Ch. 2 Flashcards
The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Plasticity
The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes
Biological psychology
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language)
Cognitive neuroscience
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nevous system
Neuron
Neuron extensions that receive messages and conduct them toward the cell body
Dendrites
The neuron extension that sends messages to other neurons or to muscles and glands
Axon
A nerve impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Action potential
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory
Glial cells (glia)
The junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron
Synapse
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Threshold
In neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired
Refractory period
A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing
All-or-none response
Neuron-produced chemicals that cross the synaptic gap to carry messages to other neurons or to muscles and glands
Neurotransmitter
A neurotransmitter’s reabsorbtion by the sending neuron
Reuptake
A chemical, such as opium, morphine, or heroin, that depresses neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
Opiate
“Morphine within” - natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
Endorphins
The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems
Nervous system
Composed of the brain and spinal chord
Central nervous system (CNS)
The sensory and motor neurons connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Nerves
Neuron that carries incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord
Sensory neuron
Neuron that carries outgoing information from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles and glands
Motor neuron
Neurons within the brain and spinal chord; communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs
Interneuron
Peripheral nervous system division that controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Somatic nervous system
Peripheral nervous system division that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
Autonomic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system subdivision that arouses the body, mobilizing it’s energy
Sympathetic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system subdivision that calms the body, conserving its energy
Parasympathetic nervous system
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
Reflex
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Endocrine system
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
Hormones
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress
Adrenal glands
The most influential endocrine gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Pituitary gland
A device that uses electrodes placed on the scalp to record waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface
EEG (electroencephalograph)
A view of brain activity showing where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
PET scan
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Shows brain anatomy
MRI
A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function
fMRI
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal chord swells as it enters the skull
Brainstem
The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
The brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; directs sensory messages to the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Thalamus
Nerve network running through the brainstem and into the thalamus; plays an important part in controlling arousal
Reticular formation
The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
Cerebellum
Neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
Limbic system
Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
Amygdala
A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
Hypothalamus
A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events
Hippocampus
A thin layer of interconnected neurons covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center
Cerebral cortex
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
Frontal lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Parietal lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
Occipital lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes areas that receive information from the ears
Temporal lobes
The cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes; controls voluntary movements
Motor cortex
The cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes; registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Somatosensory cortex
A false sensory experience, such as hearing something in the absence of an external auditory stimulus
Hallucination
Cerebral cortex areas involved primarily in higher mental functions, such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Association areas
The formation of new neurons
Neurogenesis
A large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Corpus callosum
A condition in which the brain’s two hemispheres have been isolated by surgery that cut the fibers connecting them
Split brain
Our awareness of ourselves and our environment
Consciousness
The processing of one aspect of a problem at a time; used when we focus attention on new or complex tasks
Sequential processing
The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s neural mode of information processing for many functions
Parallel processing
Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
Selective attention
Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
Inattentional blindness
Failing to notice changes in the environment
Change blindness
Our internal biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle
Circadian rhythm
Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. The muscles are relaxed but other body systems are active
REM sleep
Relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
Alpha waves
A periodic, natural loss of consciousness- as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma
Sleep
Large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
Delta waves
A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the, it adjusts melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness
Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
Insomnia
A sleep disorder in which a person has uncontrollable sleep attacks, sometimes lapsing directly into REM sleep
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder in which a sleeping person repeatedly stops breathing until blood oxygen is so low the person awakens just long enough to draw a breath
Sleep apnea
A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind
Dream
According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream
Manifest content
According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream
Latent content
The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation
REM rebound
Part of the brainstem that helps coordinate movement and control sleep
Pons
