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Psychology > Ch 03: Biological Psychology > Flashcards

Ch 03: Biological Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

action potential

A

electrical SIGNAL that moves down the neuron’s axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters

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2
Q

adrenal gland

A

TISSUE atop the kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response (adrenaline and cortisol; during emotional arousal)

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3
Q

amygdala

A

structure in the limbic system involved in
-our experience of emotion and
-tying emotional meaning to our memories
-modulates attention, perception, and memory based on emotions

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4
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

part of the nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of organs and glands,
* which along with the limbic system, participates in emotion regulation

(system) controls our internal organs and glands

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5
Q

axon

A

major EXTENSION of the soma that sends signals

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6
Q

Broca’s area

A

REGION in the left hemisphere (prefrontal cortex) that is essential for speech production and articulation

coordinates muscles of the lips, tongue, and throat to form words and se

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7
Q

absolute refractory period

A

TIME during which another action potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate

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8
Q

adoption study

A

ANALYSIS of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives

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9
Q

association cortex

A

REGIONS of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions

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10
Q

basal ganglia

A

STRUCTURES in the forebrain that help to control movement

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11
Q

brain stem

A

PART of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the
-midbrain,
-pons and
-medulla

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12
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

(system) brain and spinal cord; controls the mind and behavior

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13
Q

cerebellum

A

hindbrain STRUCTURE that controls our
-balance,
-coordination,
-movement and motor skills, and
-Is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

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14
Q

cerebral cortex

A

SURFACE of the brain (outermost part of the forebrain) that is responsible for
-analyzing sensory information
-higher brain functions

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15
Q

cerebral hemispheres

A

two HALVES of the cerebral cortex, with distinct yet highly integrated functions

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16
Q

cerebral ventricles

A

POCKETS in the brain that
-contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and
-provide nutrients and
-cushion against injury

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17
Q

chromosome

A

long STRAND of genetic information inside a cell’s nucleus
-caries genes

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18
Q

computerized tomography (CT) scan

A

imaging TECHNIQUE in which a computer coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area to construct 3D images

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19
Q

corpus callosum

A

thick BAND of neural fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

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20
Q

deep brain stimulation (DBS)

A

technique in which electrodes and a battery source are implanted in the brain to deliver electricity to specific brain areas
-used to treat Parkinsons, OCD, Tourette Syndrome, epilepsy, cluster headaches, pain disorders

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21
Q

dendrite

A

branch-like extension of the soma that receives signals

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22
Q

dominant gene
(dominant allele)

A

gene (or allele) that:
-masks other genes’ effects
-will be expressed in an idividual that posseses that gene

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23
Q

electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

medical test that measures the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp
-helps diagnose and monitor: seizures/epilepsy, brain inhuries, Alzheimers, tumors, narcolepsy, anesthesia, brain death, etc.

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24
Q

endocrine system

A

system of glands that secrete hormones that act as chemical messengers

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25
Q

epigenetics

A

study of gene-environment interactions that affect gene expression
-ex: how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes

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26
Q

fitness

A

an organism’s ability/capacity to survive and reproduce in its environment; to pass on their genes

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27
Q

forebrain

A

topmost and largest part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities

contains: cerebral cortex, cerebrum, the limbic system, etc.

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28
Q

frontal lobe

A

part of the cerebral cortex that ; is responsible for
* motor fxn & control,
* language,
* decision making
* planning

contains the motor cortex

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29
Q

functional MRI
(fMRI)

A

MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time

(technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level)

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30
Q

gene

A

genetic material comprised of DNA

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31
Q

genotype

A

genetic makeup of an individual

32
Q

glial cell

A

Nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to the neurons including
* neuronal insulation (myelin sheath and blood-brain barrier)
* neuronal communication
* nutrient and waste transport

33
Q

heritability

A

percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is the result of genes

34
Q

hindbrain

A

region below the midbrain that contains the
* cerebellum,
* pons, and
* medulla

35
Q

hippocampus

A

part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory

36
Q

hormone

A

chemical messenger released by endocrine glands

37
Q

hypothalamus

A

forebrain structure that serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system; regulates
* sexual motivation and behavior
* homeostatic processes

38
Q

interneuron

A

**neuron ** that sends messages to other nearby neurons

39
Q

lateralization

A

concept that certain cognitive functions rely more on one side of the brain than the other; that each hemisphere is associated with specialized functions

40
Q

limbic system

A

a network of regions involved in
* processing emotions
* motivation
* learning
* memory

41
Q

magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI)

A

imaging technique that uses magnetic field to indirectly visualize brain structure

42
Q

magnetoencephalography
(MEG)

A

technique that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain

43
Q

medulla

A

a hindbrain structure, part of the brain stem, that controls basic fxns like
* breathing
* blood pressure
* heart rate

44
Q

midbrain

A

part of the brainstem that contributes to:
* movement
* tracking of visual stimuli and
* reflexes triggered by sound

  • located b/t the forebrain and the hindbrain;
  • contains the reticular formation
45
Q

motor cortex

A

part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement; strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement

46
Q

myelin sheath

A

glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron’s signal

47
Q

neurogenesis

A

creation of new neurons in the adult brain

48
Q

neurotransmitter

A

chemical messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron

49
Q

occipital lobe

A

back part of the cerebral cortex specialized for vision
* associated w/ visual processing
* contains the primary visual cortex

50
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion
* associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body

51
Q

phenotype

A

individual’s inheritable physical traits; out observable traits

52
Q

pituitary gland

A

master gland that, under control of the hypothalamus, directs other glands of the body

53
Q

plasticity

A

tha nervous system’s ability to change

54
Q

pons

A

part of the brain stem (hindbrain structure) that connects the cortex with the cerebellum
* between the midbrain and the medulla

55
Q

positron emission tomography
(PET)

A

imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain

56
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

part of the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning including:
* thinking,
* planning and
* language

57
Q

receptor site

A

specific location on a receptor protein that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter

58
Q

recessive gene

A

gene that is expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene

59
Q

reflex

A

automatic motor response to sensory stimulus

60
Q

resting potential

A

electrical charge difference (-60 mV) across the neuronal membrane when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

(2e: the state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals)

61
Q

reticular activating system
(RAS)

A

(a component of the reticular formation) brain area that plays a key role in
* arousal,
* alertness,
* the sleep/wake cycle

62
Q

reuptake

A

means of recycling neurotransmitters

(NT is pumped back into the neuron that released it)

63
Q

somatic nervous system

A

part of the nervous system that conveys information between the CNS and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement

relays sensory and motor info to and from the CNS

64
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process sensory information (ex: touch, temperature, pain)

65
Q

spinal cord

A

thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and the body

66
Q

split-brain surgery

A

procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures

67
Q

stem cell

A

a cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized cell

68
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight

involved in stress-related activities and fxns

69
Q

synapse

A

space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically

70
Q

synaptic cleft

A

a gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal

small gap where communication occurs b/t two neurons

71
Q

synaptic vesicle

A

spherical sac containing neurotransmitters

vesicle/storage site for NTs

72
Q

temporal lobe

A

lower part of cerebral cortex; associated w/
* hearing,
* understanding language, and
* memory
* contains primary auditory cortex

73
Q

thalamus

A

gateway from the sense organs to the somatosensory cortex

sensory relay for the brain

74
Q

threshold of excitation

A

membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

lvl of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active

75
Q

transcranial magnetic stimulation
(TMS)

A

technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function

76
Q

twin study

A

analysis of how traits differ in monozygotic (genetically identical) versus dizygotic (genetically different) twins

77
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

part of the temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension and lexical selection processing

understand & produce meaningful verbal communication

Psychology (6 decks)

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