Module 9
What are neurons?
They are nerve cells that are the basic building block of the nervous system
What is the nervous system?
The body's electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system
Where is the limbic system located?
Underneath the cerebral cortex and above the brainstem
What is plasticity?
The brain's ability to change/grow by recognizing damage and building pathways based on experience
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linking with cognitions (perception, thinking, memory, language)
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemical messages that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons and bind to receptor sites.
What are the three types of neurons?
Sensory neurons (carry messages from tissues to brain/spinal cord)
Motor neurons (carry instructions from central nervous system to muscles)
Inter-neurons (information is processed)
Difference between the right and left hemispheres?
The right hemisphere recieves sensory input while the left hemisphere controls the corresponding functions for the right side
What is neurogenesis?
The formation of new neurons
What is epigenetics?
What is an agonist?
Increases a neurotransmitter's action
What is the central nervous system?
The body's decision maker
What are the four lobes?
The frontal lobe, the parietal lobem the temporal lobe, and the occipital lobe
What is the cerebral cortex?
The intricate fabric of connected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres (ultimate control and info-processing center)
What was said about the people who had split brain surgery?
They had "two separate minds" as both sides of the brain would operate independently
What is an antagonist?
Decreases a neurotransmitter's actions by blocking production or release
What is the peripheral nervous system?
Gathers information for transmitting info to other body parts
What is the Hippocampus?
Converts short term memory into long term memory
What are associated areas?
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions (instead involved in learning, remembering, thinking, speaking)
What is the difference between genetic relatives and environmental relatives?
Genetic relatives are biologically related, while environmental relatives are not (adoptive)
What is serotinin's main function?
It is a self-esteem transmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.
What is the endocrine system?
This is the body's slow chemical communication system that uses hormones that trael through the bloodstream
What is the cerebellum?
Controls movements like walking, posture, and balance
What is the somatosensory cortex?
An area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
What is heritability?
the proportion of variation among people that we attribute to genes. Heritability can vary depending on the range of populations and environments studied