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Psychology > ch3 vocab* > Flashcards

ch3 vocab* Flashcards

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1
Q

Dendrites

A

neuron’s branching extensions that receive and integrate messages

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2
Q

Myelin sheath

A

enables greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

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3
Q

Axon

A

neuron extension that passes message through its branches to other neurons

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3
Q

Action potential

A

a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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4
Q

Refractory period

A

a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired

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5
Q

Reuptake

A

travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron

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6
Q

Agonist

A

molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

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7
Q

All-or-none response

A

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

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8
Q

Interneuron

A

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally

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8
Q

Endorphins

A

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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9
Q

Acetylcholine

A

best-understood neurotransmitters has role in learning and memory

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10
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps sending neurons

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11
Q

Threshold

A

level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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12
Q

Antagonist

A

a substance that interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another

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12
Q

Soma

A

cell body

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13
Q

Synapse

A

junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite

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13
Q

Axon terminals

A

where action potential comes to a screeching halt

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14
Q

Central nervous system

A

brain and spinal cord

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15
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body

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16
Q

Hormones

A

chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

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17
Q

pituitary gland

A

regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

18
Q

Sensory (afferent) neurons

A

carry information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to brain and spinal cord

18
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

peripheral nervous system part controls the glands and the muscles of internal organs

19
Q

Adrenal glands

A

secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

20
Q

Motor (efferent) neurons

A

carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

21
Q

Endocrine system

A

set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

22
Q

Nerves

A

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

23
Q

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

A

amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity across the brain’s surface

24
Q

PET scan

A

detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain does a given task

25
Q

Hypothalamus

A

helps govern the endocrine system via pituitary gland, linked to emotion and award

25
Q

Cerebellum

A

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem,muscle movement, balance

26
Q

Hippocampus

A

helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events

27
Q

limbic system

A

neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus)

28
Q

Lesion

A

naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

28
Q

Brainstem

A

responsible for automatic survival functions

29
Q

fMRI

A

a technique for reveal blood flow and brain activity

29
Q

Medulla

A

base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

30
Q

Amygdala

A

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system, linked to emotion

31
Q

Pons

A

sleep and arousal

32
Q

Frontal lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex involved in making plans and judgments

32
Q

CAT scan

A

series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer

33
Q

Plasticity

A

brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood

34
Q

occipital lobes

A

includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

34
Q

Parietal lobes

A

receives sensory input for touch and body position

35
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

brain’s outer surface of interconnected neural cells

36
Q

Glial cells

A

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

37
Q

Motor cortex

A

area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements

38
Q

Association areas

A

involves high mental functions like learning, thinking, and speaking

39
Q

Sensory cortex

A

area at the front of the parietal lobes registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

40
Q

Aphasia

A

impairment of language

Psychology (20 decks)

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