Vocabulary from Psychology Themes and Variations-Wayne Weiten
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| 2302745024 | Neurons | individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information. | 0 | |
| 2302745025 | soma | cell body; contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells. | 1 | |
| 2302745026 | dendrites | the parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information | 2 | |
| 2302745027 | axon | a long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands | 3 | |
| 2302745028 | terminal buttons | small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters | 4 | |
| 2302745029 | synapse | a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another | 5 | |
| 2302745030 | glia | cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons | 6 | |
| 2302745031 | resting potential | a neurons' stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive | 7 | |
| 2302745032 | action potential | a very brief shift in a neuron's electrical charge that travels along a axon | 8 | |
| 2302745033 | absolute refractory period | the minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin | 9 | |
| 2302745034 | neurotransmitters | chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another | 10 | |
| 2302745035 | post synaptic potential (PSP) | a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane | 11 | |
| 2302745036 | reuptake | a process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane | 12 | |
| 2302745037 | somatic nervous system | made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors | 13 | |
| 2302745038 | Afferent nerve fibers | axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system form the periphery of the body | 14 | |
| 2302745039 | Efferent nerve fibers | axons that carry information outward form the central nervous system to the periphery of the body | 15 | |
| 2302745040 | autonomic nervous system | made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands. | 16 | |
| 2302745041 | sympathetic division | the branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies | 17 | |
| 2302745042 | parasympathetic division | the branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources | 18 | |
| 2302745043 | electroencephalograph | a device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp | 19 | |
| 2302745044 | lesioning | involves destroying a piece of the brain | 20 | |
| 2302745045 | hindbrain | includes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brain-stem: the medulla and the pons. | 21 | |
| 2302745046 | midbrain | the segment of the brainstem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain | 22 | |
| 2302745047 | forebrain | the largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum | 23 | |
| 2302745048 | limbic system | a loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas | 24 | |
| 2302745049 | cerebral hemispheres | the right and left halves of the cerebrum | 25 | |
| 2302745050 | corpus callosum | the structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres | 26 | |
| 2302745052 | split-brain surgery | the bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres is cut to reduce the security of epileptic seizures | 27 | |
| 2302745053 | perceptual asymmetries | left-right imbalances between the cerebral hemispheres in the speed of visual or auditory processing | 28 | |
| 2302745054 | The endocrine system | consists of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning | 29 | |
| 2302745055 | oxytocin | a hormone released by the pituitary gland, which regulates reproductive behaviors | 30 | |
| 2302745056 | chromosomes | strands of DNA molecules that cary genetic information | 31 | |
| 2302745057 | zygote | a single cell formed by the union of a sperm and an egg | 32 | |
| 2302745058 | genes | are DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission | 33 | |
| 2302745059 | homozygous condition | two genes in a specific pair are the same | 34 | |
| 2302745060 | heterozygous condition | two genes in a specific pair are different | 35 | |
| 2302745061 | genotype | refers to a person's genetic makeup | 36 | |
| 2302745062 | phenotype | refers to the ways in which a person's genotype is manifested in observable characteristics | 37 |
