Brain

Central Nervous System

Consists of the brain and spinal cord, primary center for processing information.

Somatic Nervous System

Manages muscle nerves, sends and receives messages, controls voluntary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System

Partially voluntary, includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system; responsible for 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system; calms down the body after 'fight or flight' response.

Sensory Neurons

Receive sensory messages and process information from the five senses.

Motor Neurons

Control voluntary movement, analogous to an engine in a car.

Interneurons

Connect different neurons, intercepting and modifying messages between sensory and motor neurons.

Dendrites

Parts of a neuron that receive messages from other neurons.

Axon

The long 'wire' of a neuron that sends electrical signals.

Action Potential

An electrical impulse in a neuron that always has the same strength.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward behaviors and addiction.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, targeted by medications like Prozac.

Adrenaline

A neurotransmitter and hormone involved in the body's fight or flight response.

Hindbrain

The part of the brain responsible for basic functions, often referred to as the 'reptilian brain'.

Thalamus

A major brain area that acts as the sensory relay center.

Frontal Lobe

The brain region responsible for unique human characteristics such as planning, language, and intelligence.

Broca's Area

The brain area in the frontal lobe involved in producing language.

Wernicke's Area

The brain area responsible for understanding language.

Phineas Gage

A railroad worker whose personality changed drastically after a prefrontal cortex injury, illustrating the brain's role in personality.