Chapter 3

Communication in the Nervous System

1. Describe the main functions of the two types of nervous tissue.
 
2. Describe the various parts of the neuron.
 
3. Describe the neural impulse.
 
4. Describe how neurons communicate at chemical synapses and discuss how researchers track neurotransmitter activity.
 
5. Discuss how acetycholine, the bioamines, GABA, and endorphins are related to behavior.
 

Organization of the Nervous System

6. Provide an overview of the organization of the nervous system.
 

Looking inside the Brain: Research Methods

7. Describe how the EEG, lesioni-ng, and ESB are used to investigate brain function.
 
8. Describe the new brain imaging methods (CT, PET, MRI scans) that are used to study brain structure and function.
 
9. Summarize the key structures and functions of the hindbrain and midbrain.
 
10. Summarize the key functions of the thalamus, hypothalamus, and limbic system.
 
11. Describe the structure of the cerebrum and the key function of the four lobes in the cerebral cortex.
 

Right Brain/Left Brain: Cerebral Laterality

12. Summarize evidence that led scientists to view the left hemisphere as ???
 
13. Summarize evidence on the origins and correlates of handedness and ???
 

The Endocrine System: Another Way to Communicate

14. Describe the workings of the endocrine system.
 

Heredity and Behavior: Is it All in the Genes?

15. Describe the structures and processes involved in genetic transmission.
 
16. Explain the difference between genotype and phenotype and the meaning of polygenic inheritance.
 
17. Explain the special methods used to investigate the influence of heredity on behavior.
 
18. Explain how heredity may influence behavior and how its influence may be moderated by environment.
 

Putting it in Perspective

19. Explain how this chapter highlighted three of the text's unifying themes.
 

Application: Right Brain/Left Brain: Two Modes of Thought

20. Outline five popular ideas linking cerebral specialization to cognitive processes.
 
21. Critically evaluate each of the five ideas on cerebral specialization and cognitive processes in light of currently available evidence.
 

Take a practice Quiz/Test (A) or (AP)

Terms
Sensory/Motor neurons
Glia
Neurons
Soma
Dendrites
Axon
Myelin sheath
Terminal buttons
Synapse
Resting/Action potentials
Absolute refractory period
Synaptic cleft
Neurotransmitters
Postsynaptic potential (PSP)
Excitatory/Inhibitory PSP
Family studies
Agonist/Antagonist
Endorphins
Neuromodulators
Peripheral & Somatic nervous systems
Nerves
Afferent/Efferent nerve fibers
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic/Parasympathetic division
Central nervous system (CNS)
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Blood-brain barrier
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Twin studies
Lesioning
Sterotaxic instrument
Electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)
Hind/Mid/Forebrain
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Limbic system
Cerebral cortex
Cerebral hemispheres
Corpus callosum
Adoption studies
Split-brain surgery
Endocrine system
Hormones
Pituitary gland
Chromosomes
Zygote
Dominant/Recessive Genes
Genotype & Phenotype
Polygenic traits
Interneurons
Cerebral laterality
Perceptual asymmetries
Handesness
Behavioral genetics
Homozygous/Heterozygous condition
Identical/Fraternal twins
Genetic mapping
Key People
Alan Hodgkin & Andrew Huxley
Roger Sperry & Michael Gazzaniga
Candace Pert & Solomon Snyder
James Olds & Peter Milner
Robert Plomin



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