Psychology Chapter 2

a neurotransmitter that plays a role in learning new information, causes the skeletal muscle fibers to contract, and keeps the heart from beating too rapidly.

a structure in the limbic system that plays an important role in emotion, particularly in response to unpleasant or punishing stimuli

the slender, tail-like extension of the neuron that transmits signals to the dendrites or cell body of other neurons and to muscles, glands, and other parts of the body

the structure that begins at the point where the spinal cord enlarges as it enters the brain and handles functions critical to physical survival. It includes the medulla, the pons, and the reticular formation

the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus and carries out of the metabollic functions of the neuron

the part of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord

the brain structure that helps the body execute smooth, skilled movements and regulates muscle tone and posture

the gray, convoluted covering of the cerebral hempispheres that is responsible for the higher mental processes of language, memory, and thinking

the right and left halves of the cerebrum, covered by the cerebral cortex and connected by the corpus callosum, they control movement and feeling on the opposing sides of the body

the largest structure of the human brain, consisting of the two cerebral hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum and covered by the cerebral cortex

the thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and makes possible the transfer of information and the synchronization of activity between the hemispheres

in a neuron, the branchlike extensions of the cell body that receive signals from other neurons

a neurotransmitter that plays a role in learning, attention, movement, and reinforcement; neurons in the brains of those with Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia are less sensitive to its effects

chemicals produced naturally by the brain that reduce pain and the stress of vigorous exercise and positively affect mood

a neurotransmitter that affects the metablism of glucose and nutrient energy stored in muscles to be released during strenuous exercise.

the largest of the brain's lobes, which contain the motor cortex, Broca's area, and the frontal association areas

specialized cells in the brain and spinal cord that hold neurons together, remove waste products such as dead neurons, and perform other manufacturing, nourishing, and clean up tasks

a structure in the limbic system that plays a central role in the storing of new memories, the response to new or unexpected stimuli, and navigational ability

a small but influential brain structure that regulates hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, internal body temperature, other body functions, and a wide variety of emotional behaviors

the specialization of one of the cerebral hemispheres to handle a particular function

the hemisphere that controls the right side of the body, coordinates complex movements, and, in most people, handles most of the language functions

a group of structures in the midbrain, including the amygdala and hippocampus, that are collectively involved in emotional expression, memory, and motivation

the white, fatty coating wrapped around some axons that acts as insulation and enables impulses to travel much faster

a specialized cell that conducts impulses through the nervous system and contains threee major parts- a cell body, dendrites, and an axon

a chemical substance that is released into the synaptic cleft from the axon terminal of a sending neuron, crosses a synapse, and binds to appropriate receptor sites on the dendrites or cell body of a receiving neuron, influencing the cell either to fire or not to fire

a neurotransmitter affecting eating, alertness, and sleep

the lobes that are involved in the reception and interpretation of visual information; they contain the primary visual cortex

the lobes that contain the somatosensory cortex and other areas that are responsible for body awareness and spatial orientation

the capability of being penetrated or passed through

the capacity of the brain to adapt to changes such as brain damage

the part of each temporal lobe where hearing registers in the cerebral cortex

the area at the rear of the occipital lobes where vision registers in the cerebral cortex

the process through which the developing brain eliminates unneccessary or redundant synapses

protein molecules on the surfaces of dendrites and cell bodies that have distinctive shapes and will interact only with specific neurotransmitters

the hemisphere that controls that left side of the body and, in most people, is specialized for visual-spatial perception

a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating mood, sleep, impulsivity, aggression, and appetite

an extension of the brain, from the base of the brain through the neck and spinal column, that transmits messages between the brain and the peripheral nervous system

the junction where the axon terminal of a sending neuron communicates with a receiving neuron across the synaptic cleft

the lobes that are involved in the reception and interpretation of auditory information; they contain the primary auditory cortex,Wernicke's area, and the temporal association areas

the structure, located above the brainstem, that acts as a relay station for information flowing into or out of the fore brain

grouped into hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain

begins at the site where the spinal cord enlarges as it enters the skull

the___is so important that damaging it would be life-threatening

the____is part of the brain stem that controls heartbeat, blood pressure, coughing and swallowing

Makes up 10% of the brains volume

important to the bodys ability to execute smooth, skilled movements

regulates muscle tone and posture

between the hindbrain and forebrain

acts as a relay station between the hindbrain and the forebrain

above the brainstem; teo egg-shaped structures

acts as a relay station for almost all information that flows into and out of the forebrain, including sensory information from all the senses except smell

affects are ability to learn new verbal info and plays a role in the production of language

regulation of sleep cycles

lies directly below the thalamus

regulates hunger, thirst, sexual behavior and many other emotional behaviors

regulates internal body temperature

houses our biological clock

located in the interior temporal lobes

if this area were destroyed, you could not store or recall any new personal or cognitive information

this region also detects and respondes to unexpected or novel sstimuli

in the midbrain (the amygdala & the hippocampus) are involved in emotional expresssion, memory, & motivation

plays an important role in emotion

helps form vivid memories of emotinal events which enable humans and other animals to avoid dangerous situations

the sight of frightened faces causes neurons in the _________to fire

composed of two cerebral hemispheres

they are connected at the bottom by a thick band of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. The CC makes it possible to transfer info and the coordination of activity between hemispheres

the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body & vice versa

the hemispheres have a thin outer covering (1/8 in. thick)

responsible for higher mental processes of language, memory, and thinking. often called gray matter

more gray matter =

the cerebral cortex contains three types of areas: sensory (vision, hearing, etc.) motor (controls voluntary movement) and association areas ( memories, thoughts, perceptions, language)

in each cerebral hemisphere there are four lobes

largest of the brains lobes

begin at the front of the brain and extend to the top center of the skull

contains the motor cortex- the area that controls the left side of the body & vice versa

the right motor cortex controls the left side of the body & vice versa

located directly behind the frontal lobes in the top middle of the brain

are involved in the reception & processing of the touch stimuli

the front strip of brain tissue in the parietal lobes is the_______

the site where touch pressure temperature & pain register in the cerebral cortex

makes you aware of movement in our body & the positions of your body parts at any given moment

responsible for spacial orientation & sense of direction

behind the parietal lobes at the rear of the brain

involved in the reception & interpretation of visual information

at the very back of the occipital lobe is the ___________, where vision registers in the cortex

involved in the interpretation of visual stimuli. it holds memories of past visual experiences & enables us to recognize what is familiar among the things we see

located slightly above the ears & is involved in the reception & interpretation of auditory stimuli

the site in the cortex where hearing register is known as the ___________

the area that houses memories of auditory stimuli

in 95 % of right handers & about 62 % of left handers

controls most of the language functions ( speaking, writing, reading, etc.)

specialized for amthematical abilities

logis is primarily a ________

skilled at visual-spatial relations

able to process music better

figures out how it is meant & who is saying it

able to understand familiar idioms

messages transmitted between neurons

inside the axon terminal

small, sphere-shaped containers called synaptic vesicles

each neurotransmitter has a unique shape as does a __________

will only accept the neurotransmitter that fits best

when neurotransmitters bond with receptors, it is either excitatory or inhibitory

excitatory

inhibitory

the cell body is always making neurotransmitters & unused neurotransmitters can be recycled & used again.

neurotransmitter is taken back into axon terminal for immediate use

____ chemical subsatnces manufactured by the brain, spinal cord, glands & other part sof the body

effects skeletal muscle fibers in the heart ( from beating too rapidly)

helps you store new info in your memory

plays an excitatory role

both excitatory and inhibitory role

helps in attention learning, movement, & reinforcement

eating habits, alertness, & wakfulness

helps release energy during strenuous exercise

helps regulate mood, sleep, impulsivity, aggression, & appetite

primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

controls anxiety

pain relief that can also produce a feeling of pleasure & well-being