Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psychology 150 > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is biopsychology?

A

analyzes how our biology influences behavior, thoughts, and emotions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what is neuroscience?

A

the structure or function of the nervous system and brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a neuron?

A

the basic unit of the human nervous system; its job is to receive, integrate, and transmit info in the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the function of the nucleus?

A

the chemical factory of the neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what are dendrites?

A

short, extensions of cell body; receive signals from other neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the axon?

A

once information is integrated, electrical impulses are transmitted along axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

fatty cells whose insulation makes fast neuro communication; and protects the axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the nodes of ranvier?

A

gaps between the myelin sheath

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the terminal buttons?

A

knoblike structures where neurons communicate by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is the synapse?

A

where communication occurs between neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what are ions?

A

electrically charged chemicals that can go through the semipermeable membrane of the neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is depolarization?

A

the first movement of the actions potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what happens at the resting state?

A

electrical charge inside the neuron is more negative than the charge outside the neuron.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the action potential?

A

electrical signal responsible for communication that travels down an axon; the neuron either fires or it doesn’t

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what are sensory neurons?

A

carry information from sense receptors to brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what are interneurons?

A

transmit impulses between neurons; relay messages from sensory neurons to other neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what are motor neurons?

A

send messages away from the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the job of glial cells?

A

they nourish and clean up neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is the refractory period?

A

the neuron returns to resting state; recharging state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what are neurotransmitters?

A

chemicals that carry information from neuron to neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is reuptake?

A

the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by presynaptic neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is acetylcoline?

A
  • motor control over muscles
  • attention, memory, learning, and sleeping
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

examples of conditions related to acetylcholine:

A
  • botox
  • low acetylcholine (ACH producing neurons deteriorate): Alzheimer’s Disease
  • nicotine enhances memory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what is the purpose of norepinenphrine?

A

-arousal and alertness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
what happens if you have an under supply of norepinephrine?
it can depress the mood
26
what is the function of serotonin?
-emotional states and impulse control - dreaming
27
what does SSRI stand for?
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
28
how do SSRIs work?
they raise serotonin levels by blocking reuptake; leaving more serotonin in the synapse
29
what is the purpose of dopamine?
- reward and motivation - learning, and emotion - motor control over voluntary movements
30
what happens if there is too much dopamine?
you get schizophrenia
31
how does Parkinson's Disease happen?
neurons that produce dopamine die off
32
what is GABA?
inhibition of action potentials; slows your brain
33
what neurotransmitter reduces anxiety?
GABA
34
what happens if there is an under supply of GABA?
seizures, tremors, and insomina
35
what is glutamate
enhancement of action potentials -learning and memory
36
what happens if there is excessive Glutamate?
it can destroy neurons and cause migraines and seizures
37
what is the purpose of endorphins?
they are natural painkillers
38
what is a genotype?
an organism's genetic makeup; what we inherit ex. recessive and dominant traits
39
what is the phenotype?
an organism's physical appearance ex. hair color, eye color, skin color, shapes
40
how many chromosomes do humans have?
23 chromosomes - each consists of tightly coiled chain of DNA
41
what two systems work together to make humans function and think
the nervous system and the endocrine system
42
what are the heredity units
genes
43
what are agonists?
drugs that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters ex. nicotine
44
what are antagonists?
drugs that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters ex. opioids
45
how much does the brain weigh and what is the oldest part of the brain?
the brain weighs 3 Ibs, and the brain stem is the oldest
46
what is the purpose of the peripheral nervous system?
it sends information from different parts of the body to the central nervous system
47
what does the central nervous system include?
the brain and the spinal cord
48
what is the purpose of the somatic nervous system?
controls voluntary movement via skeletal muscles
49
what is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system?
controls bodily functions such as breathing, the heartbeat, and the digestive process
50
what is the purpose of the sympathetic nervous system?
accelerates heartbeat, constricts blood vessels, and raises blood pressure; "fight or flight"
51
what is the purpose of the parasympathetic nervous system?
calms a person down, slows heartbeat, increases gland activity; "rest and reset"
52
what is the function of the brain stem?
controls arousal, attention, and basic body functions
53
what three parts are in the brain stem?
pons, medulla oblongata, and midbrain
54
what is the function of the cerebellum?
important in balance and motor coordination
55
what is the function of the corpus callosum?
band of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres
56
what is the function of the hippocampus?
part of limbic system that plays role in memory, spatial navigation, learning and emotions (memory center
57
what is the function of the hypothalamus?
maintains homeostasis; controls temperature, blood pressure, salt balance, body weight; lets a person know when they are hungry or thirsty
58
what is the purpose of the limbic system?
includes the hippocampus and amygdala which regulates emotion, behavior, memory; instincts and mood
59
what is the function of the thalamus?
relay center for sensory and motor information; except for smell
60
what is the function of the pons?
relay signals to cerebellum; sleep, respiration, swallowing
61
what is the function of the medulla?
life-support functions like breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, works automatically
62
what is the olfactory system?
sensory system used for smelling; goes directly to the brain
63
what are mirror neurons?
fire when we watch others; that's how we learn; remember basketball player breaking leg and others reacting
64
what is neuroplasicity?
ability of the brain to adapt to changes in the environment
65
what is the function of broca aphasia
comprehensible spoken language; talking (near the mouth, front)
66
what is the function of wernicke aphasia?
how a person understands language (near the ear, back)
67
what is coup-contra-coup?
baby shaking syndrome
68
what is the function of the cerebral cortex?
thin layer of interconnected neural cells on the outer brain; higher-level thinking, reasoning, consciousness (thinking cap)
69
what is the function of the frontal lobe?
higher level thinking, motor skills, reasoning, expressive language
70
what is the function of the parietal lobe?
processes sensory info, touch, pressure, pain
71
what is the function of the occipital lobe?
the visual cortex, processes sight
72
what is the purpose of the temporal lobe?
auditory, language, sound
73
what side is speech on?
the left side of the brain
74
what side is facial recognition on?
the right side of the brain
75
what is the function of the amygdala?
emotional center, creates emotion based memories since it's close to the hippocampus
76
what is myelination?
the process of acquiring a myelin sheath; can be negative because it covers the frontal lobe last so it affects decision-making
77
how does myelination occur?
from back to front

Psychology 150 (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions