Name:

Class:

The Brain

Vocabulary:

Action potential-

Blood-brain barrier-

Cerebral Cortex-

Corpus Callosum-

Endocrine System-

Endorphins-

Interneurons-

Motor Cortex-

Motor Neurons-

Neurotransmitter-

Plasticity-

Reflex-

Sensory Cortex-

Sensory Neurons-

Synapse-

Threshold-

______study the brain.

A brain cell is called a ______.

Neuron- Fill in the missing parts of the neuron.

Define the parts of the neuron below:

Describe in steps how neurons communicate:

Draw a picture of the synaptic gap and how neurotransmitters cross it:

Match the following neurotransmitters with their functions:

1. AcetylcholineA. major inhibitory neurotransmitter

2. DopamineB. alertness and arousal

3. SerotoninC. enables muscle action, learning, and memory

4. NorepinephrineD. major excitatory neurotransmitter

5. GlutamateE. affects moods and drives

6.GABAF. influences movement, attention, and emotion

Drugs and Neurotransmitters

Drugs can either ______or ______the effects of neurotransmitters.

List some ways drugs can affect the chemistry in your brain (how they affect neurotransmitters):

The Nervous System- Fill in the boxes with the parts of the nervous system and draw a picture for each.

For each of the following situations, describe which part of the nervous system is activated and why you think it is that one:

Situation / Analysis
Ex. You are in a team meeting thinking about possible plays and strategies for an upcoming game. / Ex. Your central nervous system is at work because you are using your brain to think.
For cross country practice, you begin your warm-up by running a mile.
You go to a haunted house for Halloween. Your heart rate picks up because you hear noises in the dark.
At an amusement park, you go on a roller coaster ride. Afterward, you take a minute to calm down.

The Brain- Label each part of the brain, describe its function, and draw a picture to correspond with each part.

Label and describe the function of the thalamus, the amygdala, the hypothalamus and the hippocampus.

What are association areas and why are they important?

The Left Side Controls / The Right Side Controls

How do the body and the brain relate to each other?

Language

Language is a complex task involving several brain areas.

Broca’s Area:

Wernicke’s Area:

Many other seemingly simple tasks require several brain areas. For the following activities, describe how different parts of the brain are put to use.

Activity / Brain Areas Involved
Ex. Petting a dog / The motor cortex tells the hand to move while the sensory cortex tells the brain what the hand is feeling (like how soft the fur is).
Driving a car
Kicking a ball
Reading a book
Answering a question in class
Playing video games