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Intro Pych > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

neuroplasticity

A

the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

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2
Q

neuron

A

a nerve cell. basic building block of nervous system

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3
Q

cell body (neuron)

A

part of the neuron that contains the nucleus

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4
Q

dendrites

A

branching extensions of a neuron which receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses towards the body

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5
Q

axon

A

long segmented neuron extension that passes messages through it’s branches (terminal branches) to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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6
Q

myelin

A

fatty coating on some neuron’s axons which insulates + speeds up the impulses

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7
Q

glial cells

A

nervous system cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons. also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

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8
Q

action potentential

A

a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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9
Q

excitatory neural signals

A

pushing the accelerator

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10
Q

inhibitory neural signals

A

pushing the breaks

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11
Q

threshold (relating to neurall signaling)

A

level of stimulation required to produce a neural impulse

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12
Q

refractory period

A

a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron as fired. action potentials cannot occur when a neuron is it its refractory period

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13
Q

synapse

A

junction between the tip of an axon from one neuron and the dendrites of another

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14
Q

synaptic cleft

A

actual space in synapse

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15
Q

neurotransmitter

A

chemical messenger that crosses the synaptic cleft. when released by sending neuron, they travel across synapse and bind to receptor sites on receiving neuron.

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16
Q

reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

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17
Q

endorphines

A

natural opiate-like neurotransmitters in the body linked to pain and pleasure

“morphine within”

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18
Q

agonist

A

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

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19
Q

the nervous system

A

the body’s fast, electrochemical communication network consisting of all nerve cells

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20
Q

antagonist

A

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

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21
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

spine + brain

decision making center

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22
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

nerves that connect everything else to the CNS

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23
Q

nerves

A

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting CNS with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

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24
Q

sensory (afferent) neurons

A

cary incoming info from PMS to CNS

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25
Q

motor (efferent) neurons

A

cary outgoing info from CNS to muscles and glands

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26
Q

interneurons

A

neurons in think in spine that connect between other neurons and have something to do with reflexes?

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27
Q

somatic nervous system (SNS)

A

controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscles

28
Q

interneurons

A

found in CNS only. communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

29
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

controls glands + internal organs (usually operates autonomously)

30
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

a subdivision of the ANS

arouses and increases energy

31
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

a subdivision of the ANS

calms + conserves energy, returning the body to homeostasis

32
Q

spinal chord

A

two-way information pathway connecting PNS and CNS

ascending fibers bring sensory input to brain, descending fibers send back motor-control impulses

33
Q

reflex

A

a simple, automatic response to sensory stimuli (knee jerk)

often one single neuron from spinal chord to area of stimuli for fast reaction time

34
Q

endocrine system

A

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system: glands and fatty tissues secrete hormones into bloodstream

35
Q

hormone

A

chemical messenger that is manufactured by endocrine glands. travel through the bloodstream + affect other tissue(s)

36
Q

adrenal glads

A

pair of endocrine glads atop the kidneys which secrete epinephrine and adrenaline causing body arousal during stressful times (feeling often lingers)

37
Q

pituitary glad

A

most influential gland, master gland controlled by the hypothalamus. regulates growth + controls other glands

38
Q

lesion (brain)

A

tissue destruction (brain lesions can be natural or experimentally caused)

39
Q

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

amplified recording of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface (cortex)

40
Q

magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A

brain-imaging technique measuring magnetic fields from the brain’s neural activity

41
Q

position emmission tomography (PET)

A

a technique for detecting brain activity by displaying where a radioactive form of glucose goes while brain performs a task

42
Q

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue, showing brain anatomy

43
Q

functional MRI (fMRI)

A

technique for revealing bloodflow and therefore brain activity by comparing succesive MRI scans. shows brain structure and function

44
Q

brainstem

A

oldest part of brain. begins at top of spinal chord where it enters the skull and includes the medulla and pons

45
Q

medulla

A

base of the brainstem. controls heartbeat + breathing

46
Q

thallamus

A

brain’s sensory control center. directs messages to sensory receiving areas in cortex + transmits replies to medulla and cerebellum

47
Q

reticular formation

A

the nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus. filters information and plans an important role in controlling arousal

48
Q

cerebellum

A

at rear of brainstem. processes sensory input coordinating movement output and balance and enables non-verbal (muscle) learning + memory

“little brain”

49
Q

limbic system

A

neural system consisting of the amygdala, hypothallamus, and hippocampus. associated with emotion and drives (hormones)

50
Q

amygdala

A

two lima-bean sized neural clusters in limbic system. linked to emotion (aggression and fear)

51
Q

hypocampus

A

neural center located in limbic system. helps process explicit (conscious) memories for storage (facts and events)

52
Q

hypothallamus

A

neural structure directly below thalamus. directs maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp). helps govern endocrine system through pituitary glad (also linked with emotion and reward)

53
Q

cerebral cortex

A

intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres (surface of brain). the body’s ultimate control and informational processing center

54
Q

frontal lobes

A

portion of brain directly behind forehead. involved in making plans + judgements, inhibition, risk judgement

55
Q

parietal lobes

A

portion of brain at top of the head and toward the rear. receives sensory input for touch and body positioning

56
Q

occipital lobes

A

lobe at very back of head. facial recognition and memory.

57
Q

temporal lobes

A

section of brain roughly right above/at ear level. includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

58
Q

motor cortex

A

strip of cortex at rear of frontal lobe and anterior to the central sulcus. controls voluntary movement.

59
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

strip of brain at front of the parietal lobe and immediately posterior to the central sulcus

processes touch, pain, etc

60
Q

association areas

A

areas of cerebral cortex that are NOT involved in primary motor or sensory functions. rather they are involved in higher mental functions (learning, thinking, etc)

61
Q

neurogenesis

A

formation of new neurons

62
Q

corpus callosum

A

large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and passing information between them

63
Q

split brain

A

condition resulting from surgery which separates the right and left hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum

64
Q

performing perceptual tasks = increased brain activity on BLANK side

A

increased brain activity in RIGHT side

65
Q

performing math/calculations = increased brain activity on BLANK side

A

increased brain activity in LEFT side

66
Q

boca’s area

A

in middle(ish) of frontal lobe on the LEFT hemisphere. responsible for speech PRODUCTION

BOCA = MOUTH = SPEACH PRODUCTION

67
Q

wernick’s area

A

in middle of LEFT temporal lobe directly below the lateral sulcus. responsible for speech COMPREHENSION

Intro Pych (18 decks)

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