AP Psych Unit 3 - biology 1-64 Flashcards
Human Biology/ Why are psychologist concerned with it
because it studies the links between our mental processes and biology (biological perspective)
Neurons
A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system
Cell body/ Soma
The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus, The cells life support center
Dendrites
A bush, Branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, Conducting impulses toward the cell body.
Axon
attached to the stoma, The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
Myelin sheath
The fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of the same neurons; increases transmissions speed and provides insulation. crucial to behavior, movement, and thought. ( the myelin sheath isn’t done developing unto age 25 and deterioration to such can lead to motor impairment.
Glial Cells
cells that support, nourish and protect neurons they also play a role in learning thinking and memory they provide nutrients and insulating myelin, guide neural connections and mop up ions and neurotransmitters (kinda like worker bees)
Terminal Branches
The Ends of axons containing terminal buttons which help synaptic vesicles that store neurotransmitters.
Action Potential
if the combined recieved chemical signals exceed a minimum threshold the neuron fires, transmitting an electrical impulse down its axons by means of a chemistry to electricity process.
Threshold
the levels of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Neurotransmitters
Your body’s chemical messengers. the neurotransmitters received by dendrites build up to initiate the action potential.
All or None Response
Neural firing happens at full response or nothing at all. more stimulants don’t produce a more intense neural transmissions.
Excitatory Signal
Like the gas pedal on a car. electrical currents that prompt neurons to share information with each other. signals trigger action, when the excitatory impulses outnumber the inhibitory impulses , the threshold has been reached an an action potential occurs.
Inhibitory Signals
Like the Brake Pedal, Inhibitory neurotransmitter signals depress action
Polarization/ Resting state
Prior to the beginning of action potential The Charge outside of the membrane is more positive while the charge inside is more negative then positive- This Creates a slightly negative charge and the neuron is in a resting state
First step in action potential
After the Threshold is met the semi-permeable axon opens and sodium ions flood in through the channels
Second step in action potential (depolarization)
Depolarization happens when the sodium ions try to balance the inside of the membrane (before the membrane gate opened the inside is more negative)
What happens after depolarization
The electrical charge is changed due to depolarization and the 2nd gate in the axon opens allowing more sodium ions to enter at the same time potassium ions flow out this then repolarizes that section
fourth step in action potential
the sodium potassium pump created continues to depolarize new sections and repolarize the previous ones
5th step of action potential
The impulse then moves down the axon as an electrical current an—-
The Refactory period
the neurons short breaks when the action potential moves to the end of the neuron and firing cant occur again till axons return to resting state
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that travels across the synapse and bind to receptors sites on the receiving neuron
Synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of receiving neuron
Synaptic
the gap at the junction called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
Reuptake
A neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron
Acetylcholine
learning, memory, messenger between motor neurons and skeletal muscles when ach is released to our muscle cell receptors, the muscle contracts if ach transmission is blocked the muscles cant contract and we’ll be paralyzed. and deterioration leads to alzheimer’s
Dopamine
Pleasure and feel good hormone Plays a key role in movement, learning, attention and emotion studies show that it can be associated with rewarding feelings and may play a role in addiction its believed that excess levels can be linked to schizophrenia
Endorphins
endogenous morphine “meaning within” natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Agonist
a Drug molecule that increases neurotransmitters action (exciting neuron firing) can mimic dopamine
Antagonist
a Drug molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action and can also work by blocking and reuptake (inhibiting neuron firing)
nervous system
the bodies speedy electro-chemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the perephreal and central nervous system
Nerves
bundled axons of many neurons that form neural cables connection the central nervous system with muscle glands and sense organs
Sensory neurons
contain different nerve fibers carry information from the sense organs to cns
example when you touch something hot it sends a signal to the rest of the body
motor neurons
contain efferent neurons and carry messages from the cns to the muscles and glands
CNS
made up of the brain and spinal cord and makes the decisions responsible for coordinating incoming sensory messages and outgoing motor messages
Peripheral Nervous system
the pns made up of sensory and motor neurons the pns connects the body to the cns by gathering info from the senses and transmit messages from the cns
Somatic
a part of the pns contracts the bodys skeletal muscles
Voluntarily
autonomic
other part of pns controls glands and muscles of internal organs like heart and operates automatically is split into parasympathetic and sympathetic
sympathetic
arouses the body mobilizing its energy and fight or flight and freeze the gas pedal and it accelerates and raises heart rate and blood pressure and slows digestion and cools the body
Parasympathetic
calms the body conserving energy rest or digest de-ccelerates heartbeat blood and stimulates digestion, processes waste and calms the body
Spinal Cord
2 way connection between pns and brain oversees the sensory and motor pathways of reflexes
Brain
comprised of the cortex and subcortial structures carrying out various functions nerves arranged into neural networks like people grouping in cities
Spinal Reflex
occurs when : Sense receptors in the skin send signals up through the spinal cord via sensory (afferent) neurons.
2) Interneurons in the spinal cord receive the information from the sensory neurons and send signals back through motor neurons
3) Motor (efferent) neurons connect to muscles in the body and direct movement.
involuntary responses to stimuli
Endocrine
the body’s “slow”
chemical communication system;
a set of glands that secrete
hormones into the bloodstream
“email”
Nervous system vs endocrine
nervous system is the text message very fast and send messages through neurotransmitter while endocrines are the email with hormones moving slower and through the bloodstream the glands secrete
Adrenal Glands
When the sympathetic nervous system is activated (during a fight, flight, or freeze event), the adrenal glands release epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline and noradrenaline) to energize the body.
Norepinephrine
both a hormone and neurotransmitter norepinephrine (noradrenaline) is released in the PNS to calm the body.
Pituitary gland
The hypothalamus directs the pituitary gland to regulate growth and control other endocrine glands, multiple secretions growth hormone, oxytocin, pituitary gland secretions direct other endocrine glands to secrete their hormones.
oxytocin
stimulates the uterine contractions of childbirth and milk secretion during breastfeeding; also promotes pair bonding, group cohesion and trust
hypothalamus
The hypothalamus directs the pituitary gland to regulate growth and control other endocrine glands.
The hypothalamus is part of both the CNS and the endocrine system. It produces hormones that regulate many of the body’s key processes, including: Heart rate, Blood pressure, Body temperature, Hunger, Sleep-wake cycle.
How do scientist study the brain from lesion
brain tissue is destroyed and researchers study the impact on functioning
How do scientist study the brain from stimulation
Brain regions are stimulated electrically, chemically, or magnetically and researchers study the impact on functioning
EEG
A recording of the waves of electrical activity
across the brain’s surface measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
MEG
A brain imaging technique that
measures magnetic fields from the
brain’s natural electrical activity.
CT
CAT
X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer to show
a slice of the brain’s structure; shows structural damage.
PET
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive glucose goes while the brain performs a given task. Shows activity.
MRI
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of brain anatomy.
More detailed than CT scan.
FMRI
A measure of blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans to show brain function or as well as structure.
Shows damage.
brainstem
the bottom inner part of the brain it sends signals from your brain to the rest of your body made of a medulla reticular formation pns and thallamus
Medulla
at the base of the brainstem
controls heartbeat and breathing
pons
just above the medulla
controls sleep and helps coordinate movements
Reticullar formation
nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus
helps control arousal and filters incoming sensory stimuli
thalamus
at the top of the brainstem
relay station for incoming and outgoing sensory information (with the exception of smell)
Cerebellum
at the rear of the brainstem
processing sensory
input, coordinating movement
and balance, nonverbal learning and memory
mini brain
Amygdala
two
almond-sized neural clusters
linked to
emotion, fear, and aggression
Hypothalamus
below (hypo) the thalamus;
directs eating, drinking, body temperature
helps govern the
endocrine system via the pituitary gland, linked to emotion and reward
limbic
made up of the hypthalamus amygdala and hippocampus it regulattes emotions behavior memory located on both sides of the thalamus
hippocampus
Small structure with two “arms” that wrap around the thalamus
helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and
events
