Neurons & Transmitters
What contains the synaptic vesicles that house neurotransmitters
terminal buttons
The nervous system division that includes the brain and spinal cord.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
This outer layer of the brain is made of grey matter and handles higher-level processing.
The Cerebral Cortex
This lobe is responsible for planning, decision-making, and voluntary movement.
Frontal Lobe
This technique records electrical activity in the brain using scalp electrodes.
EEG
The chemical messengers of the nervous system
neurotransmitters
This division controls voluntary movements and transmits sensory information.
somatic nervous system
This lobe is located at the back of the brain and processes visual input.
The Occipital Lobe
This lobe processes touch, spatial awareness, and integrates sensory information.
Parietal Lobe
This imaging technique uses magnetic fields to measure oxygenated blood in the brain
fMRI
The neurotransmitter that increases pleasure, suppresses appetite; is involved in sleep, mood, and learning
Dopamine
The part of the PNS that controls involuntary actions like heart rate and digestion.
autonomic nervous system
These structures emerge directly from the brain and control sensory/motor functions.
Cranial Nerves
The white matter tracts are responsible for this process in the brain.
communication between brain regions
This method tracks blood flow to determine active brain regions.
PET
the point at which a neuron becomes active and the action potential begins.
threshold of excitation
This division of the nervous system connects the CNS to muscles, glands, and organs.
This area in the temporal lobe is critical for understanding spoken language.
Wernicke's Area
This cranial nerve controls our ability to detect smells.
1 - Olfactory
This technique temporarily disrupts brain activity to study function.
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation)
Depression, which has been consistently linked with reduced serotonin levels is commonly treated with
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
A patient shows exaggerated fear responses, difficulty forming new emotional memories, and reduced motivation for rewards. Which brain system is most likely involved?
limbic system
A patient has difficulty recognizing spoken words, can’t identify familiar voices, and shows impaired memory for auditory events. Which brain lobe is likely affected?
Temporal Lobes
A patient can understand language but cannot form coherent speech. Which specific brain area is most likely impaired?
Broca's Area (Broca's Aphasia)
After a stroke, a patient completes a memory recall test, fails language comprehension tasks, and shows decreased attention. Which type of assessment would quantify these deficits?
Cognitive/Neurological Assessment