave found in humans that is associated with deep sleep

  • deep sleep

  • slow

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Dendrite

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

  • send messages

  • part of neuron

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Depressants

one classification of drugs that reduce or slow our neural activity and body functions

  • slow

  • drug

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Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in mood, movement, attention, and learning

  • mood

  • learning

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EEG Scan

records the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes attached to the scalp

  • stickers on scalp

  • electrical activity

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Endocrine System

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

  • slow

  • hormones

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Endorphins

“morphine within”—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

  • control pain

  • natural painkillers

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Excitatory Signal

electrical signals that increase the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential

  • increase likelihood

  • action potential

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fMRI Scan

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as its structure

  • brain fuction

  • brain structure

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Frontal Lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

  • maturity

  • judge

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GABA

an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. It reduces neural activity and helps to regulate anxiety and levels

  • reduced activity

  • regulate anxiety

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Genes

the basic units of heredity that maintain their structural identity from one generation to another

  • identity

  • genetics

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Glial Cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

  • protect neurons

  • thinking

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Glutamate

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system

  • excitatory

  • learning and memory

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Hallucinogens

a group of drugs that alter a person's perception of reality

  • hallucinations

  • perception

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Hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

  • messengers

  • endocrine

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Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

  • maintenance

  • emotion

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Hypnagogic Sensation

Brief hallucinations that happen while you’re falling asleep

  • falling dream

  • fake

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Inhibitory Signal

Block chemical messages from being passed further

  • stops

  • inhibits

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Insomnia

A sleep disorder that causes trouble falling asleep and staying asleep

  • cant sleep

  • stress can cause this

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Interneurons

Neurons in between which connect spinal motor and sensory neurons

  • between

  • connect

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Lesion

any abnormal damage or change in the tissue of an organism, often caused by disease or trauma

  • damage

  • change

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Limbic System

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

  • emotions

  • drives

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Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

  • heartbeat

  • breathing

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Melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness

  • sleep

  • hormone

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Motor Cortex

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

  • movement

  • frontal lobe

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Motor Neurons

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

  • brain to muscles

  • leaving brain

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MRI Scan

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissues

  • magnet

  • brain anatomy

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Multiple Sclerosis

occurs with the deterioration of the myelin sheaths, causing slower communication of muscles

  • deterioration of myelin sheaths

  • muscles

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Myasthenia Gravis

body produces antibodies against ACh receptors, causing muscle fatigue and temporary paralysis

  • muscle fatigue

  • antibodies

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Myelin Sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next

  • protects

  • speeds transmission

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Narcolepsy

a neurological disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, often with episodes of falling asleep suddenly during the day

  • sleep

  • like passing out

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Neuron

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

  • building block

  • basics

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Neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

  • new

  • gen- generate

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Neurotransmitter

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

  • messages

  • go to neurons

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Night Terrors

A sleep disorder that causes the sleeper to wake from NREM sleep suddenly with feelings of extreme fear, agitation, or dread

  • nightmares

  • fear

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nREM Sleep

A period of dreamless sleep divided into four distinct, continuous stages

  • not deep sleep

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Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter important in controlling alertness, wakefulness, mood, and attention

  • neurotransmitter

  • alert

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Occipital Lobes

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

  • vision

  • back

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Opioids

a class of drugs that act on the body's opioid receptors, reducing pain and producing feelings of euphoria

  • drug

  • painkiller

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Oxytocin

a hormone that's produced in the hypothalamus and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland

  • love

  • social

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Parasympathetic Nervous System

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

  • calms body

  • energy

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Peripheral Nervous System

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

  • motor

  • sensory

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PET Scan

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

  • visual display

  • glucose

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Pituitary Gland

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

  • growth

  • endocrine

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Plasticity

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

  • change

  • mold

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Pons

allows for the right and left hemispheres of the brain to exchange information about the senses, including sensory input and function

  • exchange info

  • sensory

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REM Sleep

the stage of sleep where most dreams happen

  • rapid eye movement

  • sleep

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Reflex Arc

the pathway of neural stimulation that occurs to translate a sensation into a physical reflexive response

  • reflex

  • stimulation

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Refractory Period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

  • a break

  • recharging

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Resting Potential

the value its membrane potential keeps as long as it is not receiving stimulation or undergoing an action potential

  • at rest

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Reticular Activating System/ Reticular Formation

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

  • arousal

  • network

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Reuptake

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

  • absoption

  • restore

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Reuptake Inhibitor

Drugs that prevent a neurotransmitter from being reabsorbed by presynaptic axons, causing greater activation of postsynaptic receptors

  • stops

  • no reabsorbtion

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Reward Center

a complex network of neural circuits that help regulate motivation, reinforcement, and pleasure responses

  • motivation

  • reinforcement

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Sensory Neurons

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

  • sensory to brain

  • carry info

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Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, mood, appetite, and body temperature

  • happy

  • mood

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Sleep Apnea

episodes during which a sleeper's breathing stops

  • snoring

  • not breathing

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Somatic Nervous System

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

  • skeletal muscles

  • peripheral nervous system

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Somatosensory Cortex

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

  • touch

  • sensory

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Stimulants

substances that excite functional activity in the central nervous system

  • central

  • stimulate activity

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Substance P

The neurotransmitter (excitatory) associated with feelings of pain

  • pain

  • neurotransmitter

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Sympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

  • energy

  • stress

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Synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

  • gap

  • space

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Temporal Lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

  • listening

  • cerebral cortex

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Terminal Branches

change electrical impulses or action potentials within a neuron into chemical messages in the form of neurotransmitters

  • neuron

  • messages

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Thalamus

the brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

  • sensory

  • directs messages

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Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

  • the limit

  • barrier

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Depolarization

stage of action potential in which the axon gains a positive charge as sodium enters

  • gains positive

  • sodium enters