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General Psychology > Biology of Mind and Consciousness > Flashcards

Biology of Mind and Consciousness Flashcards

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1
Q

Plasticity

A

The brain’s ability to change by reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience

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2
Q

Biological psychology

A

Scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

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3
Q

Cognitive neuroscience

A

Interdisciplinary study of the links between brain activity and cognition

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4
Q

Cell body

A

The cell’s life-support center

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5
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system

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6
Q

Dendrites

A

Neuron extensions that receive messages and conduct them toward the cell body

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7
Q

Axons

A

The neuron extension that sends messages to other neurons or to muscles and glands

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8
Q

Action potential

A

A nerve impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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9
Q

Glial cells (glia)

A

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; play a vital role in learning, thinking, and memory; provide nutrients and myelin

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10
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron

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11
Q

Synaptic gap (synaptic cleft)

A

A tiny gap at the synapse

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12
Q

Refractory period

A

A brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; lasts a fraction of a second

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13
Q

All-or-none response

A

A neuron’s reaction of either firing or not firing

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14
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Neuron-produced chemicals that cross the synaptic gap to carry messages to other neurons or muscles

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15
Q

Reuptake

A

Neurotransmitters in the synapse are reabsorbed into the sending neurons

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16
Q

Opiates

A

Chemicals, such as opium, morphine, or heroin, that depress neural activity; temporarily lessen pain and anxiety

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17
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural opiates produced by the brain; neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain or pleasure

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18
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory

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19
Q

Dopamine

A

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

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20
Q

Serotonin

A

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

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21
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Helps control alertness and arousal

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22
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric-acid)

A

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter

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23
Q

Glutamate

A

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

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24
Q

Nervous system

A

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network

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25
Q

Central nervous system

A

The brain and spinal cord

26
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

Sensory and motor neurons connecting the CNS to the rest of the body

27
Q

Sensory neurons

A

Carry incoming messages from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the spinal cord and brain

28
Q

Motor neurons

A

Carry outgoing instructions from the CNS to the body’s muscles

29
Q

Interneurons

A

Present in the brain and spinal cord; communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs

30
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

Controls the body’s skeletal muscles; known as skeletal nervous system

31
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

Controls the glands and muscles of internal organs

32
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

33
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

Calms the body, conserving its energy

34
Q

Brain

A

Enables one’s humanity; contains 86 billion neurons that cluster into work groups to form neural networks that govern reflexes

35
Q

Spinal cord

A

Two-way highway connecting the PNS and the brain; injury could cause the loss of sensation and voluntary movement

36
Q

Endocrine system

A

Slow, chemical communication system; set of glands that secrete hormones into the blood system

37
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers manufactured by the endocrine glands; travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

38
Q

Adrenal glands

A

Pair of endocrine glands that sit above the kidneys; secrete epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) that help arouse the body during stress

39
Q

Brainstem

A

The oldest part of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

40
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Releases hormones and sends messages to other endocrine glands to release their hormones; controlled by the hypothalamus; secretes: growth hormones that control physical development, oxytocin that enables contractions during birthing and orgasm

41
Q

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

Uses electrodes placed on the scalp to record waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface

42
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A

View of brain activity; depicts where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

43
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; scans depict brain anatomy

44
Q

Functional MRI (fMRI)

A

Technique that compares successive MRI scans; reveals blood flow and, therefore, brain activity

45
Q

Medulla

A

Base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing

46
Q

Pons

A

Helps coordinate movement and control sleep

47
Q

Thalamus

A

The brain’s sensory control center; located at the top of the brainstem; directs sensory messages to the cortex; transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

48
Q

Reticular formation

A

The nerve network running through the brain and thalamus; acts as a filter that relays important information to other brain areas; plays an important role in controlling arousal

49
Q

Cerebellum

A

“Little brain” situated at the rear of the brainstem; aids in judgement of time, discrimination of sound and texture, and emotional control; coordinates voluntary movement and life-sustaining functions; helps process and store memories of things that cannot be consciously recalled

50
Q

Limbic system

A

The neural system that lies between the oldest and newest brain areas; associated with emotions such as fear, aggression and drive for food and sex

51
Q

Amygdala

A

Linked to the emotions of fear and anger; also linked to emotion based memories

52
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Directs maintenance activities like eating, drinking, body temperature (homeostasis), and control of emotions; linked to emotion and reward; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland

53
Q

Hippocampus

A

Helps process conscious, explicit memories of facts and events; damage impacts the ability to form new memories

54
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

The body’s ultimate control and information-processing center; contains networks of neurons responsible for perception, thinking, speaking, and more

55
Q

Frontal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

56
Q

Parietal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

57
Q

Occipital lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

58
Q

Temporal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes areas that receive information from the ears

59
Q

Motor cortex

A

At the rear of the frontal lobes, controls voluntary movements by sending information out of the body

60
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

Cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes; registers and processes; registers and processes body touch and movement sensations; sensitivity of a body region is directly related to the size of the somatosensory area that is devoted to it

61
Q

Visual cortex

A

Area in the occipital lobes located at the rear of the brain; receives input from the eyes

62
Q

Auditory cortex

A

Area in the temporal lobes above the ears; receives information from the ears

General Psychology (2 decks)

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