Brain, Nervous System, Endocrine, Neuron

Neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

Dopamine (DA)

Chemical messenger mainly associated with pleasure/reward

Lack: Parkinson's Disease, Excess: Schizophrenia

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Lateralization

The idea that each hemisphere of the brain has specialized functions

Corpus Collosum

connects the brains left and right hemispheres

Axon terminals

Branches at the end of the axon that transmit sigals to other neurons

Aphasia

Broca's Aphasia: Affects a persons ability to produce speech and write

Wernicke's Aphasia: makes it difficult to understand spoken and written language

Oxytocin

A hormone excreted through the endocrine system that helps physical functions such as child brith.

SSRI

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, one of the most commonly used drugs to treat depression

Limbic System

refers to multiple parts controling learning, memory, and basic drives

Antagonist

Molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action.

EEG (Electroencephalography)

Amplified recording of waves of electrical activity sweeping across brain's surface; waves are measured by electrodes placed on scalp

Glutamate

excitatory neurotransmitter involved in long-term memory and learning. Excess glutamate can cause migraines, seizures, insomnia

autonomic nervous system

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system; controls the involuntary activity of muscles of the internal organs and glands

Endorphins

inhibits pain signals and regulates pleasure

lack of: lowers pain threshold (no established disorder)

excess: higher pain threshold

afferent neurons

Nerve cells that carry impulses towards the central nervous system

motor nuerons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands

Agonist

Molecule that increases a neuron and neurotransmitters action.

Dendrites

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

GABA

a neurotransmitter that controls sleep, slowing down body

Heritability

the ability of a trait to be passed down from one generation to the next

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

Melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness.

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Serotonin

a neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal. Undersupply linked to depression.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

In the autonomic nervous system of PNS, controls rest, conserve energy, and digestion

Lesion

Tissue destruction. Either naturally or experimentally caused

Nature vs. Nurture

The controversy over the contributions of experience and genes in influencing a persons traits and behaviors.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

a neurotransmitter involved in memory, movement, and learning

axon

a neuron that passes messages through its branches to other neurons.

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

Stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Neuroplasticity

the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma

Hallucinogens

psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

somatic nervous system

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

Sensory Neurons

Sends signals from your senses to the CNS. Found in the PNS

Occipital Lobes

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

Somatic

voluntary

fMRI

A technique for revealing blood flow to show brain function and structure

Amygdala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Parietal Lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

Sympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

Gaba

Sleep, and movement. lack of gaba can result in Huntingtons disease, and anxiety. Excess Gaba can result in being over relaxed/ sedated.

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. the adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress.

PET Scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Depressant

A drug that slows brain and body reactions

Central nervous system (CNS)

- Consists of the brain and spinal cord

Function:

- Interprets sensory info

- Issues instructions (based on past experiences)

- Considered as the processing and command center

Reticular Formation

Part of the brainstem, filters important information and controls arousal

CT scan

series of X-ray images (radiation) from different angles for a 3D picture

Frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Resting state

The state in which a neuron is not being stimulated nor conducting an impulse

hypothalumus

control center for recognition and analysis of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature

Thalamus

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

cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills such as balance and coordination.

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