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Psychology 201 > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is biological psychology?

A

A specialized branch of psychology that studies the relationship between behavior and bodily processes and systems.

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2
Q

What are 2 other terms for biological psychology?

A

Biopsychology and psychobiology

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3
Q

What is neuroscience?

A

The study of the nervous system, especially the brain.

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4
Q

What is a neuron?

A

a highly specialized NERVE cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical form.

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5
Q

What is a sensory neuron?

A

the type of neuron that conveys information to the brain from specialized receptor cells in sense organs and internal organs.

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6
Q

What is a motor neuron?

A

The type of neuron that signals muscles to relax or contract.

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7
Q

What is an interneuron?

A

The type of neuron that communicates information from one neuron to the next.

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8
Q

What is a cell body?

A

The part of a cell that processes nutrients and provides energy for the neuron to function; contains the cell’s nucleus.

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9
Q

Another name for the nucleus:

A

Soma

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10
Q

What are dendrites?

A

The multiple short fibers that extend from a neuron’s cell body and receive information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells.

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11
Q

What is an axon?

A

The long, fluid-filled tube that carries a neuron’s messages to other body parts.

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12
Q

What are glial cells (or glia - GLEE-ull)

A

The support cells that assist neurons by providing structural support, nutrition, and removal of cell wastes.

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13
Q

Glial cells manufacture what?

A

Myelin

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14
Q

What is a myelin (MY-eh-lin) sheath?

A

a white, fatty covering wrapped around the axons of some neurons that increases their communication speed.

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15
Q

What is action potential?

A

A brief electrical impulse by which information is transmitted along the axon of a neuron

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16
Q

What is stimulus threshhold?

A

The minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron

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17
Q

What is resting potential?

A

The state in which a neuron is prepared to activate and communicate its message if it receives sufficient stimulation.

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18
Q

Define “synapse”:

A

The point of communication between two neurons.

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19
Q

What is a synaptic gap?

A

The tiny space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of an adjoining neuron.

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20
Q

What are axon terminals?

A

The branches at the end of the axon that contain tiny pouches, or sacs, called synaptic vesicles.

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21
Q

What are synaptic vesicles (VESS-ick-ullz)?

A

The tiny pouches or sacs in axon terminals that contain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

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22
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemical messengers manufactured by a neuron.

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23
Q

what is Synaptic transmission?

A

The process through which neurotransmitters are released by one neuron, cross the synaptic gap, and affect joining neurons

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24
Q

What is reuptake?

A

The process by which neurotransmitter molecules detach from a postsynaptic neuron and are reabsorbed by a presynaptic neuron s they can be recycled and used again.

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25
Q

What is dopamine?

A

Neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of bodily movement, thought processes, and rewarding sensations.

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26
Q

What is serotonin?

A

Neurotransmitter involved in sensory perceptions, sleep, and emotions.

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27
Q

What is norepinephrine (nor-ep-en-EF-rin)?

A

Neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and regulation of sleep; also a hormone manufactured by adrenal glands.

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28
Q

What is glutamate?

A

Neurotransmitter that usually communicates an excitatory message.

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29
Q

What is GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)?

A

Neurotransmitter that usually communicates an inhibitory message.

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30
Q

What are endorphins?

A

Neurotransmitters that regulate pain perceptions.

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31
Q

What is an agonist?

A

A drug or other chemical substances that binds to a receptor site and triggers a response to the cell

32
Q

What is an antagonist?

A

A drug or other chemical substance that blocks a receptor site and inhibits a response in the receiving one.

33
Q

Describe spinal reflexes

A

Simple, automatic behaviors that are processed in the spinal cord.

34
Q

What is the peripheral nervous system?

A

The division of the nervous system that includes all the nerves lying outside the central nervous system

35
Q

What is the somatic nervous system?

A

The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that communicates sensory information to the central nervous system and carries motor messages from the central nervous system to the muscles.

36
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system?

A

the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary function.

37
Q

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that produces rapid physical arousal in response perceived emergencies or threats.

38
Q

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that maintains normal bodily functions and conserves the body’s physical resources.

39
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

The system of glands, located throughout the body, that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

40
Q

What are hormones?

A

Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream primarily by endocrine glands.

41
Q

What is the pituitary gland?

A

The endocrine gland attached to the base of the brain that secretes hormones affecting the function of the other glands as well as hormones that act directly on physical process.

42
Q

What is oxytocin?

A

The hormone involved in reproduction, social motivation, and social behavior.

43
Q

what are the adrenal glands?

A

The pair of endocrine glands that are involved in the human stress response.

44
Q

What is the adrenal cortex?

A

The outer portion of the adrenal glands.

45
Q

What is the adrenal medulla?

A

The inner portion of the adrenal glands, which secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine .

46
Q

Wha are gonads?

A

The endocrine glands that secrete hormones that regulate sexual characteristics and reproductive processes…ovaries in females and testes in males.

47
Q

What is phrenology?

A

a pseudoscientific theory of the brain that claimed that personality characteristics, moral character, and intelligence could be determined by examining the bumps on a persons skull.

48
Q

What is cortical localization?

A

The notion that different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain; also called “localization of function.”

49
Q

What is the map of neural connections to the brain called?

A

Connectome

50
Q

What is functional plasticity?

A

The brain’s ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas.

51
Q

what is structural plasticity?

A

The brain’s ability to change its physical structure in response to learning, active practice, or environmental influences.

52
Q

What is neurogenesis?

A

The development of new neurons.

53
Q

What/where is the brainstem?

A

A region of the brain made up of the hindbrain and the midbrain.

54
Q

What is the hindbrain?

A

A region at the base of the brain that contains several structures that regulate basic life functions.

55
Q

What is the medulla?

A

A hindbrain structure that controls vital life functions such as breathing and circulation.

56
Q

What is the cerebral cortex?

A

The wrinkled outer portion of the forebrain, which contains the most sophisticated brain centers.

57
Q

What are the cerebral hemispheres?

A

The nearly symmetrical left and right halves of the cerebral cortex.

58
Q

What is the corpus callosum?

A

A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and acts as the communication link between them.

59
Q

what is the pons?

A

A hindbrain structure that connects the medulla to the two sides of the cerebellum; helps coordinate and integrate movements on each side of the body.

60
Q

What is the cerebellum?

A

a large, two-sided hindbrain structure at the back of the brain; responsible for muscle coordination and maintaining posture and equilibrium

61
Q

What is the reticular formation?

A

a network of nerve fibers located in the center of the medulla that helps regulate attention, arousal, and sleep; also called the reticular activating system.

62
Q

What is the midbrain?

A

the middle and smallest brain region, involved in processing auditory and visual sensory information.

63
Q

What is the substantial nigra?

A

An area of the midbrain that is involved in motor control and contains a large concentration of dopamine-producing neurons.

64
Q

What is the forebrain?

A

the largest and most complex brain region, which contains centers for complex behaviors and mental processes; also called the cerebrum.

65
Q

What are the temporal lobes?

A

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex, near the temples, that is the primary receiving area for auditory information.

66
Q

What are the occipital lobes? (ock-SIP-it-ull)

A

An area at the back of each cerebral hemisphere that is the primary receiving area for visual information.

67
Q

What are the parietal (puh-RYE-ut-all) lobes?

A

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex located above the temporal lobe that processes somatic sensations

68
Q

What are the frontal lobes?

A

The largest lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, processes voluntary muscle movements and is involved in thinking, planning, and emotional control.

69
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

a group of forebrain structures that form a border around the brainstem and are involved in emotion, motivation, and learning.

70
Q

What is the hippocampus?

A

a curved forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and is involved in learning and forming new memories.

71
Q

What is the thalamus (THAL-uh-mus)?

A

a forebrain structure that processes sensory information for all senses except smell, relaying that information to the cerebral cortex .

72
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

A peanut-sized forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and that regulates behaviors related to survival, such as eating, drinking, and sexual activity.

73
Q

What is the amygdala (uh-MIG-dull-uh)?

A

an almond-shaped cluster of neurons in the brain’s temporal lobe, involved in memory and emotional responses, especially fear.

74
Q

What is cortical localization ?

A

The notion that different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain; also called localization of function.

75
Q

What is lateralization of function?

A

the notion that specific psychological or cognitive functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain.

76
Q

What is the aphasia (uh-FAUZH-yuh)?

A

the partial or comparer inability to articulate ideas or understand spoken or written language because of brain injury or damage.

77
Q

What os split-brain operation?

A

a surgical procedure that involves cutting into the corupus callosum.

Psychology 201 (2 decks)

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