Chapter 2- Bio Unit (1st Half)

Question 0

Biological Perspective

Answer 0

A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior.

Question 1

Phrenology

Answer 1

The study of the structure of the skull to determine a persons character and mental capacity.

Question 2

Neuron

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Dendrite

Answer 3

The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

Question 4

Axon

Answer 4

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

Question 5

Mylein Sheath

Answer 5

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Question 6

Action potential

Answer 6

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. The action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axons membrane.

Question 7

Threshold

Answer 7

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Question 8

Synapse

Answer 8

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 synaptic gap or cleft.

Question 9

Neurotransmitters

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Acetylcholine, Ach

Answer 10

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory. Also triggers muscle contractions. Linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Question 11

Dopamine

Answer 11

A neurotransmitter, a chemical released by nerve cells to send to other nerve cells. Reward motivated behavior, mood, learning, movement. Linked to schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.

Question 12

Serotonin

Answer 12

A neurotransmitter, regulates intestinal movements. Regulates mood, appetite, sleep, memory, learning. It’s the “happy” chemical. Not enough of it can cause depression.

Question 13

Endorphins

Answer 13

“Morphine from within”. Natural opiate like transmitters linked to pain, control, and pleasure.

Question 14

Nervous system

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Central nervous system

Answer 15

The brain and spinal cord

Question 16

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 16

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Question 17

Nerves

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Sensory neurons

Answer 18

Neurons that carry incoming information form the sense receptors to the central nervous system.

Question 19

Motor neurons

Answer 19

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.

Question 20

Interneurons

Answer 20

Central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Question 21

Somatic nervous system

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 22

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs ( like the heart). It’s sympathetic division arouses/stresses and the parasympathetic division clams after the arousal.

Question 23

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 23

The division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

Question 24

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Reflex

Answer 25

A simple, automatic, inborn response to sensory stimulus. Such as the knee jerk response.

Question 26

Lesions

Answer 26

Tissues destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally causing destruction of the brain tissue.

Question 27

Neural Networks

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

Endocrine system

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Hormones

Answer 29

Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and effect another.

Question 30

Adrenal glands

Answer 30

A pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. The adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (nonadrenaline) which helps the body to be aroused in times of stress.

Question 31

Pituitary glands

Answer 31

The endocrines systems most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Question 32

EEG

Answer 32

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

Question 33

PET scan

Answer 33

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

Question 34

MRI

Answer 34

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images that distinguish among different types if soft tissue; allows us to see structures in the brain. BRAIN ANATOMY.

Question 35

fMRI

Answer 35

A technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. BRAIN FUNCTION