Biology Of The Mind Flashcards
A nerve cell
Neuron
The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes
Biological psychology
The neuron’s extension that passes messages through its branching terminal fibers that form junctions with other neuron’s, muscles, or glands
Axon
The neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Dendrites
Can be very long, projecting several feet through the body
Axons
How does information flow through a neuron?
Dendrites receive, nucleus process the info, axon sends out the info
A brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Action potential
What is the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrites, or cell body, of the receiving neuron?
Synaptic gap / synapse
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
Neurotransmitters
The process of the sending neuron re absorbing the excess transmitters is referred to as:
Reuptake
Molecules that may be similar enough go a neurotransmitter to bind to its receptors and mimic its effects
Agonist
Bind to receptors but their effect is to block a neurotransmitters functioning
Antagonist
The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Nervous system
What is the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal cord
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Peripheral nervous system
Bundled axons that form neural “cables”
Nerves
What are the 3 types of neuron?
Sensory, motor, interneurons
The nervous system that enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles
Somatic nervous system
The nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs
Autonomic nervous system
The endocrine system’s Mose influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Pituitary gland
The oldest part and central core of the brain, where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull
The brain stem
The brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brain stem
Thalamus
The intricate Fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Cerebral cortex
What are the four lobes?
Frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal
Area at the front of the parietal loves that registers and processes body touch and movement
Sensory cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement
Motor cortex
Does the brain have sensory receptors?
No
What are the areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor sensory functions?
Association areas
Can a person live with a split brain?
Yes
