Chapter 2 Flashcards
Biological Psychology
Branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior.
Phrenology
Theory that claimed bumps on he skull could reveal our mental abilities and our character traits; Franz Gall introduced theory
neuron
nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system
dendrite
bushy branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
Axon
extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
Myelin Sheath
layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.
Action Potential
neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. The axon potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon’s membrane
Threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
synapse
junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons when released by the sending neuron neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron. thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
Acetylcholine, ACh
neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.
Dopamine
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
Serotonin
affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal
Endorphins
“Morphine within” nautral, opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Nervous System
Body’s speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Central Nervous System
the brain and spinal chord
Peripheral Nervous System
sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
nerves
neural “cables” containing many axons these bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Sensory Neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
Motor Neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
Central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor ouputs
Somatic Nervous System
division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.
Autonomic Nervous System
part of peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. It’s sympathetic division arouses; it’s parasympathetic division calms
Sympathetic Nervous System
Division of autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
Parasympathetic nervous system
the division of autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.
Reflex
simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
Lesions
tissue destruction. Brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
Neural Networks
interconnected neural cells. With experience networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. computer simulations of neural networks show analogous learning
Endocrine System
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream
Hormones
chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
Adrenal Glands
pair of endocrine glands just above kidneys. adrenals secrete hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) which help to arouse the body in times of stress
Pituitary Glands
Endocrine systems most influential gland. under the influence of the hypoalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
EEG
amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface. these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
PET scan
visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI
show brain anatomy; technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain
fMRI
technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; show brain function.
Brainstem
oldest part and central core of the brain beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
controls heartbeat and breathing; base of brainstem
Reticular Formation
nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Thalamus
sensory switchboard; located on top of brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
pons
help coordinate movements
Cerebellum
“Little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Limbic System
Donut shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
Amygdala
Influence aggression and fear
Hypothalamus
Neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature) helps govern the endocrine system rid the pituitary gland, linked to emotion
Cerebral cortex
Intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Glial cells
Cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Frontal lobes
Just behind forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
Occipital lobes
Back of head; visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
Parietal lobes
Lying at the top of the head and toward rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Temporal lobes
Above ears; includes auditory areas; each receives auditory info primarily from opposite ear
Motor cortex
Rear of frontal loves that controls voluntary movements
Sensory cortex
Receives information from skin surface and sense organs registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Association areas
Learning, memory, and problem solving; not involved in primary motor and sensory functions
Phineus Gage
Railroad worker; ruptured frontal lobes; skull kept for research, realized frontal lobes carry personality and character traits
Aphasia
Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area or wernicks area
Wernickes area
Controls language reception, brain area involved in language comprehension and expression, usually in the left temporal lobe
Plasticity
Refers to the brains ability to modify itself after some type of injury or illness
Corpus callosum
Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Split brain
Condition in which the two hemispheres if the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them
