ch. 2

Question 1

peripheral nervous system

Answer 1

long axons & dendrites
contains all parts of nervous system other than brain/spinal cord

Question 2

somatic division

Answer 2

PNS
control of voluntary movements and communication of information

Question 3

autonomic division

Answer 3

PNS
controls involuntary movement of organs

Question 4

sympathetic division

Answer 4

ANS
fight of flight

Question 5

parasympathetic division

Answer 5

ANS
calms body after emergency

Question 6

central nervous system

Answer 6

part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord

Question 7

spinal cord

Answer 7

bundle neurons, transmits messages

Question 8

evolutionary psychology

Answer 8

seeks to identify behavior patterns that are a result of our genetic inheritance from our ancestors

Question 9

behavioral genetics

Answer 9

the study of the effects of heredity on behavior

Question 10

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Answer 10

records electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the outside of the skull

Question 11

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Answer 11

detailed, 3D images of brain structures and activity by aiming a powerful magnetic field at the brain or other body parts

Question 12

Positron emission tomography scan (PET)

Answer 12

show biochemical activity within the brain at a given moment

Question 13

central core of the brain

Answer 13

“old brain” controls basic functions such as eating/sleeping

Question 14

medulla

Answer 14

controls critical body functions (heartbeat/breathing)

Question 15

pons

Answer 15

bridge between right/left, transmits motor info, coordinates muscles

Question 16

cerebellum

Answer 16

balance

Question 17

reticular formation

Answer 17

changes in level of arousal of the body

Question 18

thalamus

Answer 18

relays info about the senses

Question 19

hypothalamus

Answer 19

maintains homeostasis

Question 20

limbic system

Answer 20

part of the brain that controls eating, aggression,
emotions and self-preservation
+hippocampus = learning and memory

Question 21

cerebral cortex

Answer 21

“new brain” responsible for most sophisticated info processing

Question 22

neuroplasticity

Answer 22

brain’s ability to change throughout the life span through addition of new neurons, new interconnections, reorganize info processing

Question 23

neurogenesis

Answer 23

creation of new neurons

Question 24

hemispheres

Answer 24

symmetrical left and right halves of the brain that control the opposite side of the body

Question 25

left hemisphere

Answer 25

processes info sequentially verbal

Question 26

right hemisphere

Answer 26

processes info globally nonverbal

Question 27

lateralization

Answer 27

dominance of one hemisphere in specific functions (language)

Question 28

glial cells

Answer 28

hold neurons in place, nourish, insulate, repair damage, support neural functioning

Question 29

dendrite

Answer 29

cluster of fibers at one end of neuron receive messages

Question 30

axon

Answer 30

carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons

Question 31

terminal buttons

Answer 31

part of axon, small bulge, sends messages to other neurons

Question 32

myelin sheath

Answer 32

protective coating of fat and protein

Question 33

resting state

Answer 33

state before a neuron is triggered

Question 34

action potential

Answer 34

electric nerve that travels through axon, changes charge from negative to postive

Question 35

mirror neurons

Answer 35

specialized neurons that fire when person observe another indv carrying out same behavior

Question 36

synapse

Answer 36

space between two neurons communicates

Question 37

neurotransmitters

Answer 37

chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to the dendrite

Question 38

excitatory message

Answer 38

a chemical message that makes it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire and AP will travel down axon

Question 39

inhibitory message

Answer 39

a chemical message that prevents or decrease the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire