| A | B |
|---|
| Fissure | A lengthy depression marking off an area of the brain. |
| Hemisphere | One-half of the two halves of the brain; controls the opposite side of the body. |
| Frontal Lobe | Division of the brain that contains the motor strip and frontal association area. |
| Parietal Lobe | Area of the brain that contains the sensory strip. |
| Sensory Strip | Band running down the side of the parietal lobe that registers and provides all sensation. |
| Corpus Callosum | The large bundle of nerve fibers that transfers information from one half of the brain to the other. |
| Motor Strip | Band running down the side of the frontal lobe that controls all bodily movements (called motor functions). |
| Occipital Lobe | Area of the brain that interprets visual information. |
| Lobe | Major division of the brain. |
| Temporal Lobe | Area of the brain responsible for hearing and some speech functions. |
| Dominance | Either the right or left hemispere is dominant in each individual; hence, one of them is preferred and controls the majority of actions performed. |
| Thalamus | The portion of the lower brain that functions primarily as a central relay station for incoming and outgoing messages from the body to the brain and the brain to the body. |
| Reticular Activating System | The alertness control center of the brain that regulates the activity level of the body. |
| Dendrite | The part of the nerve cell that receives information from the axons of other nerve cells. |
| Hypothalamus | A part of the brain that regulates basic needs such as hunger & thirst, as well as emotions such as pleasure, fear, rage, and sexual desire. |
| Neuron | A nerve cell that transmits electrical & chemical information (via neurotransmitters) throughout the body. |
| Frontal Associaton Area | The forward portion of the brain that engages in elaborate associations or mental connections; it plays an important part in integrating personality and in forming complex thoughts. |
| Cerebral Cortex | The 100-billion-nerve-cell unit that covers the lower brain and controls very high-level thought. |
| Lower Brain | Basic "animal" units common to animals and humans that regulate basic functions such as breathing. |
| Cerebellum | The portion of the lower brain that coordinates and organizes bodily movements for balance and accuracy. |
| Amygdala | The fear and anger center located in the lower brain |
| Medulla Oblongata & Pons | Part of the brain stem that controls pulse, breathing, and other automatic responses |
| Neurotransmitters | Chemicals released from the axon terminal that cross the synapse and bring a chemical message to the dendrite receptors of the post-synaptic neuron |
| Hormones | Chemicals produced by glands that signal long-lasting body/behavior reactions. |
| Serotonin | The neurotransmitter associated with mood: excesses cause mania; low levels are associated with depression. |
| Dopamine | Neurotransmitter associated with movement and euphoria; excesses found with schizophrenia; low levels associated with Parkinson's Disease |
| Acetylcholine | Neurotransmitter associated with paralysis. |
| Endorphins | Natural neurotransmitter that elevates mood and can be increased with exercising. |
| Hormones | Chemicals that are produced by the glands and act like long-lasting neurotransmitters |
| Testosterone | Male hormone produced by the testes |
| Estrogen | Female hormone produced by the ovaries |
| Androgen | Sex hormone produced by the gonads and found in both males and females in variable ratios. |
| Pituitary gland | Master gland the controls the other glands |
| Thyroid gland | Controls the bodies metabolism |
| Adrenaline | Hormone released by the adrenal glands during emergency siturations |
| Spinal cord | Part of the central nervous system that connects the brain to the peripheral nervous system and can act like an emergency brain in an emergency |
| Sensory neurons | Bring messages from body to brain |
| Motor neurons | Bring messages from brain to body |
| Hippocampus | Unit in the lower brain that is strongly associated with memory |
| Neural transmission | Dendrite to cell body and nucleus to axon to axon terminal to vesicle that releases neurotransmitters across synapse to dendrites of post-synaptic neuron |
| Locus of Control | Mindset that asks: do you believe that you control your destiny or that it is controlled by others or fate? |
| James Marcia | Developmental psychologist who identified 4 stages of adolescent development: Foreclosure, Diffusion, Moratorium, Achievement |
