The Neuron
The extension of a neuron that carries messages away from the cell body.
What is the axon?
This speedy, electrochemical information system includes the brain and spinal cord.
What is the Central Nervous System (CNS)
The brain structure that controls the most basic involuntary functions, like heartbeat and breathing.
What is the Medulla?
The chemical messengers of this system, unlike neurotransmitters, are secreted directly into the bloodstream.
What are hormones?
This non-invasive method is used to observe which brain areas are receiving increased blood flow during a mental task.
What is a fMRI (functional MRI)?
These branch-like structures of a neuron receive incoming signals from other neurons.
What are dendrites?
These neurons carry messages from your sensory receptors, like those in your ankle, to the central nervous system
What are sensory neurons?
This wrinkled surface area of the brain is primarily responsible for conscious awareness and self-identity.
What is the cerebral cortex?
The gland that produces growth hormone and is known as the "master gland" of the endocrine system.
What is the pituitary gland?
This term refers to the controversy over the relative contributions of heredity and environment to an individual's traits.
What is nature versus nurture?
The brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron
What is the action potential?
The division of the autonomic nervous system that triggers the "fight-or-flight" response.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
The lobe that receives sensory input for touch and body position, allowing you to feel a scratch on your back.
What are the parietal lobes?
Naturally occurring, opiate-like chemical messengers that your body releases to reduce pain after an intense activity, like a football game.
What are endorphins?
This type of neuron carries the output instructions from the central nervous system to the leg muscles to allow you to run.
What is a motor neuron?
The chemical messengers released into the spatial junctions between neurons.
What are neurotransmitters?
This division of the autonomic nervous system slows the heartbeat and calms the body to return to a relaxed state.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
Damage to this lobe, as seen in the case of Phineas Gage, can dramatically affect personality and judgment.
What are the frontal lobes?
The slower of the body's two major information systems, relying on glands to secrete its messages into the bloodstream.
What is the endocrine system?
Identical twins are formed from one egg and one sperm, making them __________ (one-egg) twins, while fraternal twins are __________ (two-egg) twins.
What are monozygotic and dizygotic?
The neurotransmitter whose producing neurons deteriorate, linking it closely to Alzheimer's disease
What is Acetylcholine (ACh)?
The large band of neural fibers that neurosurgeons sever during split-brain surgery to reduce epileptic seizures.
What is the corpus callosum?
Extensive loss of tissue in this lobe would most likely result in a loss of visual perception.
What is the occipital lobe?
This neuroimaging technique uses radioactive glucose to show "hot spots" of increased activity in the brain.
What is a PET scan?
The concept that inherited traits that helped our ancestors survive and reproduce are the ones most likely to be passed on.
What is natural selection?