Nervous system organization
This system includes the brain and spinal cord.
The central nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
This is the largest part of the brain and supports higher-level thinking.
The cerebrum.
These branchlike structures receive signals from other neurons.
Dendrites.
This neurotransmitter is associated with mood, sleep, and appetite.
Serotonin.
This term means maintaining a relatively stable internal body condition.
Homeostasis.
This division controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.
The somatic nervous system.
This structure helps coordinate balance, posture, and precise movement.
The cerebellum.
This part carries electrical signals away from the cell body.
The axon.
This neurotransmitter is associated with movement, motivation, memory, and reward.
Dopamine.
This brain structure monitors hunger, thirst, temperature, and other internal conditions.
The hypothalamus.
This division controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion
The autonomic nervous system.
This structure connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls automatic survival functions.
The brainstem
This fatty covering helps electrical signals travel faster along the axon.
The myelin sheath.
This neurotransmitter sends signals to muscles and supports learning and memory.
Acetylcholine.
A student sees a ball and reaches for it. Explain how visual, spatial, and motor systems work together.
The occipital lobe processes visual information, the parietal lobe helps locate the ball and guide spatial attention, and motor areas plan and carry out the reach.
This is the typical pathway from detecting a stimulus to producing a movement: sensory receptors, sensory neurons, the central nervous system, motor neurons, and muscles.
Sensory receptors detect a stimulus, sensory neurons carry the signal to the central nervous system, motor neurons carry the response, and muscles produce movement.
This structure relays and filters most sensory information before it reaches the cortex.
The thalamus.
At this location, neurotransmitters cross from one neuron to another.
The synapse.
This neurotransmitter reduces pain and stress and may produce feelings of pleasure
Endorphins.
Explain how the nervous system uses feedback to help maintain body temperature.
The hypothalamus detects changes in internal temperature and coordinates responses such as sweating or shivering, moving the body back toward a stable condition.
Compare the roles of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems during an emergency.
The somatic system controls voluntary skeletal-muscle movement, while the autonomic system controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion. During an emergency, the somatic system can produce deliberate movement while the autonomic system supports the fight-or-flight response.
Explain how the amygdala, hippocampus, and frontal lobe may work together during an emotionally important event.
The amygdala evaluates emotional importance, the hippocampus connects the event with memory and context, and the frontal lobe helps evaluate consequences and regulate behavior.
Describe the complete pathway of a signal from dendrites to the next neuron, including electrical and chemical signaling.
(Dendrites, cell body, axon, synapse, receptors)
Dendrites receive signals, the cell body processes them, the signal travels electrically down the axon, and axon terminals release neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to receptors on the next neuron.
A person has difficulty with movement, motivation, and reward. Which neurotransmitter might be involved, and why?
Dopamine might be involved because it is associated with movement, motivation, memory, and reward.
Phineas Gage survived severe damage to the frontal lobe. Explain what his case suggested about the relationship between brain structure and behavior.
Gage’s reported changes in judgment, impulse control, and personality after frontal-lobe damage suggested that particular brain regions contribute to behavior and personality.