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Psychology 101 > Ch. 2 > Flashcards

Ch. 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

A

Plasticity

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2
Q

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

A

Biological psychology

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3
Q

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (perception, thinking, memory, and language)

A

Cognitive neuroscience

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4
Q

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nevous system

A

Neuron

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5
Q

Neuron extensions that receive messages and conduct them toward the cell body

A

Dendrites

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6
Q

The neuron extension that sends messages to other neurons or to muscles and glands

A

Axon

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7
Q

A nerve impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

A

Action potential

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8
Q

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

A

Glial cells (glia)

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9
Q

The junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron

A

Synapse

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10
Q

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

A

Threshold

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11
Q

In neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired

A

Refractory period

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12
Q

A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

A

All-or-none response

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13
Q

Neuron-produced chemicals that cross the synaptic gap to carry messages to other neurons or to muscles and glands

A

Neurotransmitter

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14
Q

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorbtion by the sending neuron

A

Reuptake

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15
Q

A chemical, such as opium, morphine, or heroin, that depresses neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

A

Opiate

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16
Q

“Morphine within” - natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

A

Endorphins

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17
Q

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems

A

Nervous system

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18
Q

Composed of the brain and spinal chord

A

Central nervous system (CNS)

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19
Q

The sensory and motor neurons connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the body

A

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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20
Q

Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

A

Nerves

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21
Q

Neuron that carries incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord

A

Sensory neuron

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22
Q

Neuron that carries outgoing information from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles and glands

A

Motor neuron

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23
Q

Neurons within the brain and spinal chord; communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs

A

Interneuron

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24
Q

Peripheral nervous system division that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

A

Somatic nervous system

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25
Q

Peripheral nervous system division that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

A

Autonomic nervous system

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26
Q

Autonomic nervous system subdivision that arouses the body, mobilizing it’s energy

A

Sympathetic nervous system

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27
Q

Autonomic nervous system subdivision that calms the body, conserving its energy

A

Parasympathetic nervous system

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28
Q

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

A

Reflex

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29
Q

The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

A

Endocrine system

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30
Q

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

A

Hormones

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31
Q

A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

A

Adrenal glands

32
Q

The most influential endocrine gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

A

Pituitary gland

33
Q

A device that uses electrodes placed on the scalp to record waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface

A

EEG (electroencephalograph)

34
Q

A view of brain activity showing where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

A

PET scan

35
Q

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Shows brain anatomy

A

MRI

36
Q

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function

A

fMRI

37
Q

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal chord swells as it enters the skull

A

Brainstem

38
Q

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

A

Medulla

39
Q

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

A

Thalamus

40
Q

Nerve network running through the brainstem and into the thalamus; plays an important part in controlling arousal

A

Reticular formation

41
Q

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

A

Cerebellum

42
Q

Neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

A

Limbic system

43
Q

Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

A

Amygdala

44
Q

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

A

Hypothalamus

45
Q

A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events

A

Hippocampus

46
Q

A thin layer of interconnected neurons covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

A

Cerebral cortex

47
Q

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

A

Frontal lobes

48
Q

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

A

Parietal lobes

49
Q

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

A

Occipital lobes

50
Q

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes areas that receive information from the ears

A

Temporal lobes

51
Q

The cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes; controls voluntary movements

A

Motor cortex

52
Q

The cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes; registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

A

Somatosensory cortex

53
Q

A false sensory experience, such as hearing something in the absence of an external auditory stimulus

A

Hallucination

54
Q

Cerebral cortex areas involved primarily in higher mental functions, such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

A

Association areas

55
Q

The formation of new neurons

A

Neurogenesis

56
Q

A large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

A

Corpus callosum

57
Q

A condition in which the brain’s two hemispheres have been isolated by surgery that cut the fibers connecting them

A

Split brain

58
Q

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment

A

Consciousness

59
Q

The processing of one aspect of a problem at a time; used when we focus attention on new or complex tasks

A

Sequential processing

60
Q

The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s neural mode of information processing for many functions

A

Parallel processing

61
Q

Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

A

Selective attention

62
Q

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

A

Inattentional blindness

63
Q

Failing to notice changes in the environment

A

Change blindness

64
Q

Our internal biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle

A

Circadian rhythm

65
Q

Rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. The muscles are relaxed but other body systems are active

A

REM sleep

66
Q

Relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

A

Alpha waves

67
Q

A periodic, natural loss of consciousness- as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma

A

Sleep

68
Q

Large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

A

Delta waves

69
Q

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

A

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

70
Q

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

A

Insomnia

71
Q

A sleep disorder in which a person has uncontrollable sleep attacks, sometimes lapsing directly into REM sleep

A

Narcolepsy

72
Q

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

A

Sleep apnea

73
Q

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind

A

Dream

74
Q

According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream

A

Manifest content

75
Q

According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream

A

Latent content

76
Q

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation

A

REM rebound

77
Q

Part of the brainstem that helps coordinate movement and control sleep

A

Pons

Psychology 101 (10 decks)

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