Chapter 2 Flashcards
biological psychology
studies relationship between behavior and bodily processes and systems
also called biopsychology and psychobiology
neuroscience
study of the nervous systems especially the brain
Components on neuron
neuron dendrite axon cell body glial cells myelin sheath
neuron
specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical form
nerve cell
dendrite
multiple short fibers that extend from the neuron’s cell body and receives information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells
axon
long fluid filled tube that carries a neuron’s message to other body areas
cell body
processes nutrients and provides energy for the neuron to function
contains the cell’s nucleus
also called the soma
glial cells
support cells that assist neurons by providing structural support, nutrition, and removal of cell wastes
myelin sheath
a white fatty covering wrapped around the axons of some neurons that increases their communication speed
Communication within neuron
resting potential stimulus threshold ion membrane action potential refractory period
resting potential
state in which a neuron is prepared to activate and communicate its messages if it receives enough stimulation
action potential
a brief electrical impulse by which information is transmitted along the axon of a neuron
stimulus threshold
the minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron
all or none law
principle that either a neuron is sufficiently stimulated and an action potential occurs or a neuron is not sufficiently stimulated and an action potential does occur
communication between neurons
known as synapse
electrical & chemical
1. action potential travels along axon of sending neuron
2. action potential triggers release of neurotransmitters by synaptic vesicles
3. neurotransmitters cross synaptic gap and bind to the correctly shaped receptor sites on postsynaptic neuron
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers manufactured by a neuron
excitatory messages
increases likelihood that the postsynoptic neuron will activate and generate an action potential
inhibitory messages
decreases likelihood that the postsynoptic neuron will activate
neurotransmitter and effect
- acetylcholine- causes muscles to contract, learning, memory; Alzheimer’s disease
- dopamine- movement, thought process, rewarding satisfaction; Parkinson’s disease, Schizophrenia, drug addiction
- serotonin- emotional states, sleep, sensory perception; depression
- norepinephrine- physical arousal, learning, memory, regulation of sleep; depression & stress
- GABA- inhibition of brain activity; anxiety disorders ADD or ADHD
- endorphins- chemical responding to stress or trauma, pain perception, positive emotions; opiate addiction
“runners high”
type of endorphin
manage stress
only feel good bc body is addicted
how drugs affect synaptic transmission
some drugs inc or dec the amount of neurotransmitters released by neuron
may also affect length of time the neurotransmitter remains in the synaptic gap
can block reputake of neurotransmitter by the sending neuron
two parts of nervous sytem
central & peripheral nervous system
central nervous system
includes spinal cord and brain cerebral fluids protects it center of our thoughts interpreter of our environment origin of control over body movement
peripheral nervous system
responsible for keeping body functioning
two parts- somatic & autonomic nervous system
somatic nervous system
communicates sensory info to the central nervous system and carries motor messages from central nervous system to the muscles
voluntary muscle movements
autonomic nervous system
regulates involuntary movements (breathing, heart beat, blood pressure)
two parts- sympathetic & parasympathetic
sympathetic nervous system
produces quick physical response to a threat
fight or flight response
transfers energy to other parts of body
parasympathetic nervous system
conserves and maintains physical resources
calms you down after an emergency
spinal reflexes
automatic behavior that are processed in the spinal cord
crucial to survival
indicator that neural pathway in spinal cord are working correctly
endocrine system
system of glands located throughout the body that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones in endocrine system
chemical messages
regulate physical processes and influence behavior
metabolism, growth rate, digestion, blood pressure, and sexual development and reproduction
pituitary glands
attached to base of brain that secretes hormones that affect the function of other glands as well as hormones that act directly on physical activity
directed by hypothalamus
produces growth hormone, prolactin, and oxytocin
adrenal glands
produce epinephrine and norepinephrine, cause physical arousal in response to danger, fear, anger, stress, and other strong emotions
adrenal cortex
outer part of adrenal gland
adrenal medulla
secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
key role in fight or flight
gonads
regulate sexual characteristics and reproductive processeses
ovaries & testes
neural pathways
link different brain structures
formed by groups of neuron cell bodies in one area of the brain that project axons to the other brain areas
functional plasticity
shift from damaged to undamaged
structural plasticity
brain physically changes to respond to environment
brainstem
region of the brain made up of hindbrain and midbrain
hindbrain
region at the base of the brain that contains several structures that regulate basic life functions pons cerebellum reticular formation medulla
pons
help coordinate movements on left and right sides of body
cerebellum
coordinates movement, balance, and posture
reticular formation
helps regulate attention and awareness
medulla
controls breathing, heartbeat, and other vital life func.
midbrain
involved in processing auditory and visual sensory info.
substantia nigra- involved in motor control and contains a large concentration of dopaine producing neurons
forebrain
uppermost and largest brain region
corpus callosum and cerebral cortex
cerebral cortex
divided into two hemispheres and responsible for sophisticated mental functions
outer portion of forebrain
corpus callosum
divided into four lobes
temporal- auditory
occipital- back hemisphere; visual info
parietal lobe- bodily (somatosensory); touch, temp, info from receptors
frontal lobe- voluntary muscle movements, thinking, planning, emotional
limbic system
forebrain structures that form around the brainstem and are involved in emotion, motivation, learning and memory
hippocampus- forming new memories
thalamus- processes and integrates sensory info; relays sensory info to cerebral cortex
hypothalamus- links brain and endocrine system; regulates hunger thirst sleep and sexual behavior
amygdala- involved in memory and motion especially fear and anger
