Limbic System
the overall system of the brain that regulates emotions and controls behavior. Includes the Hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other structures
Hippocampus
a component of the limbic system involved in establishing long term memories (Limbic system)
Thalamus
The brain's central "relay station" situated on top of the brain stem (brain stem)
Cerebellum
the "little brain" attached to the brain stem, is responsible for coordinated movements (brain stem)
Reticular Formation
A pencil shaped structure forming the core of the brain stem, arouses the cortex to keep the brain alert and attentive to new stimulation (brain stem)
Medulla
A brain-stem structure that controls breathing and heart rate. The sensory and motor pathways cross here. (brain stem)
Pons
a brain stem structure that regulates brain activity during sleep, fine movement (brain stem)
Amygdala
A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and agression (Limbic System)
Hypothalamus
A limbic structure that serves as the brains blood testing laboratory, constantly monitoring the blood to determine the condition of the body, detects changes in body fluids (Limbic System)
Cerebral cortex
The thin grey matter covering of the cerebral hemispheres, carries on the major portion of higher metal processing, including thinking and perceiving.
frontal lobes
Cortical regions at the front of the brain that are involved in movement and in thinking. (cerebral cortex)
motor cortex
a narrow vertical strip of cortex in the frontal lobes, controls voluntary movement (cerebral cortex)
parietal lobes
cortical areas lying toward the back and top of the brain; involved in touch sensation and in perceiving spatial relationships.(cerebral cortex)
Somatosensory cortex
A strip of the parietal lobe lying just behind the central fissure. Involved with sensations of touch. (Parietal Lobe)
Occipital lobes
regions at the back of the brain, housing the visual cortex (Cerbral cortex)
Visual cortex
visual processing areas of cortex in the occipital and temporal lobes.
Temporal lobes
lobes that process sounds, including speech, involved in storing long term auditory memories (Cerebral cortex)
Corpus Callosum
communication link between the left and right cerebral hemispheres
Peripheral Nervous System
nervous system that carries messages to and from the Central Message System (consists of the Somatic, Autonomic, Sympathetic, and Parasympathetic Nervous systems)
Somatic Nervous system
nervous system involved with voluntary muscle movement
Autonomic Nervous System
nervous system that controls involuntary body functions
Sympathetic Nervous System
nervous system that arouses the body to expend energy
Parasympathetic Nervous System
nervous system that calms the body to conserve and maintain energy
Dendrite
part of the neuron that receives signals
Soma
cell body of the neuron, provides energy for functioning
Axon
neuron tube that action potential travels through
Myelin sheath
provides insulation for the myelin sheath
Node of Ranvier
gaps that increase reaction rate of action potential in myelin sheath
Synapse
gap between dendrites where chemical exchanges occur
Dopamine
a neurotransmitter that produces sensations of pleasure and reward
Serotonin
a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep and dreaming, mood
Endorphins
a neurotransmitter that produce pleasurable sensations and control of pain
Acetylcholine
the primary neurotransmitter used for muscle movement and mental memory
Norepinephrine
Neurotransmitter used by almost every region of the brain, used to control basic life functions (heart rate, stress, sleep...)
Glutamate
The primary excitatory neurotransmitter, the inducer chemical, also involved in learning and memory, agonist
GABA
The primary inhibitory neuron, slows down reactions, antagonist
Terminal buttons
area of the neuron where action potential triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse
Resting Potential
the electrical charge of a neuron in it's inactive state (-70 microvolts)
Depolarization
the phase in a neuron when the charge starts to become less negative and more positive
Action Potential
the phase when a neuron "fires," a positive charge travels down the axon and triggers the terminal buttons, pertains to the all-or-nothing principle
Refractory period
the phase when a neuron regains it's resting potential
Central Nervous System
Nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
Broca's Area
area of the brain that involves speech production
Wernicke's Area
area of the brain that involves understanding speech
Left Hemisphere of the brain
hemisphere of the brain involved in words, letters, language sounds, verbal memory, and speech
Right Hemisphere of the brain
hemisphere of the brain involved in geometric patterns, faces, emotional expressions, nonlanguage sounds, music, nonverbal memory, and distances