The Nervous System
This part of the nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.
(What is the central nervous system?)
This neurotransmitter is associated with muscle movement and memory. A deficit is linked to Alzheimer's disease.
(What is acetylcholine?)
The wrinkled outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-order functions like thinking and planning.
(What is the cerebral cortex?)
The electrical charge that travels down an axon during neural communication.
(What is an action potential?)
The minimum amount of stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.
Absolute Threshold
The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for calming the body after stress.
(What is the parasympathetic nervous system?)
This neurotransmitter influences mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal. A deficit is linked to depression.
(What is serotonin?)
This brain structure is responsible for coordinating voluntary movement and balance.
What is the cerebellum?)
The gap between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released.
(What is the synapse?)
The process by which sensory receptors diminish sensitivity to constant stimulation.
Sensory Adaptation
These nerve cells are the basic building blocks of the nervous system.
(What are neurons?)
Excess levels of this neurotransmitter are linked to schizophrenia, while deficits are linked to Parkinson’s disease.
(What is dopamine?)
The brain’s relay station, sending sensory information to the appropriate areas of the brain.
(What is the thalamus?)
This type of signal increases the likelihood that a neuron will fire.
What is an excitatory signal?)
The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time.
What is the difference threshold or just noticeable difference?)
The fatty substance that insulates axons and speeds up neural transmission.
(What is the myelin sheath?)
This inhibitory neurotransmitter helps calm neural activity; deficits are linked to seizures and anxiety.
(What is GABA?)
This part of the limbic system is critical for forming new memories.
(What is the hippocampus?)
After firing, a neuron enters this phase where it cannot fire again immediately.
(What is the refractory period?)
The study of how the environment can influence gene expression without altering DNA
(What is epigenetics?)
These cells in the nervous system support, nourish, and protect neurons.
(What are glial cells?)
Released in response to pain or exercise, these neurotransmitters act as natural painkillers.
(What are endorphins?)
Located in the frontal lobe, this area is responsible for producing speech.
(What is Broca’s area?)
This process involves the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron.
(What is reuptake?)
Dreams are the brain’s way of making sense of random neural activity.
Activation Synthesis Theory