Biological Psychology Flashcards
dendrites
receive messages from other cells and conduct impulses toward the cell body
cell body
the cell’s life support center
axon
the extension of a neuron through which messages are sent to other neurons or to muscle glands
myelin sheath
a layer of fatty cells covering the axon, helps speed up neural impulses
terminal branches of axon
form junctions with other cells
neuropsychology
concerned with the links between biology and behavior (also called Biological Psychology)
neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
resting potential
slightly negative charge; dormant
*reach threshold when enough neurotransmitters reach dendrites
threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse; excitatory signals minus inhibitory signals must equal a minimum intensity
action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gap between neurons
agonist
mimic neurotransmitters
antagonist
block neurotransmitters
acetylcholine
involved with learning and memory (Ach)
dopamine
deals with motor movements and alertness
lack of linked to parkinson’s disease
too much linked to schizophrenia
serotonin
involved in mood control
lack of linked to clinical depression
endorphins
natural neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
endorphin release in a runner’s high
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
neural networks
interconnected neural cells; more connections made as experience gained
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
somatic nervous system
controls voluntary muscle movement by utilizing motor neurons
autonomic nervous system
controls the automatic functions of the body; divided into the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems
sympathetic nervous system
arouses the body, Flight or Fight response
parasympathetic nervous system
calms the body
sensory neurons (Afferent neurons)
sends incoming information to CNS (AT the brain)
few million
interneurons
CNS internal communication neurons; intervene b/w sensory and motor
billions
motor neurons (Efferent neurons)
sends outgoing information from CNS to muscle and glands (exit the brain)
few million
reflex
automatic response to sensory stimulus; interneuron reacts to sensory neuron w/o going to brain
left brain functions
language
right brain functions
art and music
corpus callosum
connects the two hemispheres and allows them to communticate
brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the brain
*responsible for automatic survival functions
medulla
base of brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing
pons
connects different brain regions together, involved in facial expressions
reticular formation
nerve network that plays an important role in controlling arousal (consciousness)
thalamus
the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brainstem
**it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
cerebellum
“little brain” attached to the rear of brainstem, coordinates voluntary movement and balance, formulates implicit memories
limbic system
associated with emotions and drives
amygdala
linked to emotion, especially aggression and fear
hippocampus
linked to explicit memory
pituitary gland
mast endocrine gland, linked to growth
cerebral cortex
intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemisphere
frontal lobes
involved in speaking, muscle movements, and in making plans and judgement
***motor cortex
motor cortex
are at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
parietal lobes
involved in sensations, pressure, and pain
***sensory cortex
sensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensation
occipital lobes
include the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
***contains visual cortex
temporal lobes
include the auditory areas
**contains the auditory cortex
association areas
“uncommitted” areas that are not involved in primary functions but play a role in learning, remembering, and thinking
accidents
damage to brain regions can tell us about their functions
lesions
tissue destruction
electroencaphalogram (EEG)
electrodes placed on the scalp create an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface
**this is how we measure brain waves during sleep
computed tomography (CAT) scan
a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles combined by a computer into a composite presentation of a slice through the body
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
a visual display of brain activity the detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
magnitude resonance imaging (MRI)
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain
plasticity
the ability for our brains to form new connections after the neurons are damaged
**the younger you are the more plastic your brain is
neural networks
connected neurons; increase speed and efficiency of communication
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage to Broca’s area (impaired speaking) or to Wernicke’ area (impaired understanding)
broca’s area
directs the muscle movements involved in speech
- *broken speech
- *left frontal lobe
wernicke’s area
involved in language comprehension and expression
- *meaningless words
- left temporal lobe
endocrine system
set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
**snail mail (ES) vs. Email (NS)
angular gyrus
receives visual information and recodes it into auditory form
pituitary gland
ES’s most influential gland; regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
**under the influence of the hypothalamus
hormones
chemical messengers that are produced in one tissue and affect another
**can influence our interest in sex, food, and aggression
adrenal glands
secrete adrenaline to arouse body in time of stress
