BIOPSYCHOLOGY Flashcards
What is the nervous system?
Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
What is the central nervous system (CNS)
Consists of the brain and the spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions
What is the peripheral nervous system (PMS)?
Sends information to the CNS from the outside world, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body
What is the somatic nervous syetm?
Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act
What is the autonomic nervous system?
Transmits information to and rom internal bodily organs. It is “autonomic” as the system operates involuntarily (it is automatic). It has two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
What is the endocrine system?
One of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones are carried towards target organs in the body
Define Gland
An organ in the body that synthesises substances such as hromones
Define hormones
Chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs. They are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly. Their effects are very powerful.
What is the fight or flight responses?
The way an animal response when stressed. The body becomes psychologically aroused in readiness t fight an aggressor or, in some cases, flee.
Define Adrenaline
A hormone produced y the adrenal glands which is part of the human body’s immediate stress response system. Adrenaline has a strong effect on the cells of the cardiovascular system - stimulation of the heart rate, contracting blood vessels and dilating air passags
Define neuron
The basic building blocks of the nervous system, neurons are nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals
Define sensory neurons
These carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons
Define Relay neurons
These connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons, they have short dendrites and short axons
Define Motor neurons
These connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and long axons
Define synaptic transmission
The process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the gay (the synapse) that separates them,
Define neurotransmitter
Brain chemicals released from syaptic vesicles that relay signals acorss the synapse from one neuron to another. Neurotransmitters can be broadly divided into those that perfrom an excitatory function and those that perform an inhibitory function
Define Excitation
When a neurotransmitter, such as adrenaline, increases the psitve charge of the postsynaptic neuron. This increases the liklihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the elecirtcal impulse
Define Inhibition
When a neurotransmitter, such as serotonin, increases the negative chanrge of the postsynaptic neuron. This decreases the liklihood that the nreruon will fire ans pass on the elctrical impulse
Define localisation of function
The theory that different areas of the rain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities
Define motor area
A region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement
Deifne somatosensory area
A area f the parietal lobe that processes sensory information such as touch
Define visual area
A part of the occipital lobe that receieves and processes vsiual information
Define Broca’s area
An area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere (in most people) resposnibel for speech production
Define Wernicke’s area
An area of the temproal lobe (encircling the auditory cortex) in the left hemisphere (in most people) responsible for language comprehension
Define Plasticity
Also referred to as neuroplasticity or cortical remapping. This describes the brain’s tendency to change and adapt (functionally and physically) as a result of experience and new learning
Define Fucntional recovery
A form of platicity. Following damage through trauma, the brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually perfroemd by a damaged area(s) to other, undamaged area(s)
Define Hemisphere laterilisation
The idea that the two halves (hemispheres) of the brain are functionally different ns tht certain processes and behaviours are mainly controlled by one hemisphere rather than the other, as in the exaple of langueage (which is localised as well as laterilised)
What is “split brain research”
A series of studies which began in the 1960s (and are still ongoing) involving epileptic patients who had experienced a surggical seperation of the hemispheres of the brain. This allowed researchers to investigate the extet to which brain function is lateralised
Define Fucntional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
A method used to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task hat uses MRI technology (detecting radio waves from changing magnetic fields.) This enables researchers to detect which regions of the brain are rich with oxygen and thus are active
Define Electroencephalogram (EEG)
A record of the tiny electrical impulses produced by the brain;s activity. By measuring characterict wave patterns, the EEG can help diagnose certain conditions of the brain
Define Event-related potential (ERPs)
The brain’s electriphysiological response to a specific sensory, cognitive or motor event can be isolate thought statistical analysis of EEG data
What are circadian rhythms
A type pf biological rhythms, subject to a 24 hours cycle, which regulates a number of body processes such as the sleep/wake cycle an changed in core body temperature
What are biological rhythms
Distinct patterns of change in body activity that conform to cyclical time periods. Biological rhythms are influenced by internal body blocks (endogenous pacemakers) as well as external changes to the environment (exogenous zeitgebers)
What are infradian rhtyhsm
A type of biological rhythm with a frequecny of less than one cycle in 24 hours, such as menstruation and seasonal affective disorder
What are ultradian rhtythm
a type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours, such as the stage of sleep
Define endogenous pacemakers
Internal body clocks that regulate many of our biological rhythms such a the influence of the suphrachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) on the sleep/wake cycle
Define Exogenous zeitgebers
External cues that may affect or entrain our biological rhythms, such as the influence of light on the sleep/wake cycle
What is the sleep/wake cycle?
A daily cycle of biological activity based on a 24 hour period (circadian rhythm) that is influenced by regular variations in the environment, such as the alternation of night and day.
