Izzy's AP Psych Ch 02

12492100	biological psychology	a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
12492101	neuron	a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
12492102	axon	the extention of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
12492103	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
12492104	action potential	a neural impulse; a breif electrical charge that travels down an axon
12492105	threshold	the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
12492106	synapse	the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
12492107	neurotransmitters	chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gap between neurons
12492108	acetylcholine	a neurotransmitter that, among its functions, triggers muscle contraction
12492109	endorphins	"morphine within" - natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
12492110	nervous system	the body's speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
12492111	central nervous system	the brain and spinal cord
12492112	peripheral nervous system	the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
12492113	nerves	neural "cables" containing many axons
12492114	sensory neurons	neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
12492115	interneurons	central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
12492116	motor neurons	neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands
12492117	somatic nervous system	the division of the perihperal nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles
12492118	autonomic nervous system	the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
12492119	sympathetic nervous system	the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
12492120	parasympathetic nervous system	the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
12492121	reflex	a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
12492122	neural networks	interconnected neural cells - with experience, networks can learn
12492123	lesion	tissue destruction
12492124	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
12492125	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
12492126	PET (positron emission tomography) scan	a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
12492127	MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)	a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue
12492128	brainstem	the oldest part and central coe of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
12492129	medulla	the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
12492130	reticular formation	a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
12492131	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
12492132	cerebellum	the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance
12492133	limbic system	a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and agression and drives such as those for food and sex
12492134	amygdala	two almond-shaped neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion
12492135	hypothalamus	a neural struture lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion
12492136	cerebral cortex	the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center
12492137	glial cells	cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
12492138	frontal lobes	the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; invloved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
12492139	parietal lobes	the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; includes the sensory cortex
12492140	occipital lobes	the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
12492141	temporal lobes	the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from the opposite ear
12492142	motor cortex	an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
12492143	sensory cortex	the area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations
12492144	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
12492145	aphasia	impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (imparing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (imparing understanding)
12492146	Broca's area	controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
12492147	Wernicke's area	controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe
12492148	plasticity	the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development
12492149	corpus callosum	the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
12492150	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
12492151	endocrine system	the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
12492152	hormones	chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine system, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
12492153	adrenal glands	a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys that secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress
12492154	pituitary gland	the endocrine system's most influential gland - under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands