psychology, David Myers, 10th Edition, Chapter 2, Vocabulary
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| 10833563223 | Phrenology | the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities. | 0 | |
| 10833563232 | Neuron | a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. | 1 | |
| 10833563233 | Dendrites | a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body. | 2 | |
| 10833563224 | Cell Body | the nucleus-containing central part of a neuron exclusive of its axons and dendrites that is the major structural element of the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord, the ganglia, and the retina | 3 | |
| 10833563234 | Axon | the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands. | 4 | |
| 10833563235 | Action Potential | a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. | 5 | |
| 10833563236 | Threshold | the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse. | 6 | |
| 10833563225 | All-or-None Response | on or off response | 7 | |
| 10833563237 | Synapse | the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft. | 8 | |
| 10833563226 | Refractory Period | a period immediately following stimulation during which a nerve or muscle is unresponsive to further stimulation. | 9 | |
| 10833563238 | 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. | 10 | |
| 10833563239 | Reuptake | a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron. | 11 | |
| 10833563227 | Agonists | a substance that initiates a physiological response when combined with a receptor. | 12 | |
| 10833563228 | Antagonists | a substance that interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another. | 13 | |
| 10833563240 | Central Nervous System (CNS) | the brain and spinal cord. | 14 | |
| 10833563241 | Endorphins | "morphine within"—natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. | 15 | |
| 10833563242 | Nervous System | the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems. | 16 | |
| 10833563243 | Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body. | 17 | |
| 10833563244 | Nerves | bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs. | 18 | |
| 10833563245 | Sensory Neurons | neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. | 19 | |
| 10833563246 | Motor Neurons | neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands. | 20 | |
| 10833563247 | Interneurons | neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs. | 21 | |
| 10833563248 | Somatic Nervous System | the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system. | 22 | |
| 10833563249 | Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) | the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms. | 23 | |
| 10833563250 | Sympathetic Nervous System | the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. | 24 | |
| 10833563229 | Parasympathetic Nervous System | the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy. | 25 | |
| 10833563251 | Endocrine System | the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. | 26 | |
| 10833563252 | Hormones | chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues. | 27 | |
| 10833563253 | Adrenal Glands | a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress. | 28 | |
| 10833563254 | Pituitary Gland | the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. | 29 | |
| 10833563255 | 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. | 30 | |
| 10833563256 | Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan | a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task. | 31 | |
| 10833563257 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Shows brain anatomy. | 32 | |
| 10833563258 | Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) | a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function. | 33 | |
| 10833563259 | Brainstem | the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions. | 34 | |
| 10833563260 | Medulla | the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing. | 35 | |
| 10833563261 | Thalamus | the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. | 36 | |
| 10833563262 | Reticular Formation | a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and plays an important role in controlling arousal. | 37 | |
| 10833563263 | Cerebellum | the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance. | 38 | |
| 10833563264 | Limbic System | neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. | 39 | |
| 10833563265 | Amygdala | two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion. | 40 | |
| 10833563266 | Hypothalamus | a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward. | 41 | |
| 10833563267 | Cerebral Cortex | the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center. | 42 | |
| 10833563268 | Glial Cells (glia) | cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking. | 43 | |
| 10833563269 | Frontal Lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments. | 44 | |
| 10833563270 | Parietal Lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position. | 45 | |
| 10833563271 | Occipital Lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields. | 46 | |
| 10833563272 | Temporal Lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear. | 47 | |
| 10833563273 | Motor Cortex | an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. | 48 | |
| 10833563274 | Sensory Cortex | area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations. | 49 | |
| 10833563275 | 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. | 50 | |
| 10833563276 | Corpus Callosum | the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them. | 51 | |
| 10833563230 | Pons | the part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus. | 52 | |
| 10833563231 | Hippocampus | the elongated ridges on the floor of each lateral ventricle of the brain, thought to be the center of emotion, memory, and the autonomic nervous system. | 53 | |
| 10907703559 | Biological Perspective | concerned with the links between biology and behavior | 54 | |
| 10907737493 | Reflex | a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response | 55 | |
| 10907749965 | Lesion | tissue destruction | 56 | |
| 10907759488 | 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. | 57 | |
| 10907846116 | Plasticity | the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience | 58 | |
| 10907854230 | neruogenesis | the formation of new neurons | 59 | |
| 10907860560 | 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 | 60 |
