ch. 2 Flashcards
peripheral nervous system
long axons & dendrites
contains all parts of nervous system other than brain/spinal cord
somatic division
PNS
control of voluntary movements and communication of information
autonomic division
PNS
controls involuntary movement of organs
sympathetic division
ANS
fight of flight
parasympathetic division
ANS
calms body after emergency
central nervous system
part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord
spinal cord
bundle neurons, transmits messages
evolutionary psychology
seeks to identify behavior patterns that are a result of our genetic inheritance from our ancestors
behavioral genetics
the study of the effects of heredity on behavior
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
records electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the outside of the skull
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
detailed, 3D images of brain structures and activity by aiming a powerful magnetic field at the brain or other body parts
Positron emission tomography scan (PET)
show biochemical activity within the brain at a given moment
central core of the brain
“old brain” controls basic functions such as eating/sleeping
medulla
controls critical body functions (heartbeat/breathing)
pons
bridge between right/left, transmits motor info, coordinates muscles
cerebellum
balance
reticular formation
changes in level of arousal of the body
thalamus
relays info about the senses
hypothalamus
maintains homeostasis
limbic system
part of the brain that controls eating, aggression,
emotions and self-preservation
+hippocampus = learning and memory
cerebral cortex
“new brain” responsible for most sophisticated info processing
neuroplasticity
brain’s ability to change throughout the life span through addition of new neurons, new interconnections, reorganize info processing
neurogenesis
creation of new neurons
hemispheres
symmetrical left and right halves of the brain that control the opposite side of the body
left hemisphere
processes info sequentially
verbal
right hemisphere
processes info globally
nonverbal
lateralization
dominance of one hemisphere in specific functions (language)
glial cells
hold neurons in place, nourish, insulate, repair damage, support neural functioning
dendrite
cluster of fibers at one end of neuron
receive messages
axon
carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons
terminal buttons
part of axon, small bulge, sends messages to other neurons
myelin sheath
protective coating of fat and protein
resting state
state before a neuron is triggered
action potential
electric nerve that travels through axon, changes charge from negative to postive
mirror neurons
specialized neurons that fire when person observe another indv carrying out same behavior
synapse
space between two neurons
communicates
neurotransmitters
chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to the dendrite
excitatory message
a chemical message that makes it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire and AP will travel down axon
inhibitory message
a chemical message that prevents or decrease the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire
