lesioning studies
researchers use an electrode and an electric current to burn a specific, small area of the brain
electric stimulation
activate a particular brain structure by using a weak electric current sent along an implanted electrode
cerebral cortex
made of densely packed neutrons called "grey matter
glial cells
support brain cells part of the nervous system.
fissures
wrinkles on the brain
hemisphere
each half of the brain
left hemisphere
language, logic, writing, math, science, speech
right hemisphere
music, athletic, art, dance, perception, recognition of faces
corpus callosum
the bundle of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres (right in the center deep in the brain)
frontal lobe
memory, planning, thought, emotion (help you focus) creativity: contains motor cortex and Broca's area, suppresses the amygdala
motor cortex (strip)
part of the brain in the frontal lobe that tells the body how to move
FMRI (functional MRI)
combination of PET and MRI, good for function.
CAT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography)
an x-ray scan of the brain to reveal brain damage
EEG (electroencephalograph Computerization)
use of computer images to see degree of difference between brain functioning of a normal vs. a dysfunctional brain by tracing brain waves
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
based on principle that hydrogen atom exposed to a magnetic field will form a straight line with other hydrogen atoms and will distinguish among tissue types allowing us to see structures of the brain
SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography)
detects changes in blood flow after an injury to the brain (Similar to PET)
PET (positron emission tomography)
scan of the brain that views the metabolism of the brain after the patient is injected with radioactive sugar substance depicting the activity of the brain by fuel consumption and can detect the brain's changes over time
MEG (magnetoencephalography)
view of the brain's magnetic field as it passes through the skull with no distortion thus mapping the brain's electrical activity
parietal lobes
contains the sensory cortex. reveives incoming touch sensations from the rest of the body
occipital lobe
contains visual cortex. interprets messages from out eyes into images we can understand
temporal lobe
processes sound sensed by our ears. interpreted in auditory cortes NOT LATERALIZED ALWAYS LEFT HEMISPHERE
wernike's aphasia
unable to understand language: syntax and grammar jumbled
limbic system
middle layer of the brain, involved in emotion and memory-contains the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
hippocampus
involved in forming new memories and connecting your present with your past
amygdala
involved in aggression and fear and remembering emotionally charged events (immediate response then sent to frontal lobe)
hypothalmus
a bundle of nerve fibers below the thalamus inbolbed in body temperature, motivation, emotion, and the hunger control center
thalamus
relay station for sensory stimulation. transmits sensory information to the area of the brain that interprets and responds to that information except smell
RAS (reticular activating system)
sits at the base of the brain inside the spiral cord and regulates sleep and wakefullness, pain perception, breathing and muscle reflexes
cerebellum
involved in muscle coordination, fine motor skills, and balance
medulla oblongata
an oblong area in the brain stem that lies next to the spinal cord and controls functions outside concious control (regulation of heartbeat and resperation.
pons
an area in the brain stem affecting activities such as sleeping, walking, and dreaming, transmits information about body movments
frontal association area
rational decision making and problem solving
broca's area
physical ability to speak (left frontal lobe)
wernicke's area
ability to comprehend spoken and written language (left temporal lobe)
neurons
the communicatiors of the nervous system by receiving information, integrate it, and pass it along. part of nervous system.
sensory neurons (afferent neurons)
neurons that travel from body to brain.
motor neurons (efferent neurons)
neurons that travel from brain to body
interneurons
connect sensory neurons and motor neurons located in the brain and spinal cord.
dendrites
long, thin fibers that extend outward and cecevies incoming messages from other nerve cells and send it through the cell body (skill builder)
receptor sites
a particular location on the dendrite that serves as a docking harbor for imcoming messages.
soma
nerve cell body (contains the neucleus)
axon
single long fiber that carries signals from the soma to where comunication occurs to other neurons.
myelin sheath
a fatty substance made up of glial cells, that encases and insulates the axon. ONLY ON MOTOR NEURONS.
terminal bulbs
branching structures that have knobs at the tip, contains vessicles
vessicles
bubble like containers that hold neurotransmitters
neurotransmitters
chemicals that can cross over to neighboring neuroons and activate them
synapse
tiny gap between the endings of the axon and the waiting dendrites.
acetylocholine
muscle movement, attention, arousal, memory, and attention
dopamine
voluntary movment, leaerning, momory, emotion (produces sensations of pleasure and reward)
seratonin
sleep wakefullness, appetite, mood, agression, impulsivity, and sensory perception
endorphins
pain relief pleasure
noreopinephrine
learning, memory, dreaming, awakening, emotion, stress related increase in heart rate, stress related slowing of digestive process
antagonists
block neurotransmitters
agonists
mimic neurotransmitters
all or none response
idea the either the neuron fires or it doesn't-- no part way firing
first step (of action potential)
dendrites recieve neurotransmitter from another neuron across synapse
second step (of action potential)
reached it's threshhold--then fires based on all or none response
third step (of action potential)
opens a portal in axon, lets in positive ions (sodium) which mix with negative ions (K) that is alrready inside axon (thus neurons at rest have slightly negative charge)
fourth step (of action potential)
mixing of + and - inos cause an electrical charge that opens the next portal (letting in more K) while closing origional portal.
fifth step (of action potential)
process continues down axon temrinal
sixth step (of action potential)
terminal bulb turns electrical charge (neurotransmitters) and shoots messages to next neuron.