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PSYC 2012: Chapter 2
Neuroplasticity
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The nervous system's potential for physical or chemical change that enhances its adaptability to environmental change and its ability to compensate for injury. |
Phenotypic Plasticity
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An individual's capacity to develop into more than one phenotype |
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
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Part of the PNS that includes the cranial and spinal nerves to and from the muscles, joints, and skin that produce movement, transmit incoming sensory input, and inform the CNS about the position and movement of body parts. |
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) |
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) |
Afferent
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Conducting toward a central nervous system structure.
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Efferent |
Conducting away from the central nervous system structure.
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Meninges
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Three layers of protective tissue--dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater--that encase the brain and spinal cord.
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Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
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Clear solution of sodium chloride and other salts that fills the ventricles inside the brain and spinal cord beneath the arachnoid layer in the subarachnoid space.
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Cerebral Cortex
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Thin, heavily folded film of nerve tissue composed of neurons that is the outer layer of the forebrain. Also called neocortex.
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Temporal Lobe
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Part of the cerebral cortex that functions in connection with hearing, language, and musical abilities; lies below the lateral fissure, beneath the temporal bone at the side of the skull.
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Frontal Lobe
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Part of the cerebral cortex often generally characterized as performing the brain's "executive" functions, such as decision making; lies anterior to the central sulcus and beneath the frontal bone of the skull.
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Parietal Lobe
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Part of the cerebral cortex that functions to direct movements toward a goal or to perform a task, such as grasping an object; lies posterior to the central sulcus and beneath the parietal cone at the top of the skull.
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Occipital Lobe
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Part of the cerebral cortex where visual processing begins; lies at the back of the brain and beneath the occipital bone.
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Gyrus (Gyri)
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A small protrusion or bump formed by the folding of the cerebral cortex.
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Sulcus (Sulci)
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A groove in brain matter, usually a groove found in the neocortex or cerebellum.
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Stroke |
Sudden appearance of neurological symptoms as a result of severely interrupted blood flow.
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Gray Matter
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Areas of the nervous system composed predominately of cell bodies and capillary blood vessels that function either to collect and modify information or to support this activity.
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White Matter
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Areas of the nervous system rich in fat-sheathed neural axons that form the connections between brain cells.
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Ventricle |
One of four cavities in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid that cushions the brain and may play a role in maintaining brain metabolism.
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Corpus Callosum
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Band of white matter containing about 200 million nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres to provide a route for direct communication between them.
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Nucleus (Nuclei)
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A group of cells forming a cluster that can be identified with special stains to form a functional grouping.
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Nerve |
Large collection of axons coursing together outside the central nervous system.
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Tract |
Large collection of axons coursing together within the central nervous system.
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Brainstem |
Central structures of the brain, including the hindbrain, midbrain, thalamus, and hypothalamus, that are responsible for most unconscious behavior.
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Hindbrain |
Evolutionarily the oldest part of the brain; contains the pons, medulla, reticular formation, and cerebellum, structures that coordinate and control most voluntary and involuntary movements.
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Reticular Formation
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Midbrain area in which nuclei and fiber pathways are mixed, producing a netlike appearance; associated with sleep--wake behavior and behavioral arousal.
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Midbrain
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Central part of the brain that contains neural circuits for hearing and seeing as well as orienting movements.
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Tectum |
Roof (area above the ventricle) of the midbrain; its functions are sensory processing, particularly visual and auditory, and the production of orienting movements.
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Tegmentum
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Floor (area below ventricle) of the midbrain; a collection of nuclei with movement-related, species-specific, and pain-perception functions.
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Orienting Movement
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Movement related to sensory inputs, such as turning the head to see the source of a sound.
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Diencephalon |
The "between brain" that integrates sensory and motor information on its way to the cerebral cortex.
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Hypothalamus |
Diencephalon structure that contains many nuclei associated with temperature regulation, eating, drinking, and sexual behavior.
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Thalamus |
Diencephalon structure though which information from all sensory systems is integrated and projected into the appropriate region of the neocortex.
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Forebrain
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Evolutionary the newest part of the brain; coordinates advanced cognitive functions such as thinking, planning, and language; contains the limbic system, basal ganglia, and the neocortex.
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Neocortex (Cerebral Cortex)
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Newest, outer layer ("new bark") of the forebrain, composed of about six layers of gray matter; creates our reality.
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Cytoarchitectonic map
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Map of the neocortex based on the organization, structure, and distribution of the cells.
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Basal Ganglia
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Subcortical forebrain nuclei that coordinate voluntary movements of the limbs and body; connected to the thalamus and to the midbrain.
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Parkinson's Disease
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Disorder of the motor system correlated with a loss of dopamine in the brain and characterized by tenors, muscular rigidity, and a reduction in voluntary movement.
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Tourette's Syndrome
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Disorder of the basal ganglia characterized by tics, involuntary vocalizations (including curse words and animal sounds), and odd, involuntary movements of the body, especially of the face and head.
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Limbic System
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Disparate forebrain structures lying between the neocortex and the brainstem that form a functional system controlling affective and motivated behaviors and certain forms of memory; includes cingulate cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, among other structures.
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Cranial Nerve
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One of a set of 12 nerve pairs that control sensory and motor functions of the head, neck, and internal organs.
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Vertebrae (Vertebra)
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The bones that form the spinal column
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Dermatome
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Body segment corresponding to a segment of the spinal cord.
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Law of Bell and Magendie
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The general principle that sensory fibers are located dorsally and motor fibers are located ventrally.
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Sympathetic Division
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Part of the autonomic nervous system; arouses the body for action, such as mediating the involuntary fight-or-flight response to alarm by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. |
Parasympathetic Division
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Part of the autonomic nervous system; acts in opposition to the sympathetic division--for example, preparing the body to rest and digest by reversing the alarm response or stimulating digestion.
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Alzheimer's Disease
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Degenerative brain disorder related to aging that first appears as progressive memory loss and later develops into generalized dementia.
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Excitation
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Increase in the activity of a neuron or brain area.
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Inhibition
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Decrease in the activity of a neuron or brain area.
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