Nervous System

A sudden reversal in the charge of a neurons membrane, also called a nerve impulse. Action potential. An action potential is a quick electrical signal that travels along a neuron, allowing it to communicate with other cells.

The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus, most of the cytoplasm, and organelles is called the cell body. The cell body is like the main control center of a neuron, where important processes like energy production and information processing happen.

The highly-folded, gray outer layer of the brain, it controls memory, learning, and actions. The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain responsible for processing information and making decisions.

A drug that slows the activity of the central nervous system. Depressant. Depressants are substances that calm the brain and reduce anxiety or alertness.

Occurs when larger doses of a drug are needed by the body to produce the same effect. Drug tolerance. Drug tolerance is when your body gets used to a drug, so you need more of it to feel the same effect.

The part of the midbrain that controls the activities of the nervous amp endocrine systems. Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a small brain region that helps keep the body in balance by regulating hormones and maintaining body temperature.

The part of the brainstem that controls involuntary activities such as breathing heart rate medulla oblongata. The medulla oblongata is the brain area responsible for controlling basic body functions like breathing and heart rate.

A chemical that transmits nerve impulses from a neuron, across a synapse. Neurotransmitter. A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that helps nerve cells communicate with each other.

The part of the nervous system that controls body functions when the body is at rest parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system helps your body relax and conserve energy by slowing the heart rate and increasing digestion.

A nerve pathway made of a sensory neuron, interneuron, and motor neuron, it controls reflex actions. Reflex arc. It is a quick, automatic response to a stimulus without involving the brain.

The difference in charge between the inside and outside of a neuron. Resting potential. Resting potential is the electrical charge difference across a neuron's membrane when it is not actively sending a signal.

The fluid-filled inner ear structure that helps maintain balance. Semicircular canal. It is part of the inner ear that helps your brain sense if you're moving your head, helping you keep your balance.

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary actions, it connects the skin, skeleton, and muscles. Somatic nervous system. The somatic nervous system allows you to move your body by controlling muscles.

A drug that increases the activity of the nervous system. Stimulant. A stimulant is a substance that speeds up brain activity and boosts energy or alertness.

The part of the autonomic nervous system that controls the organs, and prepares the body for times of stress, is the sympathetic nervous system. It helps the body respond to stress by increasing heart rate and energy in a "fight or flight" situation.

A sensory organ on the tongue which detects chemicals that give food its taste. Taste bud. Taste buds are tiny structures on your tongue that help you sense flavors like sweet, salty, sour, and bitter.

The minimum stimulus needed to produce a nerve impulse is called the threshold. In science, threshold is the point at which a stimulus is strong enough to trigger a response.