Chapter 2- The Biology of Mind and Consciousness Flashcards
a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
biological psychology
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
neuron
neuron extensions that receive messages and conduct them toward the cell body
dendrites
neuron extension that sends messages to other neurons or cells
axon
a nerve impulse
action potential
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory.
glial cells (glia)
junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron
synapse
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
threshold
a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing
all-or-none response
neuron-produced chemicals that cross synapse to carry messages to other neurons or cells
neurotransmitters
chemical, such as opium, morphine, or heroin, that depresses neuron activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
opiate
“morphine within”— natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
endorphins
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems
nervous systems
the brain and spinal cord
central nervous system (CNS)
the sensory and motor neurons connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
nerves
neuron that carries incoming information from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system
sensory neuron
neuron that carries outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands
motor neuron
neurons within the brain and spinal cord; communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs
interneuron
peripheral nervous system division controlling the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system
somatic nervous system
peripheral nervous system division controlling the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). its sympathetic subdivision arouses; its parasympathetic
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
autonomic nervous system subdivision that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
sympathetic nervous system
autonomic nervous system subdivision that calms the body, conserving its energy
parasympathetic nervous system
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as he knee-jerk response
reflex
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
endocrine
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
hormones
pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in time of stress
adrenal glands
most influential endocrine gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
pituitary gland
automatic survival functions (e.g. breathing)
brainstem
device that uses electrodes placed on the scalp to record waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. (the record of those brain waves is an electroencephalogram
EEG (electroencephalograph)
a view of brain activity showing where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
PET (positron emission tomography) scan
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissues. MRI scans show brain anatomy
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.
fMRI (functional MRI)
heartbeat, breathing
medulla
directs sensory messages
thalamus
arousal
reticular formation
coordinating movement
cerebellum
(hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus)
limbic system
emotion
amygdala
directs maintenance activities (e.g., eating)
hypothalamus
information- processing center
cerebral cortex
thinking
frontal lobe
hearing
temporal lobe
touch
parietal lobe
vision
occipital lobe
cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes; controls voluntary movements
motor cortex
cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes; registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
somatosensory cortex
false sensory experience, such as hearing something in the absence of an external auditory stimulus
hallucination
cerebral cortex areas involved primarily in higher mental functions, such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
association areas
the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
plasticity
formation of new neurons
neurogenesis
large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
corpus callosum
condition in which the brain’s two hemispheres are isolated by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them
split brain
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
consciousness
focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
selective attention
failure to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
inattentional blindness
failure to notice changes in the environment
change blindness
internal biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for examples, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle
circadian rhythm
recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep , because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active
REM (rapid eye movement) sleep
relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
alpha waves
periodic, natural loss of consciousness as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation
sleep
the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
delta waves
recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
insomnia
sleep disorder in which a person has uncontrollable sleep attacks, sometimes lapsing directly into REM sleep
narcolepsy
a sleep disorder in which a sleeping person repeated stops breathing until blood oxygen is so low it awakens the person just long enough to draw a breath
sleep apnea
sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind
dream
according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream
manifest content
according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream
latent content
the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivating
REM rebound
