Psych - Chapter 4 - terms

The Brain: Source of Mind and Self

central nervous system (CNS) -- the portion of the nervous system consists in of the brain and spinal cord
spinal cord -- a collection of neurons and supportive tissue running from the base of the brain down the center of the back, protected by a column of bones (the spinal column)
peripheral nervous system (PNS) -- all portions of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord cord: it includes sensory and motor nerves
somatic nervous system -- the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that connects to sensory receptors and to skeletal muscles; sometimes called the skeletal nervous system
autonomic nervous system -- the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates the internal organs and glands
sympathetic nervous system -- the subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes bodily resources and increases the output of energy during emotion and stress
parasympathetic nervous system -- subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that operates during relaxed states in that conserves energy
neuron -- a cell that conducts electrochemical signals; the basic unit of the nervous system; also called a nerve cell
glia -- cells that support, nurture, and insulate neurons, removed debris when neurons die, enhance the formation and maintenance of rural connections, and modify the role functioning
dendrites -- a neurons branches that receive information from other neurons transmitting it toward the cell body
cell body -- the part of the neuron that keeps it alive and determines whether it will fire
axon -- a neurons extending fiber that conducts impulses away from the cell body and transmits them to other neurons
myelin sheath -- a fatty insulation that may surround the axon of a neuron
nerve -- a bundle of nerve fibers (axons and sometimes dendrites) in the peripheral nervous system
neurgenesis -- the production of new neurons from immature stem cells
stem cells -- immature cells that renew themselves and have the potential to develop into mature cells;given encouraging environments, stem cells from early embryos can develop into any cell type
synapse -- the site where transmission of a nerve impulse from one nerve cell to another occurs; it includes the axon terminal, the synaptic cleft, and receptor sites in the membrane of the receiving cell
action potential -- a brief change in electrical full tapes that occurs between inside and the outside of an axon when a neuron is stimulated; it serves to produce of electrical imports
neurotransmitter -- a chemical substance that is release by a transmitting neuron at the synapse and that alters the activity of a receiving neuron
endorphins -- chemical substances and the nervous system that are similar in structure and action to opiates; they are involved in pain reduction, pleasure, and memory
hormones -- chemical substances, secreted by organs called glands, that affect the functioning of other organs
endocrine glands -- internal organs that produce hormones and release them into the bloodstream
melatonin -- a hormone, secreted by the pineal gland,that is involved in the regulation of daily biological rhythms
adrenal hormones -- hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands and that are involved in motion and stress
sex hormones -- hormones that regulate the development and functioning of the reproductive organs and that stimulate the development of male and female sexual characteristics; they include androgens, estrogens, and progesterone
electroencephalogram (EEG) -- a recording of neural activity detected by electrodes
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) -- a method of stimulating brain cells, using a powerful magnetic field produced by a wire coil placed on a person's head; it can be used by researchers to temporarily inactivate rural circuits and is also being used therapeutically
PET scan (positron-emission tomography) -- a method for analyzing biochemical activity in the brain, using injections of a glucose like substance containing a radioactive element
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) -- a method for studying body and brain tissue, using magnetic fields and special radio receivers
localization of function -- specialization of particular brain areas for particular functions
brainstem -- the part of the brain at the top of the spinal cord, consisting of the medulla and the pons
pons -- a structure in the brainstem involved in, among other things, sleeping, waking, and dreaming
medulla -- a structure in the brainstem responsible for certain automatic functions, such as breathing and heart rate
reticular activity system (RAS) -- a dense network of neurons found in the core of the brainstem; it arouses the cortex and screens incoming information
cerebellum -- in brain structure regulates movement and balance, and it is involved in the learning of certain kinds of simple responses
thalamus -- a brain structure that relays sensory messages to the cerebral cortex
hypothalamus -- a brain structure involved in emotions and drives vital to survival, such as fear, hunger, thirst, and reproduction; it regulates autonomic nervous system
pituitary gland -- a small endocrine gland at the base of the brain, which releases many hormones and regulates other endocrine glands
limbic system -- a group of brain areas involved in emotional reactions and motivated behavior
amygdala -- a brain structure involved in the arousal and regulation of emotion and the initial emotional response sensory information
hippocampus -- a brain structure involved in the storage of new information in memory
cerebrum -- the largest brain structure, consisting of the upper parts of the brain; divided into two hemispheres, it is in charge of most sensory, motor, and cognitive processes
cerebral hemispheres -- the two halves of the cerebrum
corpus callosum -- a bundle of nerve fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
cerebral cortex -- a collection of several thin layers of cells covering the cerebrum; it is largely responsible for higher mental functions
occipital lobes -- loads at the lower back part of the brain's cerebral cortex may contain areas that receive visual information
parietal lobes -- lobes in the top of the brains cerebral cortex; they contain areas that receive information on pressure, pain, touch, and temperature
temporal lobes -- lobes at the sides of the brains cerebral cortex; they contain areas involved in hearing, memory, perception, emotion, and (in the left lobe, typically) language comprehension
frontal lobes -- lobes at the front of the brain's cerebral cortex; they contain areas involved in short term memory, higher order thinking, an initiative, social judgment, and in the left lobe,typically) speech production