AP Psych Unit 3 Flashcards
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Neuron
The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life support center
Cell Body
A neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses towards the cell body.
Dendrites
The neuron’s extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
Axon
A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next.
Myelin Sheath
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking and memory.
Glial Cells
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
Action Potential
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
Threshold
In neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials can’t occur until the axon returns to its resting state
Refractory period
A neuron’s reaction of either firing (w full strength response) or not firing
All-or-None response
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.
Synapse
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, (?) travel across the synapse and bind to receptors sites in the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Neurotransmitters
A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron.
Reuptake
Linked to pain control and to pleasure.
Endorphins
A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action.
Agonist
Compound present as neurotransmitter; allows one to feel satisfaction and motivation
Dopamine
Block perception of pain and increase wellbeing
Endorphins
Neurotransmitter modulating mood, cognition, reward, and memory.
Serotonin
The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Nervous system
Bundled axons of many neurons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with the muscles, glands, and sense organs.
Nerves
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus such as the knee-jerk (?).
Reflex
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system, a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Endocrine system
A chemical messenger that is manufactured by the endocrine glands, travels through the bloodstream, and affects other tissues.
Hormones
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.
Adrenal glands
The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Pituitary gland
A series of X-Ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure.
CT
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
PET Scan
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. scans show brain anatomy.
MRI
A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. IMRI scans show brain function as well as structure.
IMRI
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions.
Brainstem
The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.
Medulla
The brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
Thalamus
A nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.
Reticular Formation
The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensor input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.
Cerebellum
Neural System (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
Limbic System
Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.
Amygdala
A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit memories of facts and events.
Hippocampus
arouses body; emergency sys; fight or flight
Sympathetic
quiets body; active after emotional event, restores body to homeostasis
Parasympathetic
Carries msgs to & from skeletal muscles and sense organs; controls voluntary behavior
Somatic System
Surgical procedure of removing brain parts
Ablation
