OpenStax Chapter 3 Neuroscience Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards generated from OpenStax Chapter 3 Neuroscience lecture notes covering genetics, cellular brain structures, neurotransmitters, nervous system divisions, brain lobes, and neuroimaging methods.

Behavioral Genetics

The study of the relative effects of heredity and environment.

Evolutionary Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies how natural selection and adaptation from our ancestors help explain behavior and mental processes.

Neuroscience

An interdisciplinary field, also known as biopsychology or psychobiology, that relates biological processes to behavior and mental processes.

Genotype

The underlying genetic ingredients for any given trait.

Phenotype

The physical expression of a trait based on the combination of genes received from parents.

Dominant Genes

Heterozygous genes whose trait is revealed when even one is present.

Recessive Genes

Homozygous genes whose trait is revealed only when paired with another recessive gene.

Polygenic

Refers to traits that are controlled by multiple genes.

Mutation

A sudden permanent change in a gene.

Reaction Range

A gene-environment interaction concept stating that genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall.

Gene Environment Correlation

The concept that our genes influence our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes.

Epigenetics

The study of how the same genotype can be expressed in different ways.

Neurons

Basic interconnected information-processor cells within the nervous system that receive and conduct electrical impulses.

Glial Cells

Cells that support neurons by cleaning up, insulating, transporting nutrients and waste, mediating immune responses, and assisting in nervous system communication.

Dendrites

Structures of a neuron that receive information from other neurons and sensory receptors.

Cell Body (Soma)

Structure of a neuron that receives information from dendrites and passes the message on to the axon if enough stimulation is received.

Axon

Structure of a neuron that carries the neuron's message to other body cells.

Myelin Sheath

A layer covering the axon of some neurons to insulate and help speed neural impulses.

Terminal Buttons

Endings located at the end of an axon that form junctions with other cells and release chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Threshold of Excitation

The specific level of charge a neuron must reach for it to become active and initiate an action potential.

All or None Phenomenon

The principle that an incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation.

Reuptake

The process where a neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it in order to clear the synapse.

Agonist

A drug that mimics a neurotransmitter at the receptor site.

Antagonist

A drug that fills receptor space and blocks normal neurotransmitter activation.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter affecting mood, sleep, appetite, sensory perception, temperature regulation, pain suppression, and impulsivity, with low levels associated with depression.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle action, cognitive functioning, memory, REM sleep, and emotion, with a suspected role in Alzheimer's disease.

Dopamine (DA)

A neurotransmitter involved in movement, attention, memory, learning, and emotion; excess is associated with schizophrenia, and too little with Parkinson's disease.

Norepinephrine (NE)

A neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, dreaming, emotion, alertness, wakefulness, and stress reactions; low levels are associated with depression.

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A neurotransmitter involved in neural inhibition in the central nervous system that decreases anxiety.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters involved in mood, pain, memory, and learning.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord that directs mental and basic life processes.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The division of the nervous system that carries information to and from the central nervous system throughout the rest of the body.

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

A subdivision of the PNS that controls voluntary muscles and conveys sensory information to the CNS.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A subdivision of the PNS that controls involuntary basic life functions such as heartbeat and stress response.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A branch of the ANS that arouses the body to expend energy and respond to threats.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A branch of the ANS that calms the body to conserve energy and restore the status quo.

Homeostasis

A state of equilibrium in which biological conditions (such as body temperature) are maintained at optimal levels.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to reorganize and change its structure and function throughout the lifespan.

Neurogenesis

The division and differentiation of non-neuronal cells to produce new neurons.

Stem Cells

Precursor cells that have the capacity to mature into any cell needed.

Gyri

Distinctive pattern of folds or bumps on the cerebral cortex.

Sulci

Distinctive grooves on the cerebral cortex.

Longitudinal Fissure

A deep groove that separates the brain into two halves or hemispheres.

Lateralization

The condition in which each hemisphere of the brain is specialized for particular functions.

Corpus Callosum

A thick band of fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

Reticular Formation

A network of neurons in the midbrain that filters incoming sensory information and alerts higher brain centers of important events.

Medulla

Hindbrain structure responsible for breathing, heartbeat, emesis, and other vital life functions.

Pons

Hindbrain structure involved with respiration, movement, waking, sleep, and dreaming.

Cerebellum

Hindbrain structure that coordinates fine muscle movement, balance, and some perception and cognition.

Thalamus

Forebrain structure that integrates input from the senses and relays sensory messages to the cortex.

Hypothalamus

Forebrain structure responsible for regulating basic drives such as hunger, thirst, sex, and aggression, and controlling the pituitary gland.

Limbic System

A collection of forebrain structures involved in emotions, drives, and memory.

Frontal Lobe

Lobe responsible for complex behaviors, higher mental processes, motor control, speech production, and coordinating messages from other lobes.

Broca's Area

Located in the lower part of the frontal lobe; controls speech production.

Parietal Lobe

Lobe that receives information about pressure, pain, touch, temperature, and location of body parts.

Occipital Lobe

Lobe responsible for vision and visual perception.

Temporal Lobe

Lobe responsible for hearing, language comprehension, memory, and some emotional control.

Wernicke's Area

Located in the upper part of the temporal lobe; controls language comprehension.

Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)

An X-ray technique used to determine whether someone has a brain tumor or significant brain atrophy.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

An imaging method using a radioactive injection to monitor blood flow and create pictures of the living, active brain.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An imaging method that uses a magnetic field to activate and track hydrogen atoms to visualize brain structure.

Functional MRI (fMRI)

An imaging technique that tracks blood flow and oxygen levels over time to show detailed images of brain structure and activity.