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Psych 101 > Ch2. Neuroscience and Behavior > Flashcards

Ch2. Neuroscience and Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Behavioral Neuroscientist

A

psychologists who specialize in considering the ways in which the biological structures and functions of the body affect behavior

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2
Q

Neurons

A

nerve cells

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3
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the nervous system that supports, nourish, and protect neurons

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4
Q

dendrites

A

a cluster of fibers at one end of a neuron that receives messages from other neurons

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5
Q

Axon

A

carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons

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6
Q

Terminal Buttons

A

The part of the axon that sends messages to other neurons. They look like a small bulge at the end of the axon.

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7
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

a protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon

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8
Q

Resting state

A

state before a neuron is triggered, in which there is a negative electrical charge of about -70 millivolts within the neuron

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9
Q

Action Potential

A

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.

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10
Q

Neurons differ in terms of

A

Quickness of an impulse moving along the axon
Potential rate of firing

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11
Q

mirror neurons

A

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

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12
Q

Synapse

A

the space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages

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13
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical that carry messages across the synapse to the dendrite (sometimes the cell body) of a receiving neuron

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14
Q

excitory message

A

a chemical message that makes it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire and an action potential will travel down its axon

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15
Q

inhibitory message

A

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

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16
Q

Central Nervous System

A

brain and spinal cord

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17
Q

Spinal cord

A

the bundle of neurons that leaves the brain and runs down the length of the back

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18
Q

Reflex

A

an automatic, involuntary response to an incoming stimulus

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19
Q

sensory (afferent) neurons

A

transmit information from the perimeter of the body to the central nervous system

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20
Q

motor (efferent) neurons

A

communicate information from the nervous system to muscles and glands

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21
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

the part of nervous system that includes the autonomic and somatic subdivisions. made of neurons with long axons and dendrites

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22
Q

somatic division

A

specializes in the control of voluntary movements and the communication of information to and from the sense organs

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23
Q

autonomic division

A

Controls involuntary movement of the heart, glands, lungs, and other organs

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24
Q

sympathetic division

A

The part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body to deal with perceived threats.

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25
parasympathetic division
The branch of the autonomic nervous system that acts the body to calm down after an emergency has ended
26
behavioral genetics
the study of the effects of heredity on behavior
27
endocrine system
A chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream
28
hormones
chemicals that circulate through the blood and regulate the functioning or growth of the body
29
pituitary glands
The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
30
thyroid glands
produces hormones that regulate metabolism
31
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
record of the electrical activity of the brain through electrodes placed on the outside of the skull
32
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Provides a detailed, three dimensional computer-generated image of brain structures and activity by aiming a powerful magnetic field at the body
33
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
show biochemical activity within the brain at a given moment that begins with an injection of a radioactive liquid
34
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
electrical activity in a tiny region of the brain is interrupted by bombarding it with a strong magnetic field, and researchers note the effects on brain functioning. may be used to treat certain psychological disorders
35
optogenetic
views individual circuits of neurons
36
hydrogel-embedding
allows observation of individual brain cells and the wiring of brain circuitry
37
Neuropixels
implanted probes that allow neuroscientists to read activity in hundreds of neurons in multiple parts of the brain simultaneously
38
central core
The "old brain," which controls basic functions such as eating and sleeping and is common to all vertebrates.
39
Hindbrain
medulla, pons, cerebellum
40
Medulla
controls heartbeat and breathing
41
Pons
sleep and arousal
42
Cerebellum
Balance and coordination
43
reticular formation
the part of the brain extending from medulla through the pons; it is related to changes in the level of arousal of the body. Passes through the middle of the brain, called the midbrain, and into the front-most part of the brain, called the forebrain
44
Thalamus
the part of the brain located in the middle of the central core that acts primarily to relay information about the senses
45
Hypothalamus
a tiny part of the brain, located below the thalamus, that maintains homeostasis and produces and regulates behavior critical to the basic survival of the species. Eating, drinking, and sexual behavior.
46
limbic system
he part of the brain that controls eating, aggression, and reproductions--functions related to emotions and self-preservation. Includes the amygdala and hippocampus.
47
Amygdala
A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.
48
Hippocampus
a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage
49
cerebral cortex
The "new brain," responsible for the most sophisticated information processing in the brain; contains four lobes.
50
Lobes
frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
51
Frontal lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
52
parietal lobe
touch, spatial awareness
53
temporal lobe
An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information
54
Occipital Lobe
processes visual information
55
Sulci
shallow grooves of the brain that separate lobes
56
motor area
the part of the cortex that is largely responsible for the body's voluntary movement
57
sensory area
the site in the brain of the tissue that corresponds to each of the senses, with the degree of sensitivity related to the amount of tissue
58
association area
One of the major regions of the cerebral cortex; the site of the higher mental processes, such as thought, language, memory, and speech.
59
Broca's aphasia
inability to produce speech
60
Wernicke's aphasia
inability to comprehend speech
61
Neuroplasticity
the brain's ability to change throughout the life span through the addition of new neurons, new interconnections between neurons, and the reorganization of information-processing areas,
62
Neurogensis
creation of new neurons in the adult brain
63
brain hemisphere
symmetrical left and right halves of the brain that control the side of the body opposite to their location
64
left hemisphere
controls the right side of the body; process information sequentially, particularly verbal areas
65
right hemisphere
controls the left side of the body; process information globally, particularly in nonverbal areas
66
Lateralization
the dominance of one hemisphere of the brain in specific functions, such as language
67
Acetylcholine (ACh)
A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction
68
Glutamate
A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory
69
Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)
the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system; involves in eating, aggression and sleeping
70
Dopamine (DA)
regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal
71
Serotonin
A neurotransmitter that affects hunger ,sleep, arousal, mood, pain and depression
72
Endorphins
neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure feeling, appetites and placebos

Psych 101 (3 decks)

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