Psychology (3rd edition by Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner and Nock) Chapter 3

cell body

largest component of the neuron that coordinates the information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive

Dendrites

receive information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body

Axon

carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Synapse

the junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another

Sensory neurons

receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord

Motor Neurons

carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement

Interneurons

connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons

Resting Potential

the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron's cell membrane

Action Potential

an electric signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron's axon to synapse

Refractory Period

time when there cannot be action potential

Neurotransmitters

chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron's dendrites

Receptors

parts of the cell membrane that receive neurotransmitters and either initiate or prevent a new signal

Agonists

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

Antagonists

drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter

Nervous System

an interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout in the body

Central Nervous System (CNS)

composed of the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

connects the central nervous system to the body's organs and muscles

Somatic Nervous System

a set of nerves that conveys information between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system

Autonomic Nervous System

a set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands

Sympathetic Nervous System

a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations

Parasympathetic Nervous System

helps the body return to normal resting state

Spinal Reflexes

simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions

Hindbrain

an area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord; basic; medulla, cerebellum, pons

Cerebral Cortex

the outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye, and divided into two hemispheres

Subcortical Structures

areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the center of the brain

Thalamus

relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex

Hypothalamus

regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior

Pituitary Gland

the "master gland" of the body's hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body

Limbic System

a group of forebrain structures including the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, and the amygdala, which involved in motivation, emotion, learning, and memory

Hippocampus

critical for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex

Amygdala

located at the tip of each horn of the hippocampus, plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories

Basal Ganglia

a set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements

Corpus Callosum

connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres

Occipital Lobe

processes visual information; located at the back of the cerebral cortex

Parietal Lobe

processing information about touch

Temporal Lobe

responsible for hearing and language

Frontal Lobe

specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

Association Areas

composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex

contralateral control

each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body

mirror neurons

neurons in the brain that are activated when one observes another individual engage in an action and when one performs a similar action