Biology of the Mind - Vocabulary Flashcards
The scientific study of the links between biological(genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. Some biological
psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists
Biological Psychology
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nerve system
Neuron
The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life support center
Cell Body
Dendrites
A neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and
integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body.
The segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its
branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
Axon
A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next.
Myelin
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Action Potential
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Threshold
In neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns
to its resting state.
Refractory Period
A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing
All or none response
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap (or synaptic cleft).
Synapse
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron
Reuptake
A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action
Agonist
A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action
Antagonist
The body’s speedy, electro-chemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Nervous System
The brain and spinal cord
Centra Nervous System
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body
Peripheral Nervous System
Neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the vein and spinal cord
Sensory Neurons (afferent)
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Motor Neurons (afferent)
Within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor
outputs.
Interneurons Neurons
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system
Somatic Nervous System
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms
Autonomic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that
arouses the body, mobilizing its energy
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Parasympathetic Nervous System
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 automatic survival functions
Brainstem
The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
The brain’s sensory control center, 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.
Thalamus
A nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal
Reticular Formation
The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include
processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.
Cerebellum
Neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus,
and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
Limbic System
Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to
emotion.
Amygdala
A neural structure in the limbic system lying below (hypo) 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.
Hypothalamus
A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit
(conscious) memories—of facts and events—for storage
Hippocampus
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the
cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing
center
Cerebral Cortex
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead;
involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
Frontal Lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and
toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Parietal Lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head;
includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
Occipital Lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears;
includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
Temporal Lobes
A cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls
voluntary movements
Motor Cortex
A cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
Somatosensory Cortex
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Association Areas
The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain
hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Corpus Callosum
