Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP Psychology > Biology of the Mind (Modules 4-6) > Flashcards

Biology of the Mind (Modules 4-6) Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Neuron

A

A neuron cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Sensory neuron

A

Neurons that cary incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Motor neuron

A

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Action potential

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Resting potential

A

When there’s a positive charge outside of the neuron and a negative charge inside of a neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Depolarize

A

When there is an influx of Na+ ions into the neuron upon the firing of a neuron, temporarily changing charges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Refractory period

A

Period during which Na+ ions are pumped back outside of the neuron, returning to its resting state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Threshold

A

The level of stimulation required to trigger a nuclear impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Synapse

A

Junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Synaptic gap

A

Tiny gap at the synapse, between two neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How wide is a synaptic gap?

A

Less than a millionth of an inch wide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons; travel across synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, influencing whether that neuron generates a neural impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Summarize the process of neurotransmission

A

1) Electrical impulses (action potentials) travel down a neuron’s axon until reaching the synapse
2) When an action potential reaches an axon terminal, neurotransmitter molecules are released. These molecules cross the synaptic gap to bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron. This allows electrically charged atoms to enter the receiving neuron and excite or inhibit a new action potential.
3) The sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules (re-uptake).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Re-uptake

A

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Endorphins

A

“Morphine within” – natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

Function: Enables muscle action, learning and memory

Malfunctions: With Alzheimer’s disease, ACh-producing neurons deteriorate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Dopamine

A

Function: Influences movement, learning, attention and emotion

Malfunctions: Excess dopamine, receptor activity is linked to schizophrenia; lack of dopamine is connected to tremors, decreased mobility and Parkinson’s disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Serotonin

A

Function: Affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal

Malfunctions: Undersupply of serotonin is linked to depression, prozac and some other antidepressant drugs raise serotonin levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Function: Helps control alertness and arousal

Malfunction: Undersupply can depress mood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

Function: A major inhibitory neurotransmitter

Malfunction: Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors and insomnia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Glutamate

A

Function: A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Malfunction: Oversupply can overstimulate brain, producing migraines or seizures (which is why some people avoid MSG in food)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Agonist

A

May be similar enough to a neurotransmitter to mimic its effects or it may block the neurotransmitter’s re-uptake

Ex. Opiate drugs (amplify normal sensations), black widow spider venom (blocks)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Antagonist

A

Block a neurotransmitter’s function

Ex. Botulin, a poison that can form in improperly canned food, causes paralysis by blocking ACh release

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Nervous System

A

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Central Nervous System

A

The brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Nerves

A

Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands and sense organs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Neural networks

A

Interconnected neural cells; with experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. Computer simulation of neural networks show analogous learning.

29
Q

Reflexes

A

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

30
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

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

31
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

The division of the PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles, AKA skeletal nervous system

32
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

The part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of internal organs, includes the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

33
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

Division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

34
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy

35
Q

Endocrine System

A

The body’s “flow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

36
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through bloodstream and affect tissues

37
Q

Adrenal glands

A

A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress

38
Q

Pituitary glands

A

The endocrine system’s most influential gland; under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

39
Q

Lesion

A

Tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

40
Q

Electroencephalogram

A

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

41
Q

PET

A

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

42
Q

MRI

A

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy. AKA magnetic resonance imaging.

43
Q

fMRI

A

AKA functional MRI. A technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.

44
Q

Brainstem

A

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automative survival functions

45
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

46
Q

Reticular formation

A

A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

47
Q

Thalamus

A

The brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

48
Q

Cerebellum

A

The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

49
Q

The Limbic System

A

Neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

50
Q

Amygdala

A

Two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

51
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland and is linked to emotion and reward

52
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemisphere; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center

53
Q

Glial cells

A

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

54
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 judgments

55
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

56
Q

Occipital lobes

A

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

57
Q

Temporal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, such receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

58
Q

Motor cortex

A

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

59
Q

What happens when we stimulate the motor cortex on one side of the brain?

A

There will be movement of body parts on the opposite side of the body.

60
Q

Sensory cortex

A

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

61
Q

Association areas

A

Areas of the brain that integrate information, uncommitted to sensory or muscular activity, links sensory inputs with stored memories

62
Q

Plasticity

A

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

63
Q

When are our brains most plastic?

A

When we are young

64
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The formation of new neurons

65
Q

Corpus collosum

A

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemipheres and carrying messages between them

66
Q

Split brains

A

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callossum) connecting them

67
Q

What is one reason we would surgically split the corpus callossum?

A

Treat refractory epilepsy

68
Q

What are some differences we see in split-brained people?

A

Split-brained people can perform two tasks independent of each other.

Ex. Drawing a circle with one hand and a square with the other at the same time

AP Psychology (15 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions