Ch2. Neuroscience and Behavior Flashcards
Behavioral Neuroscientist
psychologists who specialize in considering the ways in which the biological structures and functions of the body affect behavior
Neurons
nerve cells
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that supports, nourish, and protect neurons
dendrites
a cluster of fibers at one end of a neuron that receives messages from other neurons
Axon
carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons
Terminal Buttons
The part of the axon that sends messages to other neurons. They look like a small bulge at the end of the axon.
Myelin Sheath
a protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon
Resting state
state before a neuron is triggered, in which there is a negative electrical charge of about -70 millivolts within the neuron
Action Potential
an electrical nerve impulse that travels through a neuron’s axon when it is set off by a trigger changing the neurons charge from negative to positive. Speed is determined by axon’s size and the thickness of myelin sheath.
Neurons differ in terms of
Quickness of an impulse moving along the axon
Potential rate of firing
mirror neurons
a specialized neuron that fires not only when a person enacts a particular behavior but also when a person simply observes another individual carrying out the same behavior
Synapse
the space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages
Neurotransmitters
chemical that carry messages across the synapse to the dendrite (sometimes the cell body) of a receiving neuron
excitory message
a chemical message that makes it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire and an action potential will travel down its axon
inhibitory message
a chemical message that prevents or decreases the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire
Central Nervous System
brain and spinal cord
Spinal cord
the bundle of neurons that leaves the brain and runs down the length of the back
Reflex
an automatic, involuntary response to an incoming stimulus
sensory (afferent) neurons
transmit information from the perimeter of the body to the central nervous system
motor (efferent) neurons
communicate information from the nervous system to muscles and glands
peripheral nervous system
the part of nervous system that includes the autonomic and somatic subdivisions. made of neurons with long axons and dendrites
somatic division
specializes in the control of voluntary movements and the communication of information to and from the sense organs
autonomic division
Controls involuntary movement of the heart, glands, lungs, and other organs
sympathetic division
The part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body to deal with perceived threats.
parasympathetic division
The branch of the autonomic nervous system that acts the body to calm down after an emergency has ended
behavioral genetics
the study of the effects of heredity on behavior
endocrine system
A chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream
hormones
chemicals that circulate through the blood and regulate the functioning or growth of the body