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Neuron:
An individual nerve cell.
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Biopsychology:
The study of how biological processes, especially activity in the brain and nervous system, relate to behavior.
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Dendrites:
Neuron fibers that receive incoming messages.
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Soma:
The main body of a beuron or other cell.
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Axon:
Fiber that carries information away from the cell body of a neuron.
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Axon terminals:
Branching fibers at the ends of axons.
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Ion:
An electrically charged molecule.
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Resting Potential:
The electrical charge of a neuron at rest.
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Threshold:
The point at which a nerve impulse is triggered.
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Action potential:
The nerve impulse.
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Ion channels:
Channels through the axon membrane.
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All-or-nothing event
An event that happens completely, or not at all.
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Synapse:
The microscopic space between two neurons, over which messages pass.
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Neurotransmitter:
Any chemical released by a neuron that alters activity in other neurons.
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Receptor sites:
Areas on the surface of neurons and other cells that are sensitive to neurotransmitters or hormones.
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Acetylcholine:
The neurotransmitter released by neurons to activate muscles.
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Curare:
A drug that competes with acetylcholine, causing paralsis.
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Neuropeptides:
Brain chemicals that regulate the activity of neurons.
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Enkephalins:
Opiate-like brain chemicals that regulate reactions to pain and stress.
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Endorphins:
Chemicals that are similar in structure and pain-killing effect to opiate drugs such as morphine.
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Nerve:
A bundle of neuron fibers.
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Myelin:
A fatty layer coating some axons.
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Neurilemma:
A layer of cells that encases many axons.
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Central Nervous System (CNS):
The Brain and Spinal chord.
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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS):
All parts of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal chord.
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Somatic system:
The system of nerves linking the spinal chord with the body and sense organs.
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Autonomic system:
The system of nerves carrying information to and from the internal organs and glands.
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Sympathetic branch:
A branch of the ANS that arouses the body.
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Parasympathetic branch:
A branch of the ANS that quiets the body.
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White matter:
Areas that appear white because of the presence of myelin.
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Spinal nerves:
Major nerves that carry sensory and motor messages in and out of the spinal chord.
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Cranial nerves:
Major nerves that leave the brain without passing through the spinal chord.
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Reflex arc:
The simplest behavior, in which a stimulus provokes an automatic response.
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Sensory neuron:
A nerve cell that carries information from the senses toward CNS.
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Connector neuron:
A nerve cell that serves as a link between two others.
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Motor neuron:
A nerve cell that carries motor commands from the CNS to muscles and glands.
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Effector cells:
Cells in muscles and glands that are capable of producing come type of response.
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Clinical study:
An intensive investigation of the behavior of a single person, especially one suffering from some injury, disease, or disorder.
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Ablation:
Surgical removal of tissue.
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Electrode:
Any device (such as wire, needle, or metal plate) used to electrically stimulate nerve tissure or to record its activity.
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Deep lesioning:
Removal of tissure within the brain by use of an electrode.
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Electrical stimulation of the brain:
Direct electrical stimulation and activation of brain tissue.
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Micro-electrode:
An electrode small enough to record the activity of a single neuron.
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Electroencephalography:
Technique to measure waves of electrical activity produced by the brain.
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Electroencephalograph (EEG):
A device that detects, amplifies, and records electrical activity in the brain.
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Computed tomographic (CT) scanning:
A computer-enhanced three- dimensional representation of the brain or body, based on the body's response to a magnetic field.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging:
A computer-enhanced three dimensional representation of the brain or body, based on the body's response to a magnetic field.
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Functional MRI:
Magnetic resonance imaging that records brain activity.
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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan:
A computer-generated image of brain activity, based on glucose consumption in the brain.
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