Neurons
Control center of the neuron.
nucleus
This practice involves focusing one's mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.
meditation
These are the fastest brain waves, associated with an alert, wakeful, and active conscious state, such as during problem-solving.
beta waves
A person is lying in bed, feeling drowsy but still aware of their surroundings. Their muscle activity is slowing down, and they might experience sudden muscle jerks or a falling sensation. In which stage of sleep are they?
NREM stage 1
In addition to their impact on pain and pleasure, opiates also cause a dangerous suppression of breathing by affecting this part of the brain.
brainstem
This part of the neuron, also known as the soma, is the metabolic center of the cell.
Cell Body
This technique uses electronic monitoring of a person's physiological state to provide them with information about their bodily functions, such as heart rate or muscle tension.
biofeedback
Slower than beta waves, these brain waves are most prominent when a person is in a relaxed but awake state, often with their eyes closed.
alpha waves
An individual is dreaming vividly. Although their eyes are moving rapidly, their voluntary muscles are temporarily paralyzed. In which stage of sleep is this occurring?
REM
This forward-most part of the brain is responsible for complex functions like decision-making, judgment, and impulse control, all of which are impaired by drug use.
frontal lobe
This long, tail-like extension transmits nerve impulses away from the cell body toward other neurons, muscles, or glands.
Axon
Your biological clock that is regulated by light and dark.
circadian rhythm
These are the slowest and highest amplitude brain waves, which are the hallmark of deep, dreamless sleep (Stage 3).
Delta Waves
A person is sleeping so soundly that they are difficult to wake. Their breathing and heart rate are at their lowest levels, and their brain is showing a predominance of delta waves. Which stage of sleep are they in?
NREM stage 3
Marijuana's active ingredient, THC, disrupts the function of this seahorse-shaped structure, which is responsible for forming and retrieving long-term memories.
hippocampus
This fatty substance wraps around axons, insulating them and speeding up the transmission of nerve impulses.
Myelin Sheath
Meditation can be used to calm this branch of the nervous system.
sympathetic nervous system
You have just drifted off to sleep. Your breathing has become more regular, and your heart rate has slowed. You are now in the first stage of light sleep, and your brain is producing slow waves with low amplitude.
Theta waves
A subject in a sleep lab has an EEG that shows fast, low-voltage brain waves. Their eyes are rapidly moving under their eyelids, and their blood pressure and breathing are fluctuating. Which stage of sleep is this?
REM
Hallucinogens like LSD and psilocybin primarily affect this part of the brain, which processes visual sensory information, leading to altered perceptions and visual distortions.
occipital lobe
The gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released.
synapse
By using biofeedback, a person can learn to voluntarily control this branch of the nervous system, which is normally considered involuntary.
parasympathetic nervous system
You are in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Although you are asleep, your brain activity is similar to that of a person who is awake, leading to vivid dreams. The brain waves during this paradoxical sleep are fast and low in amplitude, much like the waves of an alert person.
beta waves
This type of sleep makes up about 75% of a person's total sleep time and is characterized by a progression through three distinct stages of increasing depth.
NREM
The "fight-or-flight" response and feelings of alertness associated with stimulants like amphetamines are primarily due to their impact on this part of the brain.
amygdala