1.
Action Potential- Nerve impulse caused by the change in the electrical charge across the cell membrane of the axon.
2.
All or None Law-Refers to the fact that the action potential in the axon occurs either fullblown or not at all
3.
AcH-eight step procedure.
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Association Cortex-Cortical regions throughout the brain that combine information from various other parts of the brain
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Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)-The portion of the peripheral nervous system and the internal organs and glands
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Axon- In a nerve cell, an extended fiber that conducts information from the soma to the terminal buttons. Information travels along the axon in the form of an electric charge, called the action potential.
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Brain Stem- the most primitive of the three major layers. It includes the medulla,pons
8.
Broca’s Area- part of the brain that controls the ability to produce language.
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Central Nervous System(CNS)- The brain and the spinal cord
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Cerebral Cortex-The thin gray-matter covering of the cerebral hemispheres, consisteing of a ¼ inch layer dense with cell bodies of neurons. It carries on the major portion of our mental processing, including thinking and perceiving.
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Cerebral Hemispheres-Where it divides the brain into the right and left side.
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Corpus Callosum- The band of nerve cells tha connects the two cerebral hemispheres
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Dendrites- are the branch-like structures of neurons that extend from the cell body (soma).
14.
DNA- a long, complex molecule that encodes genetic charachteristics. DNA is an abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid.
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Electroencephalo gram (EEG)-a device for recording brain waves, typically by electrodes placed on the scalp.
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Endocrine System- The hormone system, the bodus chemical messenger system.
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Endorphins- Any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions.
18.
Estrogen- any of a group of steroid hormones that promote the development and
UNIT 2: maintenance of female characteristics of the body.
19.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)- ana imaging technique that relies on cells responses in a high intensity magnetic field.
20.
Medulla-a brain stem structure that controls breathing and heart rate. The sensory and motor pathways connecting the brain to the body cross in the medulla.
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Motor Cortex-a narrow vertical strop of cortex in the frontal loves, lying just in front of the central fissure; controls voluntary movement.
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Motor Neurons-nerve cell that carries messages away from the central nervous system toward the muscles and glands. Also called an efferent neuron.
23.
Myelin Sheath- a layer of myelin encasing (and insulating) the axons of medullated nerve fibers.
24.
Natural Selection-the driving force behind evolution, by which the environment “selects” the fittest organisms.
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Neuromodulator-regulates diverse parts of the nervous system
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Neuron-cell specialized to receive and transmit information to other cells in the body also called a nerve cel. Bundles of many neurons are called nerves.
27.
Nerves- one or more bundles of fibers forming part of a system that conveys impulses of sensation, motion, etc., between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.
28.
Neuroscience- the field of study encompassing the various scientific disciplines dealing with the structure, development, function, chemistry, pharmacology, and pathology of the nervous system.
29.
Neurotransmitter- any of several chemical substances, as epinephrine or acetylcholine, that transmit nerve impulses across a synapse to a postsynaptic element, as another nerve, muscle, or gland.
30.
Occipital Lobe- the most posterior lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, behind the parietal and temporal lobes.
31.
Parasympathetic Division- The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is one of the three main divisions of the autonomic nervous system
(ANS). The ANS is responsible for regulation of

internal organs and glands, which occurs unconsciously.
32.
Parietal Lobe- the middle part of each cerebral hemisphere behind the central sulcus.
33.
Peripheral nervous system- the portion of the nervous system lying outside the brain and spinal cord.
34.
Pet Scan- an image obtained by positron emission tomography, using a PET scanner.
35.
Phenotype- the appearance of an organism resulting from the interaction of the genotype and the environment.
36.
Pituitary Gland- a small, somewhat cherryshaped double structure attached by a stalk to the base of the brain and constituting the master endocrine gland affecting all hormonal functions in the body.
37.
Plasticity- or neuroplasticity, is the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences. As we learn, we acquire new knowledge and skills through instruction or experience.
38.
Pons- a band of nerve fibers in the brain connecting the lobes of the midbrain, medulla, and cerebrum.
39.
Threshold- the point at which a stimulus is of sufficient intensity to begin to produce an effect: the threshold of consciousness; a low threshold of pain.
40.
Synapse- a region where nerve impulses are transmitted and received, encompassing the axon terminal of a neuron that releases neurotransmitters in response to an impulse, an extremely small gap across which the neurotransmitters travel, and the adjacent membrane of an axon, dendrite, or muscle or gland cell with the appropriate receptor molecules for picking up the neurotransmitters.
41.
Sensory Neurons-a nerve cell that conducts impulses from a sense organ to the central nervous system.
42.
Interneurons-any neuron having its cell body, axon, and dendrites entirely within the central nervous system, especially one that conveys impulses between a motor neuron and a sensory neuron.
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Motor Neurons-a nerve cell that conducts impulses to a muscle, gland, or other effector.
44.
Somatic Nervous System- the section of the nervous system responsible for sensation and control of the skeletal muscles.
45.
Automatic Nervous system- the system of nerves and ganglia that innervates the blood vessels, heart, smooth muscles, viscera, and glands and controls their involuntary functions, consisting of sympathetic and parasympathetic portions.
46.
Sympathetic Nervous system- The part of the autonomic nervous system originating in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord that in general inhibits or opposes the physiological effects of the parasympathetic nervous system, as in tending to reduce digestive secretions or speed up the heart.
47.
Parasympathetic nervous system- The part of the autonomic nervous system originating in the brain stem and the lower part of the spinal cord that, in general, inhibits or opposes the physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system, as in tending to stimulate digestive secretions or slow the heart.
48.
Reflex- noting or pertaining to an involuntary response to a stimulus, the nerve impulse from a receptor being transmitted inward to a nerve center that in turn transmits it outward to an effector.
49.
Neural Networks- any group of neurons that conduct impulses in a coordinated manner, as the assemblages of brain cells that record a visual stimulus.
50.
hormones: chemical messenger used by the endocrine system. Many hormones also serve as neurotransmitters.
51.
adrenal glands: The adrenal gland, located on top of the kidneys, is made up of two parts with very distinct hormonal functions. The adrenal cortex is the outer part of the gland and it produces hormones that help regulate metabolism and immune response,
52.
pituitary glands: the master gland that produces hormones influencing the secretions of all other endocrine glands, as well as hormones that influence growth.
53.
EEG: n electroencephalogram (EEG) is a recording of the electrical waves of activity that occur in the brain, and across its surface
54.
Lesion: damage to body tissue (any tissue in your body)
55.
PET: Positron emission tomography (PET), which is similar to the MRI, is a scanning method that enables psychologists and doctors to study the brain (or any other living tissue) without surgery. PET scans use radioactive glucose (instead of a strong magnetic field) to help study activity and locate structures in the body

56.
MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a method used for studying the functions of the brain (or any living tissue) without surgery.
Images are obtained by using a strong magnetic field.
57.
fMRI: functional magnetic resonance imaging: a form of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that registers blood flow to functioning areas...
61. Thalamus: The thalamus is a structure deep within the brain stem that receives sensory information from the nervous system and passes the information to the cerebral cortex and other parts of the brain. It acts as a director of information related to bodily functions such as seeing, sleeping, hearing, waking, tasting, and touching.
62. Cerebellum: The cerebellum is a structure often referred to as the "little brain" that is located in the rear of the brainstem. The cerebellum helps control voluntary movements such as eye movement and tracking of moving objects, as well as coordination and balance in behaviors that are very fast
63. Limbic system: The limbic system is a grouping of structures in the brain that sits between in the most primitive part of the forebrain called the rhinecephalon. This is a doughnut-shaped network of neurons that inlfuences many deep-rooted drives and emotions including pain, anger, hunger, sex, thirst, and pleasure.
64. Amygdala: The amygdala is actually 2 areas of the brain (not one) containing lots of neurons that influence anger, aggression, fear, and rage.
65. Hypothalamus: A part of the brain that sits below (hypo) the thalamus and is responsible for orchestrating several behaviors that are considered
"maintenance" behaviors (such as eating, drinking, body temperature).
67. Glial cells: primarily as the physical support for neurons. Others regulate the internal environment of the brain,
68. Frontal lobes: A region of the cerebral cortex at the front of the brain (lying just behind the forehead) that is necessary for motor control and more complex, high-end functioning like speech, decision making, and judgments.
70. Temporal lobes The area in the brain involved with hearing. The temporal lobes are part of the cerebral cortex and are located above the ears.
71. Motor cortex: part of the brain where nerve cells are engaged in planning and directing the actions of muscles and glands that are under conscious control
72. Sensory cortex: an umbrella term that encompasses all the senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.
73. Association areas: These areas are responsible for thought, memory, and learning, in combination with the primary parts they surround.
74. Aphasia: inability to use language appropriately and may include problems speaking language, hearing language, and reading language
76. Wernicke’s area: the region of the brain where spoken language is understood.
78. Split brain: right half and a left half. Information is able to travel from one half to the other crossing a bridge known as the corpus callosum