Chapter 2: The Biological Perspective

________- Major inhibitory neurotransmitter; involved in sleep and inhibits movement.

________: brain- imaging method in which a radioactive sugar is injected into the subject and a computer compiles a color- coded image of the activity of the brain.

________: the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma.

________: chemical substances that block or reduce a cells response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.

________ (RF): An area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond that is responsible for general attention, alertness, and arousal.

________: chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell.

________: part of ANS that is responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal;"fight- flight system.

________: the upper part of the brain consisting of the two hemispheres and the structures that connect them.

________: small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland, responsible for motivational behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex.

________ (ACh)- Excitatory or inhibitory; involved in arousal, attention, memory, and controls muscle contractions.

________ (EEG): a recording of the electrical activity of large groups of cortical neurons just below the skull, most often using scalp electrodes.

________: the cell body of the neuron responsible for maintaining the life of the sell.

________ (5- HT)- Excitatory or inhibitory; involved in sleep, mood, anxiety, and appetite.

________: an involuntary response, one that is not under personal control or choice.

________ also make up the bulk of the neurons in the brain.

________ (NE)- Mainly excitatory; involved in arousal and mood.

________- Inhibitory neural regulators; involved in pain relief.

Computed ________ (CT) Scan: brain- imaging method using computer- controlled X- rays of the brain.

________ and tDCS are noninvasive methods for stimulating the brain 2.9 Neuroimaging Techniques.

________: A long bundle of neurons that carries messages between the body and the brain and is responsible for very fast, lifesaving reflexes.

The neurotransmitter molecules fit into ________ on the next cell, stimulating or inhibiting that cells firing neurotransmitters may be either excitatory or inhibitory.

________: endocrine gland; controls the levels of sugar in the blood.

________: branchlike structures of a neuron that receive messages from other neurons.

________: the process of molecules moving from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

________: a thick band of neurons that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres.

________: condition produced most often by damage to the parietal lobe association areas of the right hemisphere, resulting in an inability to recognize objects or body parts in the left visual field.

________: Process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles.

________ (DA)- Excitatory or inhibitory; involved in the control of movement and sensations of pleasure.

________: the interaction between genes and environmental factors that influence gene activity; environmental factors include diet, life experiences, and physical surroundings 2.5 The Peripheral Nervous System: Nerves on the Edge.

________: the female gonads or sex glands.

________: the formation of new neurons; occurs primarily in prenatal development but may also occur at lesser levels in some brain areas during adulthood.

________: brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear 2.12 The Cortex.

________: the two sections of the cortex on the left and right sides of the brain.

________ (synaptic gap): microscopic fluid- filled space between the axon terminal of one cell and the dendrites or soma of the next cell.

________: the larger swelling above the medulla that relays information from the cortex to the cerebellum, and that plays a part in sleep, dreaming left- right body coordination, and arousal.

________: the first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain, which is responsible for life- sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate.

________: part of ANS that restores the body to normal functioning after arousal and is responsible for the day- to- day functioning of the organs and glands;"eat- drink- and- rest system "2.6 The Pituitary: Master of the Hormonal Universe.

________ (sensory) neuron: a neuron carries information from the senses to the central nervous system.

________: a branch of life science that deals with the structure and function of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue.

________: Process by which the structure of a neurotransmitter is altered so it can no longer act on a receptor 2.4 The Central Nervous System: The "Central Processing Unit.

________: part of the lower brain located behind the pons that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement, and may have some cognitive functions 2.11 Structures Under the Cortex: The Limbic System.

________: a neuron found in the center of the spinal cord that receives information from the afferent neurons and sends commands to the muscles through the efferent neurons.

________: hormone released by the posterior pituitary gland that is involved in reproductive and parental behaviors 2.7 Other Endocrine Glands.

________: a chemical found in the synaptic vesicles that, when released, has an effect on the next cell.

________: bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel together through the body 2.2 Generating the Message within the Neuron: The Neural Impulse.

________: endocrine glands located on top of each kidney that secrete over 30 different hormones to seal with stress, regulate salt intake, and provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual changes that occur during adolescence 2.8 Methods for Studying Specific Regions of the Brain.

________: part of the limbic system located in the center of the brain, this structure relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex and processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper area.

________: curved structure located within each temporal lobe, responsible for the formation of long- term declarative memories.

________ (motor) neuron: a neuron that carries messages from the CNS to the muscles of the body.

________: section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the primary visual carters of the brain.