ch.2- The Biology of the mind Flashcards
neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building blocks of the nervous system
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming info from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
interneurons
within brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
motor neurons
carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
dendrites
bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receives messages and conduct impulses toward the cel body
axon
the tension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or muscles or glands
myelin sheath
layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next
action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon
biological psychology
a branch of psychology that is concerned with links between biology and behavior.
reuptake
a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron
threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, it travels across the synapse and binds to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, influencing whether the neuron will generate a neural impulse
endorphins
“morphine within”-natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
acetylcholine (ACh)
- enables muscle action, learning, and memory
- alzheimer’s disease
dopamine
- influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
- excess amount is linked to schizophrenia , parkinson’s disease
serotonin
- affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
- depression
norepinephrine
- helps control alertness and arousal
- depress mood
GABA
- major inhibitory neurotransmitter
- seizures, tremors, and insomnia
glutamate
- major excitatory neurotransmitter;involved in memory
- migraines, seizures
reflex
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
nervous system
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
central nervous system
the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
nerves
bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of internal organs (heart, digestion) . Its sympathetic division arouses; parasympathetic calms
sympathetic nervous system
division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situation s
endocrine system
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through bloodstream, and affect other tissue
adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones(epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.
pituitary gland
the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
lesion
tissue destruction.
EEG
recording of waves of electrical activity in brain measured by electrodes on the scalp
reticular formation
nerve network in brainstem that plays an important part in controlling arousal
medulla
base of brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
brainstem
oldest and central core of the brain, starts where spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
fMRI
reveals bloodflow and brain activity, shows function
MRI
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue, shows structure
PET
display of brain activity that detects where radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
thalamus
brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem, directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
cerebellum
“little brain” at rear of the brainstem; processes sensory input and coordinates movement output and balance
amygdala
2 small neural clusters in limbic system linked to emotion
limbic system
neural system (includes hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
hypothalamus
neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs maintenance activities(eating, body temp, drinking), helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
motor cortex
area at the far of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
cerebral cortex
interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; body’s ultimate control and info-processing center
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
frontal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortes lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
parietal lobes
portion of cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes
portion of cerebral cortes lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive info from the visual fields
temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortes lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas , each receiving info primarily from the opposite ear
sensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and process body and touch movement sensations
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
plasticity
the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
corpus callosum
large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers(mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them
