IPissedMyself

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Main inhibitor, contributes to vision, motor control, and anxiety regulation.

Glutamate

Most plentiful, cognitive functions like memory and learning

Oxytocin

Social recognition, bonding, and reproduction

Endorphins

Inhibit pain and promote euphoria/pleasure.

Epinephrine

Adrenaline

Norepinephrine

Fight or flight

Histamine

Immune response and allergic reactions

Dopamine

Reward, motivation, and coordination

Serotonin

Regulates mood, sleep, anxiety, sexuality, and appetite

Adenosine

Neuromodulator, suppresses arousal and improves sleep

ATP

Energy, autonomic control, sensory transducting, and communication with silal cells.

Acetylcholine

Associated with motor neurons, muscle movements, memory, learning, and Alzeheimer’s

Heredity

Passing of traits from parents to offspring

Environment/Behavior

Not just physical but also social environment impact our behaviors. Such as modeling

Evolution

Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.

Charles Darwin

English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)

Traits

Characteristics that are inherited

adaptive value

any trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions

epigenetics

nature + nuture

endocrine system

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

Pituitary gland

controlled by hypothalamus and releases growth hormone. “Master gland”

Thyroid/parathyroid gland

regulates energy, metabolism, and physical growth

Pineal gland

regulates sleep cycle, melatonin

Adrenal Gland

related to sympathetic nervous system, adrenaline

Pancreatic gland

regulates blood sugar levels, insulin, and glucose

Gonads (ovaries/testes)

Influence emotional and physical development, estrogen/testosterone

nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system

consists of the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

somatic nervous system

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

autonomic nervous system

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.

symapthetic nervous system

coordinates arousal; activates

parasympathetic nervous system

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

Neurons

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

afferent

sensory

efferent

motor

Soma

cell body

Dendrites

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

terminal buttons

Small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

Terminals

the small branching structures at the tips of axons

Vesicles

small membrane sacs that specialize in moving products into, out of, and within a cell

Synapse

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

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

reuptake mechanism

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Agonist

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.

antagonist

a compound that blocks or inhibits the action of a neurotransmitter

Hindbrain

An area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Midbrain

Region between the hindbrain and the forebrain; it is important for hearing and sight.

reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Forebrain

The largest and most complicated region of the brain, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

limbic system

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

Amygdala

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

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

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

cerebral cortex

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

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

frontal lobe

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

motor cortex

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

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.

parietal lobe

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

sensory cortex

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

temporal lobe

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

Wernicke's area

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

brain lateralization

specialization of function in each hemisphere

hemispheric specialization

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

left hemisphere

controls the right side of the body; analytical, language, math

right hemisphere

controls the left side of the body; creative, intuitive, spacial

case studies

a research method that involves the intensive examination of unusual people or organizations

split-brain surgery

procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures

split brain patients

corpus collosum is severed, two hemispheres of the brain don't communicate as effectively

X-rays

Electromagnetic radiation having a very short wavelength; can penetrate substances such as skin and muscle.

CAT scan (computerized axial tomography)

process that includes the use of a computer to produce a series of images of the tissues of the brain at any desired depth

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

is a brain imaging technique that detects magnetic changes in the brain's blood flow patterns.

fMRI (functional MRI)

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans, show brain function.

PET scan (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

Lesioning

removal or destruction of part of the brain

autopsy

An examination of the body after death usually with such dissection as will expose the vital organs for determining the cause of death.

Roger Sperry

like Gazzaniga, studied split brain patients; showed that left/right hemispheres have different functions

Neuroplasticity

the ability of the nervous system to change in response to experience or the environment

Michael Gazzaniga

1939-present; Field: cognition (neuroscience); Studied of the neural basis of mind with primary responsibility for initiating human split-brain research. In his subsequent work he has made important advances in our understanding of functional lateralization in the brain and how the cerebral hemispheres communicate with one another.

states of consciousness

levels of consciousness ranging from alert wakefulness to deep sleep

higher level consciousness

Controlled Processing, in which individuals are actively thinking and alert--focused on their tasks and goals.

lower level consciousness

automatic processes and daydreaming

altered state of consciousness

state in which there is a shift in the quality or pattern of mental activity as compared to waking consciousness

unconscious

not within thought; not awake

Stages of sleep

1. Lightest Sleep (NREM) 2. Slightly Deeper Sleep (NREM) 3. Deeper Sleep (NREM) 4. Delta Waves are omitted but there is not much difference between this stage and stage 3 (NREM) 5. REM

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

the period of sleep that is found in older children and adults and is associated with dreaming

psychoactive drugs

chemicals that affect the central nervous system and alter activity in the brain

Depressants

drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Stimulants

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Hallucinogens

psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

drug dependence

a severe drug-related problem characterized by impaired control over the use of the drug

Addicton

compulsive drug craving and use, despite adverse consequences

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect

withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug