The Neuron
A neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
The brain and spinal cord make up this part of the nervous system.
Central Nervous System
This structure is located at the base of the brainstem and controls heartbeat and breathing.
Medulla
The debate over nature vs. nurture has basically been settled. Today, psychologists believe it is not nature vs. nurture, but rather nature _____ nurture.
and
Everything psychological is simultaneously ____________.
biological
A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System is responsible for the _________ and _________ response.
Rest, Digest
This portion of the cerebral cortex sits roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
Temporal Lobes
Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two are known as _____________ twins.
identical
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
Motor Neurons (Efferent Neurons)
A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.
Refractory Period
The body's master gland - it regulates the other glands of the Endocrine System amongst its many responsibilities.
Pituitary Gland
This structure sits at the top of the brainstem and acts as a switchboard operator for your brain.
Thalamus
Every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.
Environment
These natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters are linked to pain control and to pleasure.
Endorphins
A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing.
All-or-None Response
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.
Somatic Nervous System
These three structures make up the Limbic System
Hippocampus, Amygdala, Hypothalamus
The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.
Genome
This scan displays brain activity that shows where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a certain task.
PET Scan
Certain antidepressants prevent this process from happening with the neurotransmitter serotonin. By preventing this, they encourage serotonin to float around in the synapse.
Reuptake
The adrenal glands secrete these hormones to arouse your body in times of stress.
epinephrine and norepinephrine
This association area of the brain plays a role in planning and processing of new memories
Prefrontal Cortex
The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes.
Heritability
Behavioral Geneticists tend to be interested in what makes humans ______________, while Evolutionary Psychologists tend to be interested in what makes humans _______________.
different, similar