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Psychology 150 > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is biopsychology?

A

analyzes how our biology influences behavior, thoughts, and emotions

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2
Q

what is neuroscience?

A

the structure or function of the nervous system and brain

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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

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4
Q

what is the function of the nucleus?

A

the chemical factory of the neuron

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5
Q

what are dendrites?

A

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

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6
Q

What is the axon?

A

once information is integrated, electrical impulses are transmitted along axon

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7
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

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

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8
Q

What are the nodes of ranvier?

A

gaps between the myelin sheath

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9
Q

What are the terminal buttons?

A

knoblike structures where neurons communicate by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters

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10
Q

what is the synapse?

A

where communication occurs between neurons

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11
Q

what are ions?

A

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

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12
Q

what is depolarization?

A

the first movement of the actions potential

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13
Q

what happens at the resting state?

A

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

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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

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15
Q

what are sensory neurons?

A

carry information from sense receptors to brain

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16
Q

what are interneurons?

A

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

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17
Q

what are motor neurons?

A

send messages away from the brain

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18
Q

what is the job of glial cells?

A

they nourish and clean up neurons

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19
Q

what is the refractory period?

A

the neuron returns to resting state; recharging state

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20
Q

what are neurotransmitters?

A

chemicals that carry information from neuron to neuron

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21
Q

what is reuptake?

A

the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by presynaptic neuron

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22
Q

what is acetylcoline?

A
  • motor control over muscles
  • attention, memory, learning, and sleeping
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23
Q

examples of conditions related to acetylcholine:

A
  • botox
  • low acetylcholine (ACH producing neurons deteriorate): Alzheimer’s Disease
  • nicotine enhances memory
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24
Q

what is the purpose of norepinenphrine?

A

-arousal and alertness

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25
Q

what happens if you have an under supply of norepinephrine?

A

it can depress the mood

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26
Q

what is the function of serotonin?

A

-emotional states and impulse control
- dreaming

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27
Q

what does SSRI stand for?

A

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

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28
Q

how do SSRIs work?

A

they raise serotonin levels by blocking reuptake; leaving more serotonin in the synapse

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29
Q

what is the purpose of dopamine?

A
  • reward and motivation
  • learning, and emotion
  • motor control over voluntary movements
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30
Q

what happens if there is too much dopamine?

A

you get schizophrenia

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31
Q

how does Parkinson’s Disease happen?

A

neurons that produce dopamine die off

32
Q

what is GABA?

A

inhibition of action potentials; slows your brain

33
Q

what neurotransmitter reduces anxiety?

A

GABA

34
Q

what happens if there is an under supply of GABA?

A

seizures, tremors, and insomina

35
Q

what is glutamate

A

enhancement of action potentials
-learning and memory

36
Q

what happens if there is excessive Glutamate?

A

it can destroy neurons and cause migraines and seizures

37
Q

what is the purpose of endorphins?

A

they are natural painkillers

38
Q

what is a genotype?

A

an organism’s genetic makeup; what we inherit
ex. recessive and dominant traits

39
Q

what is the phenotype?

A

an organism’s physical appearance
ex. hair color, eye color, skin color, shapes

40
Q

how many chromosomes do humans have?

A

23 chromosomes
- each consists of tightly coiled chain of DNA

41
Q

what two systems work together to make humans function and think

A

the nervous system and the endocrine system

42
Q

what are the heredity units

A

genes

43
Q

what are agonists?

A

drugs that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters
ex. nicotine

44
Q

what are antagonists?

A

drugs that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters
ex. opioids

45
Q

how much does the brain weigh and what is the oldest part of the brain?

A

the brain weighs 3 Ibs, and the brain stem is the oldest

46
Q

what is the purpose of the peripheral nervous system?

A

it sends information from different parts of the body to the central nervous system

47
Q

what does the central nervous system include?

A

the brain and the spinal cord

48
Q

what is the purpose of the somatic nervous system?

A

controls voluntary movement via skeletal muscles

49
Q

what is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system?

A

controls bodily functions such as breathing, the heartbeat, and the digestive process

50
Q

what is the purpose of the sympathetic nervous system?

A

accelerates heartbeat, constricts blood vessels, and raises blood pressure; “fight or flight”

51
Q

what is the purpose of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

calms a person down, slows heartbeat, increases gland activity; “rest and reset”

52
Q

what is the function of the brain stem?

A

controls arousal, attention, and basic body functions

53
Q

what three parts are in the brain stem?

A

pons, medulla oblongata, and midbrain

54
Q

what is the function of the cerebellum?

A

important in balance and motor coordination

55
Q

what is the function of the corpus callosum?

A

band of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres

56
Q

what is the function of the hippocampus?

A

part of limbic system that plays role in memory, spatial navigation, learning and emotions (memory center

57
Q

what is the function of the hypothalamus?

A

maintains homeostasis; controls temperature, blood pressure, salt balance, body weight; lets a person know when they are hungry or thirsty

58
Q

what is the purpose of the limbic system?

A

includes the hippocampus and amygdala which regulates emotion, behavior, memory; instincts and mood

59
Q

what is the function of the thalamus?

A

relay center for sensory and motor information; except for smell

60
Q

what is the function of the pons?

A

relay signals to cerebellum; sleep, respiration, swallowing

61
Q

what is the function of the medulla?

A

life-support functions like breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, works automatically

62
Q

what is the olfactory system?

A

sensory system used for smelling; goes directly to the brain

63
Q

what are mirror neurons?

A

fire when we watch others; that’s how we learn; remember basketball player breaking leg and others reacting

64
Q

what is neuroplasicity?

A

ability of the brain to adapt to changes in the environment

65
Q

what is the function of broca aphasia

A

comprehensible spoken language; talking (near the mouth, front)

66
Q

what is the function of wernicke aphasia?

A

how a person understands language (near the ear, back)

67
Q

what is coup-contra-coup?

A

baby shaking syndrome

68
Q

what is the function of the cerebral cortex?

A

thin layer of interconnected neural cells on the outer brain; higher-level thinking, reasoning, consciousness (thinking cap)

69
Q

what is the function of the frontal lobe?

A

higher level thinking, motor skills, reasoning, expressive language

70
Q

what is the function of the parietal lobe?

A

processes sensory info, touch, pressure, pain

71
Q

what is the function of the occipital lobe?

A

the visual cortex, processes sight

72
Q

what is the purpose of the temporal lobe?

A

auditory, language, sound

73
Q

what side is speech on?

A

the left side of the brain

74
Q

what side is facial recognition on?

A

the right side of the brain

75
Q

what is the function of the amygdala?

A

emotional center, creates emotion based memories since it’s close to the hippocampus

76
Q

what is myelination?

A

the process of acquiring a myelin sheath; can be negative because it covers the frontal lobe last so it affects decision-making

77
Q

how does myelination occur?

A

from back to front

Psychology 150 (12 decks)

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