Biopsychology Key Terms Flashcards
Localisation of Function
The theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities
Motor Area
A region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement
Somatosensory Area
An area of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information such as touch
Visual Area
A part of the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information
Auditory Area
Located in the temporal lobe and concerned with the analysis of speech based information
Broca’s Area
An area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production
Wernicke’s Area
An area of the temporal love in the left hemisphere responsible for language comprehension
Plasticity
AKA Neuroplasticity or Cortical Remapping. This describes the brain’s tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning
Functional Recovery
A form of plasticity. Following damage through trauma, the brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to other, undamaged areas
Hemispheric Lateralisation
The idea that the hemispheres of the brain are functionally different and that certain mental processes and behaviours are mainly controlled by one hemisphere rather than the other
Spilt-Brain Research
A series of studies which began in the 1960’s involving epileptic patients who had experienced a surgical separation of the hemispheres of the brain. This allowed researchers to investigate the extent to which brain function is lateralised
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A method used to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task that uses MRI technology. This enables researchers to detect which regions of the brain are rich in oxygen and are active
Electroencephalogram
A record of the tiny electrical impulses produced by the brains activity. By measuring characteristics wave patterns, the EEG can help diagnose certain conditions of the brain
Event-Related Potentials
The brain’s electrophysiological response to a specific sensory, cognitive or motor event can be isolated through statistical analysis of EEG data
Post-Mortem Examinations
The brain is analysed after death to determine whether certain observed behaviours during a patients life can be linked to abnormalities in the brain
Biological Rhythms
Distinct patterns of changes in body activity that conform to cyclical time periods. Biological rhythms are influenced by internal-body clocks as well as external changes to the environment
Circadian Rhythm
A type of biological rhythm, subject to a 24 hour cycle, which regulates a number of body processes such as the sleep/wake cycle and changes in core body temperature
Infradian Rhythm
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of less than one cycle in 24 hours such as menstruation
Ultradian Rhythm
A type of biological rhythm with a frequency of more than one cycle in 24 hours such as the stages of sleep
Endogenous Pacemakers
Internal body clocks that regulate many of our biological rhythms
Exogenous Zeitgebers
External cues that may affect or entrain our biological rhythms, such as the influence of light on our sleep/wake cycle
Sleep/Wake Cycle
A daily cycle of biological activity based on a 24 hour period that is influenced by regular variations in the environment, such as the alternation of night and day
Nervous System
Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
Central Nervous System
Consists of the brain and spinal cord and is the origin of all complex commands and decisions
Peripheral Nervous System
Sends information to the CNS from the outside world, and transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands in the body
Somantic Nervous System
Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It also receives information from the CNS that directs muscles to act
Autonomic Nervous System
Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs. it is “autonomic” as the system operates involuntarily. It has two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
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 organisms in the body
Gland
An organ in the body that synthesizes substances such as hormones
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 powerful
Fight or Flight Response
The way an animal responses when stressed. The body becomes pathologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or flee
Adrenaline
A hormone produced by 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-simulating the heart rate,contracting blood vessels and deflating air passages
Neuron
The basic building blocks of the nervous system, neurons are nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals
Sensory Neurons
These carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons
Relay Neurons
These connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons. They have short dendrites and axons
Motor Neurons
These connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and long axons
Synaptic Transmission
The process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical signals across the synaptic gap that separates them
Neurotransmitter
Brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another.
Excitation
When a neurotransmitter increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron. This increase the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse
Inhibition
When a neurotransmitter makes the charge of the postsynaptic neuron more negative. This decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse
