Chapter 3 Vocabulary Terms
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Acetlcholine
A neurotransmitter that, among its
functions, triggers muscle contraction.
Action
Potential
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge
that travels down an axon. The action
potential is generated by the movement of
positively charged atoms in and out of
channels in the axon's membrane.
Adrenal
Glands
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above
the kidneys and secrete hormones that help
arouse the body in times of stress.
Amygdala
Two almond-shaped neural clusters that are
components of the limbic system and are
linked to emotion.
Aphasia
Impairment of language, usually caused by
left hemisphere damage either to
Broca's area (impairing speaking) or
to Wernicke's area (impairing
understanding)
Association
Areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not
involved in primary motor or sensory
functions; rather, they are involved in higher
mental functions such as learning,
remembering, thinking, and speaking
Autonomic
Nervous
System
A subsystem of the peripheral nervous system
that carries messages between the central
nervous system and the heart, lungs, and
other organs and glands.
Axon
The extension of a neuron, ending in
branching terminal fibers, through which
messages are sent to other neurons or to
muscles or glands.
behavior
genetics
: the study of the relative power and limits of
genetic and environmental influences on
behavior.
Biological
Psychology
A branch of psychology concerned with the
links between biology and behavior. (Some
biological psychologist call themselves
behavioral neuroscience.)
Central
Nervous
System (CNS)
Brain and spinal cord
chromosomes
A threadlike, gene-carrying structure found
in the nucleus. Each chromosome consists of
one very long DNA molecule and associated
proteins.
CT (computed
tomography)
Scan
a series of x-ray photographs taken from
different angles and combined by computer
into a composite representation of a slice
through the body. Also called a CAT scan.
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Dendrite
A neuron's bushy,
branching extensions that receive
messages and conduct impulses
toward the cell body.
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DNA
A complex molecule containing the
genetic information that makes up
the chromosomes.
Electroencephalogram
(EEG)
An amplified recording of the
waves of electrical activity that
sweep across the brain's
surface. These waves are measured
by electrodes placed on the scalp.
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Endorphins
"morphine within"-natural, opiatelike
neurotransmitters linked to pain
control and to pleasure.
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environment
Every nongenetic influence, from
prenatal nutrition to the people and
things around us.
evolutionary
psychology
The study of the evolution of
behavior and the mind, using
principles of natural selection.
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fraternal twins
Twins who develop from separate
eggs. They are genetically no closer
than brothers and sisters, but they
share a fetal environment
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genes
Biochemical units of heredity that
make up the chromosome
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genome
the complete instructions for
making an organism, consisting of
all the genetic material in that
organism's chromosomes.
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Glial Cells
Cells in the nervous system that
support, nourish, and protect
neurons
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heritability
A statistical estimate of the
proportion of the total variance in
some trait that is attributable to
genetic differences among
individuals within a group
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identical twins
Twins who develop from a single
fertilized egg that splits in two,
creating two genetically identical
organisms
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interaction
the interplay that occurs with the
effect of one factor (such as the
environment) depends on another
factor (such as heredity)
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Interneurons
Central Nervous system neurons that
internally communicate and intervene
between the sensory inputs and motor
outputs.
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Lesion
tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a
naturally or experimentally caused
destruction of brain tissue
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Motor Neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing
information from the brain and spinal
cord to the muscles and glands.
MRI (magnetic
resonance
imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields
and radio waves to produce computergenerated images that distinguish
among different types of soft tissue;
allows us to see structures within the
brain.
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Myelin Sheath
A layer of fatty tissue segmentally
encasing the fibers of many neurons;
enables vastly greater transmission
speed of neural impulses as the impulse
hops from one node to the next.
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natural selection
the principle that, among the range of
inherited trait variations, those that
lead to increased reproduction and
survival will most likely be passed on to
succeeding generations.
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Nervous System
The body's speedy,
electrochemical communication
system, consisting of all the nerve cells
of the peripheral and central nervous
systems.
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Neuron
A nerve cell; the basic building block of
the nervous system.
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Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the
synaptic gaps between neurons. When
released by the sending neuron,
neurotransmitters travel across the
synapse and bind to receptor sites on
the receiving neuron, thereby
influencing whether that neuron will
generate a neural impulse.
Parasympathetic
Nervous System
the division of the autonomic nervous
system that calms the body, conserving
its energy
Peripheral
Nervous System
(PNS)
The sensory and motor that connect the
central nervous system (CNS) to the
rest of the body.
Plasticity
The brain's capacity for
modification; as evident in brain
reorganization following damage in
experiments on the effect of experience
on brain development.
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Sensory
Neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information from
the sense receptors to the central nervous
system.
Somatic
Nervous
System
Division of the peripheral nervous system that
controls the bodies skeletal muscles. Also
known as skeletal nervous system.
Split Brain
A condition in which the two hemispheres of
the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting
fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum)
between them
Sympathetic
Nervous
System
A subdivision of the autonomic nervous system
that activates nerves, glands and visceral
muscles in times of stress or threat (prepares
the body for action)
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Synapse
The junction between the axon tip of the
sending neuron and the dendrite of the
receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction
is called the synaptic gap or cleft.
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Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a
neural impulse
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