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Psychology 101 (Ethan Neu) > Chapter 2 Psychology > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

A subcortical structure that plays a key role in allowing new information to be stored in the brains memory banks

A

Hippocampus

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2
Q

A set of brain areas, including the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other areas, that has long been thought of as being involved in key aspects of emotion and motivation, namely, those underlying fighting, fleeing, feeding, and sex

A

Limbic System

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3
Q

The shifting change in charge that moves down the axon

A

Resting potential

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4
Q

An automatic behavioral response to an event

A

Reflex

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5
Q

The field in which researchers attempt to determine the extent to which the differences among people’s behaviors and psychological characteristics are due to their different genes or to differences in their environments.

A

behavioral genetics

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6
Q

The observable structure and behavior of an organism

A

phenotype

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7
Q

The gyrus immediately in front of the central sulcus; it controls fine movements and is organized by body part. It is also called the primary motor cortex.

A

Motor Strip

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8
Q

The convoluted pinkish-gray outer layer of the brain, where most mental processes arise

A

Cerebral Cortex

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9
Q

The lowest part of the lower brainstem, which plays a central role in the automatic control of breathing, swallowing, and blood circulation

A

medulla

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10
Q

A chemical that is produced by a gland and can act as a neurotransmitter substance

A

A hormone

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11
Q

Brain-scanning techniques that produce a picture of the structure or functioning of regions of the brain

A

Neuroimaging

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12
Q

A chemical that blocks the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin

A

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

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13
Q

A chemical that blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter

A

antagonist

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14
Q

The place where an axon of one neuron sends signals to the membrane (on a dendrite or cell body): includes the sending portions of an axon, the receiving portions of the receiving neuron, and the space between them

A

Synapse

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15
Q

States that if the neuron is sufficiently stimulated, it fires, sending the action potential all the way down the axon and releasing chemicals from the terminal buttons; either the action potential occurs or it doesn’t

A

all-or-none law

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16
Q

A fatty substance that helps impulses efficiently travel down the axon

A

Myelin

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17
Q

A brain structure that sits under the thalamus and plays a central role in controlling eating and drinking and in regulating the body’s temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, sexual behavior, and hormones

A

Hypothalamus

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18
Q

A large structure at the base of the brain that is concerned in part with physical coordination, estimating time, and paying attention

A

Cerebellum

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19
Q

The central part of a neuron (or other cell), which contains the nucleus.

A

Cell Body

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20
Q

A structure at the end of the branch of an axon that can release chemicals into the space between neurons.

A

Terminal Button

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21
Q

Neurotransmitter substances released by the receiving neuron that then influence the activity of the sending neuron.

A

Endogenous Cannabinoids

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22
Q

Bulges between sulci in the cerebral cortex.

A

gyri

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23
Q

The brain’s ability to change as a result of experience.

A

plasticity

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24
Q

Part of the peripheral nervous system that consists of neurons in the sensory organs (such as the eyes and ears) that convey information to the brain as well as neurons that actually trigger muscles and glands.

A

Somatic Nervous system

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25
Q

The system that makes hormones that affect many bodily functions and that also provides the CNS with information.

A

Neuroendocrine system

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26
Q

A technique in which the brain is stimulated from outside by putting a coil on a person’s head and delivering a magnetic pulse (or series of magnetic pulses); the magnetic fields are so strong that they make neurons under the coil fire.

A

transcranial magnetic stimulation

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27
Q

Occurs when the genetically shaped behavioral tendencies of parents or siblings produce an environment that is passively received by the child

A

Passive Interaction

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28
Q

A subcortical structure that receives signals from sensory and motor systems and plays a crucial role in attention, sleep, and other functions critical to daily life; often thought of as a switching center.

A

Thalamus

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29
Q

A hormone produced by the outer layer of the adrenal glands that helps the body cope with the extra energy demands of stress.

A

Cortisol

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30
Q

According to a historical way of organizing brain structures, a unit of the brain that includes the cortex, thalamus, limbic system, and basal ganglia.

A

Forebrain

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31
Q

a hormone that caused girls to develop breasts and is involved in the menstrual cycle

A

Estrogen

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32
Q

A hormone that causes males to develop facial hair and other external sexual characteristics, and to build up muscle volume

A

Testosterone

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33
Q

A chemical that mimics the effects of a neurotransmitter by activating a type of receptor

A

agonist

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34
Q

An atom that has a positive or negative charge

A

ion

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35
Q

The brain lobes under the temples, in front of the ears; among their many functions are processing sound, entering new information into memory, storing visual memories, and comprehending language.

A

Temporal Lobes

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36
Q

A study in which the characteristics of children adopted at birth are compared to those of their adoptive parents or siblings versus their biological parents or siblings.

A

Adoption study

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37
Q

The set of structures at the base of the brain–including the midbrain, medulla, and pons–that feed into and receive information from the spinal cord

A

Brainstem

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38
Q

The large bundle of axons that connects the two halves of the brain.

A

corpus callosum

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39
Q

A stretch of the DNA molecule that produces a specific protein.

A

Gene

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40
Q

A neuron that is connected to other neurons, not to sense organs or muscles.

A

Interneuron

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41
Q

The brain lobes located behind the forehead; critically involved in planning, memory search, motor control, speech control, reasoning, and emotions.

A

Frontal Lobes

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42
Q

The autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.

A

Peripheral Nervous System

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43
Q

A left or right half-brain, shaped roughly like half a sphere

A

Cerebral Hemisphere

44
Q

the skin that surrounds a cell

A

cell membrane

45
Q

The brain lobes at the top, rear of the brain; they are involved in attention, arithmetic, touch, and registering spatial location.

A

Parietal lobes

46
Q

The sending of the neuron; the long, cable-like structure extending from the cell body

A

Axon

47
Q

A site on a dendrite or cell body where a neurotransmitter molecule attaches itself; like a lock that is opened by one key, a receptor receives only one type of neurotransmitter.

A

receptor

48
Q

A gene-based characteristic that increases an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce successfully

A

adaptation

49
Q

The flexible rope of neurons and their connections that runs inside the backbone (spinal column)

A

Spinal Cord

50
Q

The technique in which tiny probes called micro-electrodes are placed in the brain and used to record neural firing rates

A

Single-cell recording

51
Q

Sets of operations that work together to carry out a function, such as attention, perception, or memory

A

Mental processes

52
Q

The gyrus immediately behind the central sulcus; it registers sensations on the body and is organized by body part.

A

Somatosensory strip

53
Q

The transmission of characteristics by the join action of combinations of genes working together; also called polygenetic inheritance

A

Complex inheritance

54
Q

The genetic code within an organism

A

Genotype

55
Q

A chemical that blocks the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine

A

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIS)

56
Q

The “master gland” that regulates other glands but is itself controlled by the brain, primarily via connections from the hypothalamus.

A

Pituitary Gland

57
Q

A set of neurons that works together to receive input, operates on it in some way, and produces specific output

A

Brain circuit

58
Q

A tracing of the changed over time in electrical activity of the brain

A

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

59
Q

A bridge between the medulla and midbrain, which also connects the upper parts of the brain to the cerebellum

A

Pons

60
Q

According to a historical way of organizing brain structures, a unit of the brain that includes the medulla, pons, cerebellum, and parts of the reticular formation

A

Hindbrain

61
Q

From the same egg and having virtually identical genes

A

monozygotic

62
Q

A technique for assessing brain activity that relies on recording magnetic waved produced by neural activity

A

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

63
Q

Three protective layered membraned that cover the brain

A

meninges

64
Q

Part of the autonomic nervous system that is “next to” the sympathetic nervous system and that tends to counteract its effects.

A

Parasympathetic nervous system

65
Q

Occurs when genetically influenced characteristics (both behavioral and physical) induce other people to behave in particular ways

A

Evocative (or reactive) interaction

66
Q

A collection of small structures in the brainstem, organized into two main parts: the reticular activating system and another part that is important in producing autonomic nervous system reactions.

A

Reticular Formation

67
Q

A subcortical structure that plays a special role in fear and is involved in other types of strong emotions, such as anger

A

Amygdala

68
Q

A chemical that carries a signal from the terminal button of one neuron to the dendrite of cell body of another; often referred to as a a neurotransmitter.

A

Neurotransmitter substance

69
Q

A study that compares identical and fraternal twins to determine the relative contribution of genes to the variability in a characteristic or ability.

A

Twin Study

70
Q

Gene-based changed in the characteristics or abilities of members of a species over successive generations

A

Evolution

71
Q

The transmission of characteristics by individual elements of inheritance (not known to be genes), each acting seperately

A

Mendelian inheritance

72
Q

A cause of brain damage that occurs when blood (with its life-giving nutrients and oxygen) fails to reach part of the brain, causing neurons in that area to die.

A

Stroke

73
Q

A technique that uses magnetic properties of atoms to take sharp pictures of the three-dimensional structure of the brain.

A

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

74
Q

Consists of nerves that are attached to muscles that can be used voluntarily (striated muscles)

A

Somatic motor system

75
Q

A neuron that sends signals to muscles in order to control movement (and also to bodily organs, such as glands).

A

motor neuron

76
Q

A set of brain circuits that work together to accomplish a particular task

A

Brain system

77
Q

From different eggs and sharing only as many genes as any pair of siblings—on average, half

A

Dizygotic

78
Q

The gap in the synapse between the axon of one neuron and the membrane of another, across which communication occurs

A

Synaptic Cleft

79
Q

A cells that receives signals from sense organs or other neurons, processes these signals, and sends the signals to muscles, organs, or other neurons; the basic unit of the nervous system.

A

Neuron

80
Q

Controls the smooth muscles in the body, some glandular functions, and many of the body’s self-regulating activities, such as digestion and circulation

A

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

81
Q

A tree-like part of a neuron that receives messages from the axon of other neurons.

A

Dendrite

82
Q

The four major parts of each cerebral hemisphere: occipital, temporal, parietal, and frontal; each lobe is present in each hemisphere.

A

lobes

83
Q

A person whose corpus callosum has been severed for medical reasons, so that neural signals no longer pass from one cerebral hemisphere to the other.

A

Split-brain patient

84
Q

A person whose corpus callosum has been severed for medical reasons, so that neural signals no longer pass from one cerebral hemisphere to the other.

A

Split-brain pattern

85
Q

The brain lobes at the back of the head; concerned entirely with different aspects of vision.

A

occipital lobes

86
Q

A neuroimaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of brain structures using X-rays.

A

Computer-assisted tomography (CT, formerly CAT)

87
Q

A type of cell that helps neurons to form both synapses and connections when the brain is developing, influences the communication among neurons, and generally helps in the “care and feeding” of neurons.

A

glial cell

88
Q

A neuroimaging technique that uses small amounts of a radioactive substance to track blood flow or energy consumption in the brain.

A

Positron emission tomography (PET)

89
Q

A type of magnetic resonance imaging that detects the amount of oxygen being brought to particular places in the brain, which indicated how active those neurons are.

A

Functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI)

90
Q

A process whereby certain connections among neurons are eliminated.

A

pruning

91
Q

Parts of the brain located under the cerebral cortex.

A

subcortical structures.

92
Q

Subcortical structures that play a role in planning, learning new habits, and producing movement.

A

basal ganglia

93
Q

Part of the autonomic nervous system that readies an animal to fight or to flee by speeding up the heart, increasing the breathing rate to deliver more oxygen, dilating the pupils, producing sweat, decreasing salivation, inhibiting activity in the stomach, and relaxing the bladder.

A

Sympathetic nervous system

94
Q

A region of impaired brain tissue

A

lesion

95
Q

The process by which surplus neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft is reabsorbed back into the sending neuron so that the neuron can effectively fire again.

A

Reuptake

96
Q

Creases in the cerebral cortex

A

sucli

97
Q

Knowledge, beliefs (including ideas, explanations, and expectations), desires (such as hopes, goals, and needs), and feelings (such as fears, guilts, and attractions).

A

Mental contents

98
Q

The negative charge within a neuron when it is at rest.

A

Resting Potential

99
Q

According to a historical way of organizing brain structures, a unit of the brain that includes parts of the reticular formation as well as the brainstem structures that lie between forebrain and hindbrain.

A

midbrain

100
Q

A machine that records electrical activity in the brain.

A

electroencephalograph

101
Q

The system of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands that is activated by stress, injury, and injection and that works to fight off infection

A

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

102
Q

The degree to which the variability of a characteristic or ability in a population is due to genetics–given a specific environment

A

heritability

103
Q

A neuron that responds to signals from sensory organs and transmits those signals to the brain and spinal cord

A

sensory neurons

104
Q

Occurs when people choose, partly based on genetic tendencies, to put themselves in specific situations and to avoid others.

A

active interaction

105
Q

Occurs when individuals with gene-based characteristics that contribute to survival have more offspring, and over time those characteristics come to be widespread in a population

A

natural selection

106
Q

The spinal cord and the brain

A

Central nervous system (CNS)

Psychology 101 (Ethan Neu) (3 decks)

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