Lester M. Sdorow,
Arcadia University
Cheryl A. Rickabaugh,
University of Redlands
| action potential | A series of changes in the electrical charge across the axonal membrane that occurs after the axon has reached its firing threshold.
|
 |
|
|
| adrenal glands | Endocrine glands that secrete hormones that regulate the excretion of minerals and the body's response to stress.
|
|
|
|
| all-or-none law | The principle that once a neuron reaches its firing threshold, a neural impulse travels at full strength along the entire length of its axon.
|
|
|
|
| Alzheimer's disease | A brain disorder characterized by difficulty in forming new memories and by general mental deterioration.
|
|
|
|
| amygdala | A limbic system structure that evaluates information from the immediate environment, contributing to feelings of fear, anger, or relief.
|
|
|
|
| association areas | Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate information from the primary cortical areas and other brain areas.
|
|
|
|
| auditory cortex | The area of the temporal lobes that processes sounds.
|
|
|
|
| autonomic nervous system | The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls automatic, involuntary physiological processes.
|
|
|
|
| axon | The part of the neuron that conducts neural impulses to glands, muscles, or other neurons.
|
|
|
|
| axonal conduction | The transmission of a neural impulse along the length of an axon.
|
|
|
|
| behavioral genetics | The study of the effects of heredity and life experiences on behavior.
|
|
|
|
| behavioral neuroscience | The field that studies the physiological bases of human and animal behavior and mental processes.
|
|
|
|
| brain | The structure of the central nervous system that is located in the skull and plays important roles in sensation, movement, and information processing.
|
|
|
|
| Broca's area | The region of the frontal lobe responsible for the production of speech.
|
|
|
|
| central nervous system | The division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and the spinal cord.
|
|
|
|
| cerebellum | A brain stem structure that controls the timing of well-learned movements.
|
|
|
|
| cerebral cortex | The outer covering of the brain.
|
|
|
|
| cerebral hemispheres | The left and right halves of the cerebrum.
|
|
|
|
| computed tomography (CT) | A brain-scanning technique that relies on X rays to construct computer-generated images of the brain or body.
|
|
|
|
| corpus callosum | A thick bundle of axons that provides a means of communication between the cerebral hemispheres, which is severed in so-called split-brain surgery.
|
|
|
|
| dendrites | The branchlike structures of the neuron that receive neural impulses.
|
|
|
|
| electroencephalograph (EEG) | A device used to record patterns of electrical activity produced by neuronal activity in the brain.
|
|
|
|
| endocrine system | Glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
|
|
|
|
| endorphins | Neurotransmitters that play a role in pleasure, pain relief, and other functions.
|
|
|
|
| evolutionary psychology | The study of the evolution of behavior through natural selection.
|
|
|
|
| frontal lobe | A lobe of the cerebral cortex responsible for motor control and higher mental processes.
|
|
|
|
| genotype | An individual's genetic inheritance.
|
|
|
|
| glial cell | A kind of cell that provides a physical support structure for the neurons, supplies them with nutrition, removes neuronal metabolic waste materials, facilitates the transmission of messages by neurons, and helps regenerate damaged neurons in the peripheral nervous system.
|
|
|
|
| gonads | The male and female sex glands.
|
|
|
|
| heritability | The proportion of variability in a trait across a population attributable to genetic differences among members of the population.
|
|
|
|
| hippocampus | A limbic system structure that contributes to the formation of memories.
|
|
|
|
| hormones | Chemicals, secreted by endocrine glands, that play a role in a variety of functions, including synaptic transmission.
|
|
|
|
| hypothalamus | A limbic system structure that, through its effects on the pituitary gland and the autonomic nervous system, helps to regulate aspects of motivation and emotion, including eating, drinking, sexual behavior, body temperature, and stress responses.
|
|
|
|
| interneuron | A neuron that conveys messages between neurons in the brain or spinal cord.
|
|
|
|
| limbic system | A group of brain structures that, through their influence on emotion, motivation, and memory, promote the survival of the individual and, as a result, the continuation of the species.
|
|
|
|
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | A brain-scanning technique that relies on strong magnetic fields to construct computer-generated images of the brain or body.
|
|
|
|
| medulla | A brain stem structure that regulates breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and other life functions.
|
|
|
|
| motor cortex | The area of the frontal lobes that controls specific voluntary body movements.
|
|
|
|
| motor neuron | A neuron that sends messages from the central nervous system to smooth muscles, cardiac muscle, or skeletal muscles.
|
|
|
|
| myelin | A white fatty substance that forms sheaths around certain axons and increases the speed of neural impulses.
|
|
|
|
| nerve | A bundle of axons that conveys information to or from the central nervous system.
|
|
|
|
| nervous system | The chief means of communication in the body.
|
|
|
|
| neuron | A cell specialized for the transmission of information in the nervous system.
|
|
|
|
| neurotransmitters | Chemicals secreted by neurons that provide the means of synaptic transmission.
|
|
|
|
| occipital lobe | A lobe of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing vision.
|
|
|
|
| ovaries | The female gonads, which secrete hormones that regulate the development of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics.
|
|
|
|
| parasympathetic nervous system | The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body and performs maintenance functions.
|
|
|
|
| parietal lobe | A lobe of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing bodily sensations and perceiving spatial relations.
|
|
|
|
| Parkinson's disease | A degenerative disease of the dopamine pathway, which causes marked disturbances in motor behavior.
|
|
|
|
| peripheral nervous system | The division of the nervous system that conveys sensory information to the central nervous system and motor commands from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles and internal organs.
|
|
|
|
| phenotype | The overt expression of an individual's genotype (genetic inheritance) in his or her appearance or behavior.
|
|
|
|
| phrenology | A discredited technique for determining intellectual abilities and personality traits by examining the bumps and depressions of the skull.
|
|
|
|
| pituitary gland | An endocrine gland that regulates many of the other endocrine glands by secreting hormones that affect the secretion of their hormones.
|
|
|
|
| pons | A brain stem structure that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.
|
|
|
|
| positron-emission tomography (PET) | A brain-scanning technique that produces color-coded pictures showing the relative activity of different brain areas.
|
|
|
|
| primary cortical areas | Regions of the cerebral cortex that serve motor or sensory functions.
|
|
|
|
| reflex | An automatic, involuntary motor response to sensory stimulation.
|
|
|
|
| resting potential | The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not firing a neural impulse.
|
|
|
|
| reticular formation | A diffuse network of neurons, extending through the brain stem, that helps maintain vigilance and an optimal level of brain arousal.
|
|
|
|
| sensory neuron | A neuron that sends messages from sensory receptors to the central nervous system.
|
|
|
|
| single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) | A brain-imaging technique that creates images of cerebral blood flow.
|
|
|
|
| soma | The cell body, the neuron's control center.
|
|
|
|
| somatic nervous system | The division of the peripheral nervous system that sends messages from the sensory organs to the central nervous system and messages from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles.
|
|
|
|
| somatosensory cortex | The area of the parietal lobes that processes information from sensory receptors in the skin.
|
|
|
|
| spinal cord | The structure of the central nervous system that is located in the spine and plays a role in bodily reflexes and in communicating information between the brain and the peripheral nervous system.
|
|
|
|
| split-brain research | Research on hemispheric specialization that studies individuals in whom the corpus callosum has been severed.
|
|
|
|
| superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) | A brain-imaging technique that uses changes in magnetic fields to trace pathways of brain activity associated with processes such as hearing or movement.
|
|
|
|
| sympathetic nervous system | The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body to prepare it for action.
|
|
|
|
| synapse | The junction between a neuron and a gland, muscle, sensory organ, or another neuron.
|
|
|
|
| synaptic transmission | The conveying of a neural impulse between a neuron and a gland, muscle, sensory organ, or another neuron.
|
|
|
|
| temporal lobe | A lobe of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing hearing.
|
|
|
|
| testes | The male gonads, which secrete hormones that regulate the development of the male reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics.
|
|
|
|
| thalamus | A brain stem structure that acts as a sensory relay station for taste, body, visual, and auditory sensations.
|
|
|
|
| unilateral neglect | A disorder, caused by damage to a parietal lobe, in which the individual acts as though the side of her or his world opposite to the damaged lobe does not exist.
|
|
|
|
| visual cortex | The area of the occipital lobes that processes visual input.
|
|
|
|
| Wada test | A technique in which a cerebral hemisphere is anesthetized to assess hemispheric specialization.
|
|
|
|
| Wernicke's area | The region of the temporal lobe that controls the meaningfulness of speech.
|
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education