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AP Psychology > Biological Psychology > Flashcards

Biological Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

dendrites

A

receive messages from other cells and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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2
Q

cell body

A

the cell’s life support center

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3
Q

axon

A

the extension of a neuron through which messages are sent to other neurons or to muscle glands

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4
Q

myelin sheath

A

a layer of fatty cells covering the axon, helps speed up neural impulses

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5
Q

terminal branches of axon

A

form junctions with other cells

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6
Q

neuropsychology

A

concerned with the links between biology and behavior (also called Biological Psychology)

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7
Q

neuron

A

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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8
Q

resting potential

A

slightly negative charge; dormant

*reach threshold when enough neurotransmitters reach dendrites

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9
Q

threshold

A

level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse; excitatory signals minus inhibitory signals must equal a minimum intensity

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10
Q

action potential

A

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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11
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gap between neurons

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12
Q

agonist

A

mimic neurotransmitters

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13
Q

antagonist

A

block neurotransmitters

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14
Q

acetylcholine

A

involved with learning and memory (Ach)

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15
Q

dopamine

A

deals with motor movements and alertness
lack of linked to parkinson’s disease
too much linked to schizophrenia

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16
Q

serotonin

A

involved in mood control

lack of linked to clinical depression

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17
Q

endorphins

A

natural neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
endorphin release in a runner’s high

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18
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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19
Q

neural networks

A

interconnected neural cells; more connections made as experience gained

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20
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

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21
Q

somatic nervous system

A

controls voluntary muscle movement by utilizing motor neurons

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22
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls the automatic functions of the body; divided into the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems

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23
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

arouses the body, Flight or Fight response

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24
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

calms the body

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25
Q

sensory neurons (Afferent neurons)

A

sends incoming information to CNS (AT the brain)

few million

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26
Q

interneurons

A

CNS internal communication neurons; intervene b/w sensory and motor
billions

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27
Q

motor neurons (Efferent neurons)

A

sends outgoing information from CNS to muscle and glands (exit the brain)
few million

28
Q

reflex

A

automatic response to sensory stimulus; interneuron reacts to sensory neuron w/o going to brain

29
Q

left brain functions

A

language

30
Q

right brain functions

A

art and music

31
Q

corpus callosum

A

connects the two hemispheres and allows them to communticate

32
Q

brainstem

A

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

33
Q

medulla

A

base of brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing

34
Q

pons

A

connects different brain regions together, involved in facial expressions

35
Q

reticular formation

A

nerve network that plays an important role in controlling arousal (consciousness)

36
Q

thalamus

A

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

37
Q

cerebellum

A

“little brain” attached to the rear of brainstem, coordinates voluntary movement and balance, formulates implicit memories

38
Q

limbic system

A

associated with emotions and drives

39
Q

amygdala

A

linked to emotion, especially aggression and fear

40
Q

hippocampus

A

linked to explicit memory

41
Q

pituitary gland

A

mast endocrine gland, linked to growth

42
Q

cerebral cortex

A

intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemisphere

43
Q

frontal lobes

A

involved in speaking, muscle movements, and in making plans and judgement
***motor cortex

44
Q

motor cortex

A

are at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

45
Q

parietal lobes

A

involved in sensations, pressure, and pain

***sensory cortex

46
Q

sensory cortex

A

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensation

47
Q

occipital lobes

A

include the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
***contains visual cortex

48
Q

temporal lobes

A

include the auditory areas

**contains the auditory cortex

49
Q

association areas

A

“uncommitted” areas that are not involved in primary functions but play a role in learning, remembering, and thinking

50
Q

accidents

A

damage to brain regions can tell us about their functions

51
Q

lesions

A

tissue destruction

52
Q

electroencaphalogram (EEG)

A

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

53
Q

computed tomography (CAT) scan

A

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles combined by a computer into a composite presentation of a slice through the body

54
Q

positron emission tomography (PET) scan

A

a visual display of brain activity the detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

55
Q

magnitude resonance imaging (MRI)

A

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

56
Q

plasticity

A

the ability for our brains to form new connections after the neurons are damaged
**the younger you are the more plastic your brain is

57
Q

neural networks

A

connected neurons; increase speed and efficiency of communication

58
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

59
Q

aphasia

A

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage to Broca’s area (impaired speaking) or to Wernicke’ area (impaired understanding)

60
Q

broca’s area

A

directs the muscle movements involved in speech

  • *broken speech
  • *left frontal lobe
61
Q

wernicke’s area

A

involved in language comprehension and expression

  • *meaningless words
  • left temporal lobe
62
Q

endocrine system

A

set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

**snail mail (ES) vs. Email (NS)

63
Q

angular gyrus

A

receives visual information and recodes it into auditory form

64
Q

pituitary gland

A

ES’s most influential gland; regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
**under the influence of the hypothalamus

65
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers that are produced in one tissue and affect another
**can influence our interest in sex, food, and aggression

66
Q

adrenal glands

A

secrete adrenaline to arouse body in time of stress

AP Psychology (14 decks)

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