AP Psych Vocabulary 2

Spinal Cord

Two-way information highway that connects the PNS and the brain; sends up sensory information and sends back motor-control information.

Endocrine System

The body's chemical communication system that is made of a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Pituitary Gland

Most influential gland under influence of the hypothalamus that regulates growth and controls other glands.

Medulla

The base of the brainstem that controls involuntary vital functions such as reflexes, breathing, heart rate, sneezing, coughing, and swallowing.

Reticular Formation

A nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays a role in arousal.

Pons

Sits above the medulla on the brainstem and is involved with sleep and arousal.

Thalamus

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

Cerebellum

Located at the rear of the brainstem, its functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output/balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

Limbic System

Neural system located between the cerebral hemispheres that is associated with emotions and drives, contains Amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus

Amygdala

Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters linked to emotion such as aggression and fear.

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus that directs several maintenance activities such as eating, drinking, body temperature, helps govern the endocrine system through the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Hippocampus

Neural center located in the limbic system that helps process conscious memories for storage.

Cerebral Cortex

Interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center.

Frontal Lobe

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying behind the forehead that is involved in speaking, muscle movement, and making plans and judgements.

Motor Cortex

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement.

Prefrontal Cortex

Located in the frontal lobe, controls impulses, planning, decision making, higher order thinking and emotional regulation.

Parietal Lobe

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and towards the rear, receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Somatosensory Cortex

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

Occipital Lobe

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

Temporal Lobe

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying above the ears that includes auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.

Broca’s Area

An area in the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs muscle movements involved in speech and controls language expression.

Wernicke’s Area

An area usually in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression; controls language reception.

Plasticity

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

Left Hemisphere

The cerebral hemisphere to the left of the corpus callosum, controlling activities on the right side of the body and speech and language functions. Also handles tasks such as reading, writing, speaking, arithmetic reasoning and understanding.

Right Hemisphere

The cerebral hemisphere to the right of the corpus callosum, controlling activities on the left side of the body and perception of spatial and nonverbal concepts. Also handles creativity, spatial ability, artistic, and musical skills.

Corpus Callosum

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