Psyc vocab Chap 3
Terms
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- axon
- The long tail-like part of the neuron that serves as the cell's transmitter
- Dendrite
- the fibers that extend outward from a neuron and receive information from other neurons
- Myelin sheath
- An insulating material that protects the axon and helps to speed up neural transmission
- Soma
- The cell body of a neuron
- Terminal buttons
- The tiny swellings at the end of the axon that contain chemicals important to neural transmission
- Synapse
- The small gap between the terminal buttons of a neuron and the dendrite or cell body of another neuron
- Neurotransmitter
- Chemical messengers that relay infromation from one neuron to the next
- GABA
- Neurotransmitter that may play a role in the regulation of anxiety; it generally produces inhibitory effects
- Seratonin
- Neurotransmitter that has been linked to sleep, dreaming, general arousal, and may also be involved in some psychological disorders such as depression and schizophrenia
- Acetylcholine
- Neurotransmitter that plays multiple roles in the central and peripheral nervous systems, including the excitation of muscle contractions
- Dopamine
- Neurotransmitter that often leads to inhibitory effects; decreased levels have been linked to Parkinson's disease and increased levels have been linked to schizophrenia
- Endorphins
- Morphinelike chemicals that act as the brain's natural painkillers
- Endocrine system
- A network of glands that uses the bloodstream, rather than neurons, to send chemical messages that regulate growth and other internal functions
- Central nervous system
- The brain and spinal cord
- Somatic system
- The collection of nerves that transmits information toward the brain and connects the skeletal muscles in order to initiate movement; part of the peripheral nervous system
- Automatic nervous system
- The collection of nerves that controls the heart rate, digestion, blood pressure, etc. Part of the peripheral nervous system