AP Psych ch. 3 vocab first half
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| 85086297 | neurons | individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information | |
| 85086298 | soma | cell body, contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells | |
| 85086299 | dendrites | the parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information | |
| 85086300 | axon | long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands | |
| 85086301 | myelin sheath | insulating material that encases some axons | |
| 85086302 | terminal buttons | small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters | |
| 85086303 | synapse | a junction where information is transmitted form on neuron to another | |
| 85086304 | glia | cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons | |
| 85086305 | action potential | a very brief shift in the neuron's electrical charge that travels along an axon | |
| 85086306 | absolute refractory period | the minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin | |
| 85086307 | synaptic cleft | microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron | |
| 85086308 | neurotransmitters | chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another | |
| 85086309 | postsynaptic potential (PSP) | a voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane | |
| 85086310 | excitatory PSP | a positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials | |
| 85086311 | inhibitory PSP | a negative voltage shift that decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials | |
| 85086312 | reuptake | a process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane | |
| 85086313 | agonist | a chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter | |
| 85086314 | antagonist | a chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter | |
| 85086315 | endorphins | internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects | |
| 85086316 | peripheral nervous system | made up of all these nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord | |
| 85086317 | nerves | bundles of neuron fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system | |
| 85086318 | somatic nervous system | made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors | |
| 85086319 | afferent nerve fibers | axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body | |
| 85086320 | efferent nerve fibers | axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body | |
| 85086321 | autonomic nervous system (ANS) | made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands | |
| 85086322 | sympathetic division | branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies | |
| 85086323 | parasympathetic division | the branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources | |
| 85086324 | central nervous system (CNS) | consists of the brain and the spinal cord | |
| 85086325 | cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) | nourishes the brain and provides a protective cushion for it | |
| 85086326 | electroencephalograph (EEG) | a device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp | |
| 85086327 | lesioning | involves destroying a piece of the brain | |
| 85086328 | electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB) | involves sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate (activate) it |