(EEG) Electroencephalogram
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
CT Scan
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Corpus Callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Cerebral Cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center
Cerebellum
the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Broca's area
controls language expression- an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movement involved in speech
brainstem
the oldest part and the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Wernicke's area
controls language reception- the brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually the left temporal lobe
thalamus
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
temporal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes teh auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from the opposite ear
split brain
the condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them
sensory cortex
the area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensation
reticular formation
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
plasticity
the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development
PET Scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
parietal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; recieves sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite vision field
MRI
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waes to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain (brain anatomy)
association areas
the areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heart-beat and breathing
limbic system
a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
lesion
tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that supports, nourish, and protect neurons
frontal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area or to Wernicke's area
amygdala
two lima bean-sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion
biological psychology
a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
dendrite
the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that recieve messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body (listen)
axon
the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands (talk)
myelin sheath
a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one nod to the next
action potential
a neural imulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon; generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of chemicals in the axon's membrane
threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
synapse
the junction betweem the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuran; tiny gap is called the synaptic gap or cleft
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons; when released by sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a n
acetylcholine
a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contractions
endorphins
morphine within"- natural, opiatelike neurotransmittters linked to pain control and pleasure
nervous system
the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of teh peripheral and central nervous system
central nervous system
the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
nerves
neural "cables" containing many axons; these bundled axons, qhich are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to muscles and glands
interneurons
central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeltal muscles
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of internal organs
sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
reflex
a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
neural networks
interconnected neural cells; with experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results
endocrine system
the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengars, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys; secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinenphrine (nonadrenaline), which helps to arouse the body in times of stress
pituitary gland
the endocrine system's most influential gland; under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
fMRI
a technique for revealing blood flow, and thereforem brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans (brain function)