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Psychology > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

Biological Psychology

A

Th scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

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2
Q

Plasticity

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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3
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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4
Q

Cell Body

A

The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life support center

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5
Q

Dendrites

A

A neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

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6
Q

Axon

A

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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7
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

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8
Q

Glial Cells (glia)

A

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

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9
Q

Action Potential

A

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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10
Q

Threshold

A

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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11
Q

Refractory Period (Neural)

A

A brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

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12
Q

All-or-none Response

A

A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

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13
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

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14
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers that cross 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 than neuron will generate anew impulse.

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15
Q

Reuptake

A

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

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16
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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17
Q

Agonist

A

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

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18
Q

Antagonist

A

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

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19
Q

Nervous system

A

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

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20
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

The brain and the spinal cord

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21
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

22
Q

Nerves

A

Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs

23
Q

Sensory (afferent) Neurons

A

Neurons that carry incoming info from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

24
Q

Motor (efferent) Neurons

A

Neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

25
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process info between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

26
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. (Also called the skeletal nervous system)

27
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms

28
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

29
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

30
Q

Reflex

A

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

31
Q

Endocrine System

A

The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

32
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

33
Q

Adrenal Glands

A

A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress

34
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

35
Q

Lesion

A

Tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

36
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

37
Q

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A

A brain-imaging technique that measures magnetic-fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

38
Q

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

A

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

39
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

40
Q

fMRI (functional MRI) MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure.

A

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure.

41
Q

Brainstem

A

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters he skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

42
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

43
Q

Thalamus

A

The brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

44
Q

Reticular Formation

A

A nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

45
Q

Cerebellum

A

The “little brain’ at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.

46
Q

Limbic System

A

Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

47
Q

Amygdala

A

Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

48
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

49
Q

Hippocampus

A

A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit (conscious) memories - of facts and events - for storage

50
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The formation of new neurons

51
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

52
Q

Split Brain

A

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

Psychology (8 decks)

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