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Psychology 12 AP > Chapter 2 - Brain and Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 2 - Brain and Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

What are neurons?

A

Individual nerve cells

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2
Q

What are dendrites?

A

Neuron fibers that receive incoming messages

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3
Q

What are soma?

A

The main body of a neuron or other cell that decides whether or not to pass on the message, and if so, passes it on

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4
Q

What are axon?

A

Fibers that carry information away from the cell body of the neuron

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5
Q

What are axon terminals?

A

Structures at the ends of axons that form synapses with the dendrites and soma of other neurons

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6
Q

What is resting potential?

A

The electric charge of a neuron at rest

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7
Q

What is action potential?

A

The nerve impulse

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8
Q

What is the threshold for a neuron to release an impulse?

A

~50 millivolts

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9
Q

What happens during action potential?

A

Ion channels in the axon pop open, allowing ions to zip through the axon, sending an impulse

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10
Q

What is negative after-potential?

A

A drop in electrical charge below resting potential after an impulse

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11
Q

What is myelin?

A

A fatty layer that coats some axon, whose gaps help nerve impulses move faster

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12
Q

What is saltatory conduction?

A

The process by which nerve impulses jump from gap to gap in the myelin coated axon, as opposed to going down the entire axon

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13
Q

What is a synapse?

A

The microscopic space between two neurons over which messages pass

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14
Q

What is a neurotransmitter?

A

Any chemical released by a neuron that alters activity in other neurons

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15
Q

What are neuropeptides?

A

Brain chemicals that alter the activity of other neurons

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16
Q

What is the difference between neurotransmitters and neuropeptides?

A

Neurotransmitters carry messages directly, while neuropeptides regulate activity. An example of this would be when you feel pain, endorphins, which are neuropeptides, are released to ease the pain. Neurotransmitters tell you that the pain is actually there, so you can move away/avoid it

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17
Q

What is a neural network?

A

An interlinked collection of neurons that processes information in the brain

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18
Q

What is neuroplasticity?

A

The capacity of the brain to change in response to experience

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19
Q

What is the central nervous system?

A

The brain and spinal cord

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20
Q

What is the peripheral nervous system?

A

All parts of the nervous system that extend beyond the brain and spinal cord

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21
Q

What is a nerve?

A

A bundle of neuron axons

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22
Q

What is a neurilemma?

A

A tunnel that covers nerves, creating a channel for them to regrow on

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23
Q

What is the somatic nervous system?

A

Links spinal cord with skeletal muscles + sense organs (controls voluntary behavior such as throwing football)

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24
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system?

A

Carries information to and from internal organs and glands

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25
Q

What is the sympathetic branch?

A

The emergency system that switches on during high pressure situations; prepares body for flight or fight response

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26
Q

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Quiets the body; active after emotional event; keeps vital processes such as heart rate at moderate levels

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27
Q

How many spinal nerves are there?

A

31

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28
Q

How many cranial nerves are there?

A

12

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29
Q

What is a reflex arc?

A

Simple behavior, where stimulus provokes automatic response (moving hand away when it touches something hot). Occurs within spinal cord without help from brain

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30
Q

What is neurogenesis?

A

The production of new brain cells

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31
Q

What is a CT scan?

A

A computer enhanced X-ray of the brain or body

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32
Q

What is an MRI scan?

A

An imaging technique that results in a 3 dimensional image of the brain or body based on its response to a magnetic field

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33
Q

What is localization of function?

A

The research strategy of linking specific structures in the brain with specific psychological or behavioral functions

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34
Q

What is a clinical case study?

A

A detailed investigation of a single person

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35
Q

What is ESB?

A

Electrical stimulation of the brain; direct electrical stimulation and activation of brain tissue

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36
Q

What is an electrode?

A

A device used to electrically stimulate or destroy nerve tissue or record its activity

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37
Q

What is ablation?

A

Surgical removal of parts of the brain

38
Q

What is deep lesioning?

A

Removal of brain tissue with use of an electrode

39
Q

What is an electroencephalograph

A

A device that detects and records electrical activity in the brain

40
Q

What is a positron emission tomography?

A

An imaging technique that results in a computer generated image of brain activity based on glucose consumption in the brain

41
Q

What is a functional MRI?

A

An MRI technique that makes brain activity visible

42
Q

What is the cerebral cortex?

A

The outer, wrinkled layer of the brain

43
Q

What is corticalization?

A

An increase in the size and wrinkling of the cortex

44
Q

What connects the cerebral hemispheres of the cortex?

A

The corpus callosum

45
Q

What is a split brain operation?

A

Cutting the corpus callosum, which essentially creates two brains in one body

46
Q

What is the right brain good at?

A

Perceptual skills such as recognizing patterns and faces; putting together a puzzle

47
Q

What is the left brain good at?

A

Language, math, judging time, etc.

48
Q

How does the left brain process information?

A

Sequentially, broken into parts

49
Q

How does the right brain process information?

A

Simultaneously and holistically

50
Q

What does the frontal lobe do?

A

Responsible for higher mental abilities

51
Q

What does the parietal lobe do?

A

Responsible for sensation such as touch and pressure

52
Q

What does the occipital lobe do?

A

Responsible for vision

53
Q

What does the cerebellum do?

A

Responsible for posture, coordination, memory of skills + habits

54
Q

What does the temporal lobe do?

A

Responsible for hearing and language

55
Q

What is the primary motor area?

A

Area of brain associated with control of movement

56
Q

What is the association area?

A

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not primarily sensory or motor in function

57
Q

What is aphasia?

A

A speech problem that results from brain damage

58
Q

What is Broca’s area?

A

A language area related to grammar and pronunciation

59
Q

What does damage to the Broca’s area do?

A

Causes motor aphasia, which makes speech very slow (seep for sleep)

60
Q

What is the prefrontal cortex?

A

Area of the brain involved in sense of self, reasoning, and planning

61
Q

What is the primary somatosensory area?

A

An area of the parietal lobes that receives body sensations

62
Q

What is the primary auditory area?

A

Part of the temporal lobe where auditory information is first registered

63
Q

What is Wernicke’s area?

A

Temporal lobe area related to language comprehension

64
Q

What is the primary visual area?

A

Part of the occipital lobe that first receives input from the eyes

65
Q

What is visual agnosia?

A

Inability to identify seen objects

66
Q

What is facial agnosia?

A

Inability to perceive familiar faces

67
Q

What is the subcortex?

A

All brain structures below cerebral cortex

68
Q

What is the brainstem?

A

Areas of brain including cerebellum, medulla, pons, and reticular formation

69
Q

What is the medulla?

A

Structure that connects brain to spinal cord and controls vital life functions (heartbeat, breathing)

70
Q

What is the pons?

A

Area on brainstem that acts as a bridge between the medulla and other structures

71
Q

What is the reticular formation?

A

Network in medull and brainstem that is associated with attention, alertness, and some reflexes

72
Q

What is the reticular activating system?

A

Part of the reticular formation that activates the cerebral cortex

73
Q

What is the thalamus?

A

Structure that relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex

74
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

Area of brain that regulates emotional behaviors and motives

75
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

System in the brain that is linked with emotional response (includes thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus)

76
Q

What is the amygdala?

A

Part of limbic system that controls fear responses

77
Q

What is the hippocampus?

A

Part of limbic system associated with storing memories

78
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

Glands whose secretions pass directly into the bloodstream or lymph system

79
Q

What is a hormone?

A

Glandular secretion that affects bodily functions or behavior

80
Q

What is the pituitary gland?

A

Gland whose hormones influence other endocrine glands

81
Q

What is the pineal gland?

A

Gland in the brain that helps regulate body rhythms and sleep cycles

82
Q

What is melatonin?

A

Hormone released by the pineal gland in response to daily cycles of light and dark

83
Q

What is the thyroid gland?

A

Endocrine gland that helps regulate the rate of metabolism

84
Q

What is acromegaly?

A

Condition caused by too much release of growth hormone late in the growth period, creating enlarged arms, hands, feet, and facial bones

85
Q

What is the thyroid gland?

A

Gland that helps regulate metabolism

86
Q

What is hyperthyroidism?

A

Overactive thyroid; tends to be thin, tense, excitable, nervous

87
Q

What is hypothyroidism?

A

Underactive thyroid; causes inactivity, drowsiness, depression, obesity

88
Q

What is epinephrine?

A

Adrenal hormone that arouses the body, associated with fear (known as adrenaline)

89
Q

What is norepinephrine?

A

Adrenal hormone that tends to arouse the body, associated with anger (known as noradrenaline)

90
Q

What are the adrenal glands?

A

Glands that arouse body, affect sexual function, adjust body to stress, regulate salt balance

Psychology 12 AP (8 decks)

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