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AP PSYCH > Chapter 2 - Neuroscience And Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 2 - Neuroscience And Behavior Flashcards

0
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system

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1
Q

Biological psychology

A

Branch of psych concerned with the links between biology and behavior

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2
Q

Dendrite

A

Extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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3
Q

Axon

A

Extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, thru which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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4
Q

Myelin [MY-uh-lin] sheath

A

Layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables greater transmission speed or neural impulses

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5
Q

Action potential

A

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

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6
Q

Resting potential

A

Fluid interior of axon is negatively charged & the outside is positively charged

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7
Q

Selectively permeable

A

Axon’s surface is selective about what it allows in

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8
Q

Threshold

A

Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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9
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

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10
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons

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11
Q

Acetylcholine [ah-seat-el-KO-leen] (ACh)

A

Neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction

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12
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural neurotransmitter a linked to pain control and to pleasure

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13
Q

Agonists

A

Excite neurons’ firing

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14
Q

Antagonists

A

Inhibit neurons’ firing

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15
Q

Blood-brain barrier

A

Enables the brain to fence out unwanted chemicals circulating in the blood

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16
Q

Nervous system

A

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

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17
Q

Central nervous system

A

Brain and spinal cord

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18
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

Sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

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19
Q

Nerves

A

Neural “cables” containing many axons; they are part of PNS and connect the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs

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20
Q

Sensory neurons

A

Neurons that carry incoming info from the sense receptors to the CNS

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21
Q

Motor neurons

A

Neurons that carry outgoing info from the CNS to the muscles and glands

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22
Q

Interneurons

A

CNS neurons that internally communicate an intervene between sensory inputs and motor inputs

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23
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

Division of PNS that controls body’s skeletal muscles; also called the skeletal nervous system

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24
Autonomic nervous system
Part of PNS that controls glands and muscles of internal organs; sympathetic division arouses & parasympathetic division calms
25
Sympathetic nervous system
Division of the autonomic nervous system that around the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
26
Parasympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
27
Reflex
A simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
28
Neural networks
Interconnected neural cells
29
Endocrine
Body's "slow" chemical communication system; set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
30
Hormones
Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactures by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
31
Adrenal glands
Pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys
32
Pituitary gland
Endocrine system's most influential gland; under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and control other endocrine glands
33
Lesion
Tissue destruction
34
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface
35
PET (positron emission tomography) scan
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
36
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types if soft tissues; allows us to structures within the brain
37
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)
A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; shows brain function
38
Brainstem
Responsible for automatic survival functions
39
Medulla
Base of brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
40
Reticular formation
Nerve network in brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
41
Thalamus
Brain's sensory switchboard; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
42
Limbic system
Associated w/emotions and drives; includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
43
Cerebellum
"Little brain" Attached to rear of brainstem; processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
44
Amygdala
Two neural clusters that are components of limbic system and are linked to emotion
45
Hypothalamus
Directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion
46
Cerebral cortex
Covers cerebral hemispheres; body's ultimate control and info processing center; higher processing
47
Glial cells
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
48
Frontal lobes
Just behind forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
49
Parietal lobes
Part of cerebral cortex; receives sensory input for touch and body position
50
Occipital lobes
Part of cerebral cortex; includes visual areas; receives visual info from opposite visual field
51
Temporal lobes
Part of cerebral cortex; includes auditory areas; receives auditory info
52
Motor cortex
Voluntary movements
53
Sensory cortex
Body touch and movement
54
Association areas
Not involved in primary motor or sensory function; higher mental functions (learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking)
55
Aphasia
Impairment of language
56
Broca's area
Controls language expression (left frontal lobe)
57
Wernik's area
Controls language reception (left temporal lobe)
58
Plasticity
Brain's capacity for modification
59
Corpus callosum
Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
60
Split brain
Condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers between them

AP PSYCH (2 decks)

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