Chapter 2 Vocab

Question 1

biological perspective

Answer 1

relationship between biology and behavior

Question 2

neuron

Answer 2

nerve cell

Question 3

dendrite

Answer 3

extensions of neuron that receive information toward the neuron

Question 4

axon

Answer 4

long part of neuron that transmits messages elsewhere

Question 5

myelin sheath

Answer 5

fatty tissue around neuron that protects and speeds up impulses

Question 6

action potential

Answer 6

electrical charge that travels down neuron

Question 7

threshold

Answer 7

minimum stimulation needed for a neural impulse

Question 8

synapse

Answer 8

space where axon of one neuron meets dendrites of another

Question 9

neurotransmitters

Answer 9

chemicals that carry messages across synapses

Question 10

reuptake

Answer 10

when the sending neuron takes back neurotransmitters

Question 11

endorphins

Answer 11

neurotransmitters that induce pleasure or prevent pain

Question 12

nervous system

Answer 12

body’s communication network

Question 13

central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 13

brain and spinal cord

Question 14

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 14

neurons that connect CNS to the rest of the body

Question 15

nerves

Answer 15

bundles of axons that connect CNS to muscles, glands, and sensory receptors

Question 16

sensory nerves

Answer 16

carry messages from tissues and sensory receptors to CNS

Question 17

motor neurons

Answer 17

carry instructions from CNS to muscles

Question 18

interneurons

Answer 18

CNS internal communication

Question 19

somatic nervous system

Answer 19

controls the skeletal muscles (part of PNS)

Question 20

autonomic nervous system

Answer 20

the part of the PNS that controls glands and internal organs

Question 21

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 21

part of autonomic nervous system that arouses the body in stressful situations

Question 22

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 22

part of autonomic nervous system that calms body and conserves energy

Question 23

reflex

Answer 23

automatic response to stimulus

Question 24

endocrine system

Answer 24

2nd communication system, releases hormones, slower

Question 25

hormones

Answer 25

chemicals that travel through blood to affect tissues

Question 26

adrenal glands

Answer 26

secretes hormones in times of danger

Question 27

pituitary glands

Answer 27

regulates growth and other endocrine glands under the influence of the hypothalamus

Question 28

lesion

Answer 28

Brain tissue destruction

Question 29

EEG

Answer 29

record of electrical signals sent in the brain

Question 30

PET

Answer 30

display that tracks radioactive glucose to see what part of the brain is being used

Question 31

MRI

Answer 31

shows brain tissue through magnetic fields and radio waves

Question 32

fMRI

Answer 32

shows brain function by revealing bloodflow through several MRIs

Question 33

brain stem

Answer 33

in the core of the brain, control automatic survival functions

Question 34

medulla

Answer 34

base of the brain stem, controls breathing and heartbeat

Question 35

thalamus

Answer 35

transmits info to sensory area of brain and sends replies to cerebellum and medulla

Question 36

reticular formation

Answer 36

controls arousal, network of neurons

Question 37

cerebellum

Answer 37

processes sensory input, helps control movement and balance

Question 38

limbic system

Answer 38

controls emotions and drives, includes hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus

Question 39

amygdala

Answer 39

neural cluster that controls emotions

Question 40

hypothalamus

Answer 40

regulates maintenance activities, governs pituitary gland, helps control emotions and reward

Question 41

cerebral cortex

Answer 41

neural cells that cover the cerebral hemisphere, body's control and processing center

Question 43

glial cells

Answer 43

cells in nervous system that aid, protect, and nourish neurons, help with learning and thinking

Question 44

frontal lobes

Answer 44

speaking, muscle movement, making plans and judgements

Question 45

parietal lives

Answer 45

receives sensory input relating to touch and body position

Question 46

occipital lobes

Answer 46

receives info from visual fields

Question 47

temporal lobes

Answer 47

receives auditory info

Question 48

motor cortex

Answer 48

controls voluntary movements (in frontal lobe)

Question 49

sensory cortex

Answer 49

registers body touch and movement info (in parietal lobe)

Question 50

association areas

Answer 50

involved in higher mental functions (part of cerebral cortex)

Question 51

plasticity

Answer 51

brain's ability to adapt to experiences (especially when young)

Question 52

neurogenesis

Answer 52

formation of new neurons

Question 53

corpus callosum

Answer 53

neural fibers that connect brain hemispheres and carry messages between them

Question 54

split brain

Answer 54

occurs in surgery when the fibers connecting the hemispheres are cut, isolating them