biological terms for psychology pt. 2.5

Question 1

refers to how the nervous system can change and adapt. It can occur in a variety of ways including personal experiences, developmental processes, or, in response to some sort of damage or injury that has occurred. It can involve creation of new synapses, reducing/cutting off of synapses that are no longer used, changes in glial cells, and even the birth of new neurons. Because of this, our brains are constantly changing and adapting

Answer 1

Neuroplasticity

Question 2

serves to connect the hindbrain to the rest of the brain.

Answer 2

Pons

Question 3

scans create pictures of the living, active brain. An individual receiving this drinks, or is injected with a mildly radioactive substance, called a tracer. Once in the bloodstream, the amount of tracer in any given region of the brain can be monitored. As a brain area becomes more active, more blood flows to that area. A computer monitors the movement of the tracer and creates a rough map of active and inactive areas of the brain during a given behavior. This shows little detail, are unable to pinpoint events precisely in time, and require that the brain be exposed to radiation

Answer 3

position emission tomography (PET) scan

Question 4

associated with judgment, reasoning, and impulse control

Answer 4

prefrontal cortex

Question 5

This is important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity.

Answer 5

reticular formation

Question 6

Both regions contain cell bodies that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, and both are critical for movement. Degeneration of this and VTA is involved in Parkinson’s disease. In addition, these structures are involved in mood, reward, and addiction

Answer 6

substantia nigra

Question 7

grooves on the cerebral cortex; allows us to separate the brain into functional centers

Answer 7

sulcus (plural is sulci)

Question 8

located on the side of the head and is associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language

Answer 8

temporal lobe

Question 9

Both regions contain cell bodies that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, and both are critical for movement. Degeneration of the substantia nigra and this is involved in Parkinson’s disease. In addition, these structures are involved in mood, reward, and addiction

Answer 9

ventral tegmental area (VTA)

Question 10

important for speech comprehension

Answer 10

Wernicke’s area