Chapter 2 quiz Flashcards
neuron
a nerve cell
Biological psychology
the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes
dendrites
a neurons bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
axon
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
myelin sheath
a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, they may also play a role in learning and thinking
action potential
a neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
synapose
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
endorphins
“morphine within” natural, oplate, neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
nervous system
the bodys speedy electrochemicalcommunication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system
central nervous system
the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
nerves
bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
interneurons
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the bodys skeletal muscle
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
sympathetic nervous sytem
the division of the autonomic nervous system arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
reflex
a simple, autonomic response to a sensory stimulation
endocrine system
the bodys slow chemical communication system, a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress
pituitary glands
the endocrine systems most influential gland
lesion
tissue destruction
brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain
medulla
he base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing
thalamus
the brains sensory router, located on the top of the brainstem, it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmit replies to the cerebellum and medulla
reticular formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and plays an important role in controlling arousal
electroencephalogram
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface
pet scan
a visual display of brain activity that defects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
mri
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue
fmri
a technique for revealing blood flow and therefore brain activity by comparing successive mri scans
cerebellum
the little brain at the rear of the brainstem
limbic system
neural system located below the cerebral hemisphere
amygdala
two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system , linked to emotion
hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus,it directs several maintenance activities
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemisphere
frontal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead.
parietal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head.
occipitar lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of your head.
temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
sensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
plasticity
the brains ability to change
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motoror sensory functions
neurogenesis
theformation of new neurons
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them
environment
every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
behavior genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of dna molecules that contain the genes
dna
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
genes
the biochemical units of heredity hat make up chromosomes
identical twins
twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two
fraternal twins
twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a dna change
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind
natural selection
the principle that among the range of inherited trait variations
