Download neuron synapse The junction between the axon tip of a sending

neuron
synapse
The junction between the axon
tip of a sending neuron and
the dendrite of a receiving
neuron
Chemical messengers that
cross the synaptic gaps
between neurons, influencing
whether a neuron will start or
stop firing an impulse
Building block of the nervous
system; nerve cell
neurotransmitters
Extension of a neuron, ending
in branching terminal fibers,
through which messages pass
to other neurons, muscles, or
glands
axon
dendrite
Branching extension of a neuron
that receives messages and
conducts impulses toward the cell
body
Chemical that helps control
alertness and arousal
serotonin
Chemical that affects mood,
hunger, sleep, and arousal
Action potential/depolarization
dopamine
Brief electrical charge that travels
down the axon when the positively
charged K and Na ions travel inside
the axon, meeting up with the
negatively charged Cl ions
Chemical that influences
movement, learning,
attention, and
emotion/pleasure
norepinephrine
Division of the autonomic
nervous system that calms the
body, conserving energy
acetylcholine
Somatic Nervous System
Division of the peripheral
nervous system that controls
the body’s skeletal muscles
(voluntary actions)
Chemical that enables muscle
action, learning, and memory
Sympathetic Nervous System
Division of the autonomic
nervous system that arouses
the body, mobilizing its energy
in stressful situations
Parasympathetic Nervous
System
Frontal lobe
Portion of the cerebral cortex
involved in speaking, muscle
movements, and making plans
and judgments. Includes the
prefrontal cortex, motor
cortex, and Broca’s area.
Occipital lobe
Portion of the cerebral cortex
involved in hearing and
understanding
sounds/language. Includes the
auditory cortex, and
Wernicke’s area.
Portion of the cerebral cortex
that receives information from
the visual fields
Parietal lobe
Thalamus
Portion of the cerebral cortex
that receives sensory input for
touch and body position.
Includes the sensory cortex
and association areas for
mathematical and spatial
reasoning
The brain’s sensory
switchboard, it directs
messages to the sensory
receiving areas and transmits
replies to the cerebellum and
medulla
Temporal lobe
Directs maintenance activities
such as eating, drinking, body
temperature; helps regulate
the endocrine system, linked
to emotion and reward
Cerebellum
Hippocampus
“Little brain” that processes
sensory input, coordinates
voluntary movement and
balance, helps us judge time,
enables nonverbal learning
and memory
Part of the limbic system
responsible for processing
explicit memories for storage
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Part of the limbic system
linked to emotion; thought to
determine whether we should
emotionally react to sensory
stimuli, especially with rage or
fear; processes emotional
memories
Brainstem
Oldest part of the brain
responsible for automatic
survival functions. Includes
the medulla, pons, and
reticular activating system
Large band of neural fibers
connecting the two
hemispheres of the brain and
carrying messages between
them.
Plasticity
The brain’s ability to change,
especially during childhood, by
reorganizing after damage or
by building new pathways
based on experience
Endocrine System
Sperry and Gazzaniga
The body’s “slow” chemical
communication system; a set
of glands that secrete
hormones into the
bloodstream
Their split-brain research has
shown the complimentary
functions of the right and left
hemispheres
Corpus Callosum
Biological Basis of Behavior/Neuropsychology: How Does the Brain Work?
Instructions:
1. Pair each picture/word with its appropriate definition or description. When you have this completed, check
with your instructor to determine your accuracy.
2. Remove all the definition/description cards and place them to the side. With the picture cards try the following:
 Nervous System Organization: categorize the cards to mirror the how the parts of the nervous system
and brain are organized
 Pick two: each person picks two cards and explains to the others how they relate (no sharing cards)
 Pick two opposites: each person picks two cards and explains to the others how they are opposite (no
sharing cards)
 Most important to least important: Order your cards from most important to least important
 Most confident to least confident: Separate your cards into two piles- concepts you are most confident
about and concepts you are least confident about. If there is disagreement among group members, help
explain the concepts to each other.