Nervous System
This term refers to the minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
What is a threshold?
This is the ability of the brain to rewire itself or modify or create new connections throughout development.
What is brain plasticity?
This part of the eye is the photosensitive surface at the back of the eye. It contains cells that capture visual information that is transduced to the brain for processing.
What is the retina?
This stage of sleep is associated with vivid dreaming and rapid eye movements.
What is REM (rapid eye movement) sleep?
This debate examines whether human behavior is primarily determined by biological inheritance or life experiences.
What is Nature vs. Nurture?
These specialized cells transmit electrical and chemical signals throughout the body.
What are neurons?
This part of the limbic system is critical for forming new memories.
What is the hippocampus?
This sense is the sense of taste, and types of tastes include sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, and oleogustus.
What is Gustation?
This hormone released by the pineal gland helps regulate sleep cycles.
What is melatonin?
This neurotransmitter is associated with reward, pleasure, and motivation.
What is dopamine?
This principle states that once a neuron reaches its threshold, it fires completely or does not fire at all.
What is the all-or-nothing principle?
This area of the brain generally controls coordination of muscle movement, balance, and some forms of procedural learning.
What is the cerebellum?
This "law" describes the degree to which stimuli need to be different for the difference to be detected.
What is Weber’s law?
This refers to the body's internal biological clock that regulates sleep cycles.
What is circadian rhythm?
This type of psychoactive drug increases neural activity, heart rate, and alertness; examples include caffeine, nicotine, and cocaine.
What are stimulants?
This division of the nervous system controls voluntary muscle movements.
What is the somatic nervous system?
This part of the limbic system regulates emotions such as fear and aggression.
What is the amygdala?
These photoreceptor cells located in the fovea of the eye that process color and detail.
What are cones?
This sleep disorder is characterized by uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the day.
What is narcolepsy?
This type of psychoactive drug decreases nervous system activity, slows heart rate, and can induce relaxation or sleep; examples include alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.
What are depressants?
This branch of the autonomic nervous system prepares the body for fight-or-flight.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
This brainstem structure controls basic life functions like heartbeat and breathing.
What is the medulla?
This sense controls balance and is primarily detected by the semicircular canals and structures in the brain.
What is the vestibular sense?
This imaging method records electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp.
What is an EEG?
This type of brain scan measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.
What is fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)?