neurons
nerve cells specialized for communication
central nervous system (CNS)
part of the nervous system containing brain and spinal cord that enables mind and behavior
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
nerves in the body that extend outside the central nervous system
forebrain
forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities; also known as the cerebrum
cerebral cortex
outermost part of the forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing and higher brain function
corpus callosum
bundle of nerve fibers connecting the cerebrum's two hemispheres
hypothalamus
controls the body's endocrine or hormone-producing system
Thalamus
area that relays nerve signals to the cerebral cortex
cerebellum
regulates balance and body control
brain stem
regulates control of involuntary functions such as breathing and heart rate
cerebral hemispheres
two halves of the cerebral cortex, which serve different yet highly integrated cognitive functions
frontal lobe
forward part of the cerebral cortex containing the motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex, responsible for motor function, language, and memory
motor cortex
part of the frontal lobe responsible for body movement
prefrontal cortex
part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language
Broca's area
language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech and production
aphasia
serious speech deficit that render a person unable to communicate effectively
parietal lobe
upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe specialized for touch and perception
temporal lobe
lower part of cerebral cortex below the temples, which play roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory
Wernicke's area
part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech
occipital lobe
back part of the cerebral cortex specialized for vision
sensory cortex
regions of the cerebral cortex devoted to vision, touch, hearing, balance, taste, and smell
association cortex
regions of the cerebral cortex that integrates simpler functions to perform more complex functions
basal ganglia
structures in the forebrain that help control movement
dopamine
neurotransmitter that plays a role in movement and reward
basal forebrain
region in forebrain containing acetylcholine neurons that affect activity of the cortex
acetylcholine
neurotransmitter used to control activity, including movement, memory, attention, and dreaming
thalamus
part of the brain that processes sensory information and serves as a gateway to the cerebral cortex
brain stem
part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the medulla, midbrain, and pons
midbrain
part of the brain stem that lies between the forebrain and hindbrain. it helps to control head and neck reflexes and modulate motor activity
reticular activating system (RAS)
group of neurons in the brain stem that play a key role in arousal
hindbrain
part of the brain between the spinal cord and midbrain, consisting of the pons, cerebellum, and medulla
pons
part of the hindbrain that connects the cerebral cortex with the cerebellum
medulla
part of the brain stem involved in vital functions, such as heartbeat and breathing
cerebral ventricles
internal waterways of the CNS that carry cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provides the brain with nutrients and cushioning from injury
interneurons
neurons that send messages to other neurons nearby and stimulate neurons
reflex
an automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus like muscle stretch
synapse
space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted
somatic nervous system
part of the peripheral nervous system carrying messages from the CNS through the body to control movement
limbic system
emotional center of the brain that also plays a role in smell
hypothalamus
part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state
amygdala
part of the limbic system that plays key roles in fear, excitement, and arousal
hippocampus
part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory
autonomic nervous system
part of the peripheral nervous system controlling the involuntary action so four internal organs and glands, which (along with the limbic system) participates in emotion
sympathetic division
part of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis, or after actions requiring fight or flight
parasympathetic division
part of the autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion
endocrine system
system of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers
hormones
blood-borne chemical that influences target issues and glands
pituitary gland
master gland, which, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs glands of the body
adrenal gland
tissue located on top of the kidneys that releases adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotion and arousal
dendrites
portions of neurons that receive signals
synaptic cleft
space between two connecting neurons where neurotransmitters are released
axons
portions of neurons that send signals
synaptic vesicles
spherical sacs containing neurotransmitters
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers specialized for communication and released at the synapse
glia (glial) cells
support cells in nervous system that play role sin the formation of myelin and blood-brain barrier, respond to injury, and remove debris
blood-brain barrier
glial cells forming a fatty coating that prevents certain substances from entering the brain
myelin sheath
glial cell-wrapper around axons that act as insulators of the neuron's signal
resting potential
electrical charge difference across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited
threshold
membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential
action potential
regenerative electrical impulse that travels down the axons and allows neurons to commuincate
absolute refractory period
time during which another action potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate
receptor sites
locations that uniquely recognize a neurotransmitter
reuptake
means of recycling neurotransmitters
endorphins
chemical in the brain that play a specialized role in pain reduction
lesion
area of damage due to surgery, injury or disease
computed tomography (CT)
a scanning technique using multiple x-rays to construct three-dimensional images
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure
positron emission tomography (PET)
imaging technique that measures uptake and glucoselike molecules, yielding a pictures of regional metabolic activity in the brain in different regions
functional MRI (FMRI)
technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity
split-brain surgery
procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures
lateralization
cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain that the other
chromosomes
slender threads inside a cell's nucleus that carry genes
genes
genetic material, composed of DNA
genotype
our genetic make-up
phenotype
our observable traits
dominant genes
genes that mask other gene's effects
recessive genes
genes that are expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene
natural selection
principle that organisms that possess adaptations survive and reproduce at a higher rate than other organisms
fitness
organisms' capacity to pass on their genes
heritibility
percentage of the variability in a train across individuals that is due to genes
family studies
analyses of how traits run in the family
twin studies
analyses of how traits differ in identical versus fraternal twins
adoption studies
analyses of how traits very in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives
plasticity
ability of nervous system to change