Nervous System
This system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, serves as the command center for the body, processing information and controlling responses.
What is the central nervous system?
This part of the brainstem, located between the forebrain and hindbrain, plays a key role in vision, hearing, and motor control.
What is the midbrain?
This process involves the release of chemicals from one neuron to transmit signals across a synapse to another neuron or target cell.
What is neurotransmission?
This imaging test uses a radioactive tracer to visualize metabolic activity in the body, often employed in cancer diagnosis and brain function studies.
What is a PET (positron emission tomography) scan?
This term refers to the passing of traits from parents to offspring through genetic information encoded in DNA.
What is heredity?
This part of the peripheral nervous system regulates involuntary functions like heartbeat, digestion, and breathing without conscious effort.
What is the autonomic nervous system?
This organ, weighing about 3 pounds, is the control center of the body, responsible for thoughts, memory, emotion, and coordination of movement.
What is the brain?
This tiny gap between two neurons is where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals from one neuron to another.
What is a synapse?
This diagnostic test records electrical activity in the brain, often used to detect seizures, sleep disorders, and other neurological conditions.
What is an EEG (electroencephalogram)?
These types of studies compare the similarities and differences between identical and fraternal twins to understand the influence of genetics versus environment on traits.
What are twin studies?
This branch of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, preparing the body for action in stressful situations.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
This outer layer of the brain, known for its folds and grooves, is crucial for higher brain functions like decision-making, language, and sensory perception.
What is the cerebral cortex?
This rapid electrical signal travels along a neuron, triggered by a change in membrane potential and essential for communication within the nervous system.
What is an action potential?
This imaging technique uses X-rays to produce detailed cross-sectional views of the body, commonly used to detect injuries, tumors, or abnormalities.
What is a CT (computed tomography) scan?
This field studies how environmental factors can influence gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence, affecting traits and disease susceptibility.
What is epigenetics?
This division of the nervous system connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body, including muscles, organs, and sensory structures.
What is the peripheral nervous system?
This part of the brain, including the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata, regulates vital functions like breathing, balance, and coordination.
What is the hindbrain?
This phenomenon refers to the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections in response to learning, experience, or injury.
What is neuroplasticity?
This imaging technique uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of organs and tissues, often employed to study the brain and nervous system.
What is an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)?
This automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus is mediated by the spinal cord, often without the involvement of the brain.
What is a reflex?
This branch of the autonomic nervous system promotes "rest and digest" activities, conserving energy and maintaining bodily functions during calm states.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
This largest part of the brain includes structures like the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus, responsible for complex functions such as reasoning, sensory processing, and emotion regulation.
What is the forebrain?
Components of this include the dendrites, cell body, axon, and synapses, each playing a crucial role in transmitting and processing electrical signals.
What are the structures of a neuron?
This advanced imaging technique measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow, providing insights into neural function and connectivity.
What is an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)?
These innate, automatic behaviors are often seen in animals and humans, triggered by specific stimuli, and are even encoded in DNA.
What are instincts?