Chpt. 3 - Biopsychology and the Foundations of Neuroscience

Action Potential

The nerve impulse caused by a change in the electrical charge across the cell membrane of the axon. When the neuron "fires," this charge travels down the axon and causes neurotransmitters to be released by the terminal buttons

Agonist

Drug or other chemical that enhances or mimics the effects of neurotransmitters

All - or - None Principle

Refers to the fact that the action potential in the axon occurs either full-blown or not at all

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression

Antagonist

Drug or other chemical that inhibits the effects of neurotransmitters

Association Cortex

Cortical regions throughout the brain that combine information from various other parts of the brain

Autonomic Nervous System

The portion of the peripheral nervous system that sends communication between the central nervous system and the internal organs and glands

Axon

In a nerve cell, an extended fiber that conducts information from the soma to the terminal buttons. Information travels along the ___ in the form of an electric charge called the action potential

Biopsychology

The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and mental processes

Brain Stem

The most primitive of the brain's three major layers. It includes the medulla, pons, and the reticular formation

Central Nervous System

The brain and the spinal cord

Cerebellum

The "little brain" attached to the brain stem. The ___ is responsible for coordinated movements

Cerebral Cortex

The thin grey matter covering of the cerebral hemispheres consisting of a 1/4 inch layer dense with cell bodies of neurons. This carries on the major portion of our "higher" mental processing, including thinking and perceiving

Cerebral Dominance

The tendency of each brain hemisphere to exert control over different functions, such as language or perception of spatial relationships

Chromosome

Tightly coiled threadlike structures along which the genes are organized, like beads on a necklace. ___ consist primarily of DNA

Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)

A computerized imaging technique that uses X rays passed through the brain at various angles and then combined into an image

Corpus Callosum

The band of nerve cells that connects the two cerebral hemispheres

Dendrite

A branched fiber that extends outward from the main cell body and carries information into the neuron

DNA

A long, complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics. ___ is an abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A device for recording brain waves, typically by electrodes placed on the scalp. The record produced is known as an ___

Endocrine System

The hormone system - the body's chemical messenger system, including the what glands: pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries and testes

Evolution

The gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environment

Frontal Lobes

Cortical regions at the front of the brain that are especially involved in movement and in thinking

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI)

A type of MRI that reveals which parts of the brain are most active during various mental activities

Gene

Segments of a chromosome that encodes the directions for the inherited physical and mental characteristics of an organism. ___ are the functional units of a chromosome

Genotype

An organism's genetic makeup

Glial Cells

Cells that bind the neurons together. ___ ___ also provide an insulating covering (the myelin sheath) of the axon for some neurons, which facilitates the electrical impulse

Hippocampus

A component of the limbic system, involved in establishing long term memories

Hormone

A chemical messenger used by the endocrine system. Many ___ also serve as neurotransmitters

Hypothalamus

A limbic structure that serves as the brain's blood testing laboratory constantly monitoring the blood to determine the condition of the body

Interneuron

A nerve cell that relays messages between nerve cells, especially in the brain and spinal cord

Limbic System

The middle layer of the brain, involved in emotion and memory. The ___ ___ includes that hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other structures

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An imaging technique that relies on cells' responses on a high - intensity magnetic field

Medulla

A brain stem structure that controls breathing and heart rate. The sensory and motor pathways connecting the brain to the body cross in the ___

Motor Cortex

A narrow vertical strip of cortex in the frontal lobes, lying just in front of the central fissure: controls voluntary movement

Motor Neuron

Nerve cell that carries messages away from the central nervous system towards the muscles and glands. Also called an efferent neuron

Natural Selection

The driving force behind evolution, by which the environment "selects" the fittest organism

Nervous System

The entire network of neurons in the body, including the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and their subdivisions

Neural Pathway

Bundle of nerve cells that follow generally the same route and employ the same neurotransmitter

Neuron

Cell specialized to receive and transmit information to other cells in the body - also called a nerve cell. Bundles of many ___ are called nerves

Neuroscience

A relatively new interdisciplinary field that focuses on the brain and its role in psychological processes

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that relay neural messages across the synapse. Many ___ are also hormones

Occipital Lobes

The cortical regions at the back of the brain, housing the visual cortex

Parasympathetic Division

The part of the autonomic nervous system that monitors the routine operations of the internal organs and returns the body to calmer functioning after arousal by the sympathetic divisions

Parietal Lobes

Cortical areas lying toward the back and top of the brain; involved in touch sensation and in perceiving spatial relationships

Peripheral Nervous System

All parts of this particular nervous system lie outside the central nervous system. This includes the autonomic and somatic nervous system

Phenotype

An organism's observable physical characteristics

Pituitary Gland

The "master gland" that produces hormones influencing the secretions of all other endocrine glands, as well as a hormone that influences growth. The is attached to the brain's hypothalamus, from which it takes its orders.

Plasticity

The nervous system's ability to adapt or change as the result of experience. ___ may also help the nervous system adapt to physical damage

Pons

A brain stem structure that regulates brain activity during sleep and dreaming. The name derives from the Latin word for "bridge”

Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan)

An image technique that relies on the detection of radioactive sugar consumed by active brain cells

Reflex

A simple, unlearned response triggered by stimuli - such as the knee jerk ___ set off by tapping the tendon just below your kneecap

Resting Potential

The electrical charge of the axon in its inactive state, when the neuron is ready to "fire”

Reticular Formation

A pencil shaped structure forming the core of the brain stem. The arouses the cortex to keep the brain alert and attentive to new stimulations

Sensory Neuron

Nerve cells that carries messages from sense receptors toward the central nervous system. Also called an afferent neuron

Sex Chromosomes

The X and the Y chromosomes that determine our physical sex characteristics

Soma

The part of a cell (such as a neuron) containing the nucleus, which includes the chromosomes. Also called the cell body

Somatic Nervous System

A division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information to the central nervous system and also sends voluntary messages to the body's skeletal muscles

Somatosensory Cortex

A strip of the parietal lobe lying just behind the central fissure. The is involved with sensations of touch

Sympathetic Division

The part of the autonomic nervous system that sends messages to internal organs and glands that help us respond to stressful and emergency situations

Synapse

The microscopic gap that serves as a communications link between neurons. ___ also occur between neurons and the muscles or glands they serve

Synaptic Transmissions

The relaying of information across the synapse by means of chemical neurotransmitters

Synaptic Vesicle

A small "container" holding neurotransmitter molecules that then connects to the presynaptic membrane, releasing the neurotransmitter into the synapse

Temporal Lobes

Cortical lobes that process sounds, including speech. They are probably involved in storing long term memories.

Terminal Buttons

Tiny bulblike structures at the end of the axon, which contain neurotransmitters that carry the neuron's message into the synapse

Thalamus

The brain's central "relay station," situated just atop the brain stem. Nearly all the messages going into or out of the brain go through this

Visual Cortex

The visual processing areas of cortex in the occipital and temporal lobes