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AP Psychology > Chapter 2 The Biology of the Mind > Flashcards

Chapter 2 The Biology of the Mind Flashcards

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0
Q

biological perspective

A

concerned with the link between biology and behavior. Includes psychologists working in neuroscience, behavior genetics, and evolutionary psychology. These researched may call themselves behavior neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists.

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1
Q

What do phrenology and psychology’s biological perspective have in common?

A

They share a focus on the links between biology and behavior. Phrenology faded because it had no scientific basis–skull bumps don’t reveal mental traits and ability.

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2
Q

neuron

A

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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3
Q

dendrites

A

a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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4
Q

axon

A

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

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6
Q

When a neuron fires an action potential, the information travels through the axon, the dendrites, and the axon’s terminal branches, but not in that order. Place these three structures in the correct order.

A

dendrites, axon, axon terminal

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7
Q

How does our nervous system allow us to experience the difference between a slap and a tap?

A

Stronger stimuli (the slap) cause more neurons to fire and to fire more frequently than happens with weaker stimuli (the tap).

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8
Q

action potential

A

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

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9
Q

threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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10
Q

What happens in the synaptic gap? What is reuptake?

A

Neurons send neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) to one another across this tiny space between one’s neurons terminal branch and the next neuron’s dendrite. In reuptake, a sending neuron reabsorbs the extra neurotransmitters.

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11
Q

synapse

A

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

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12
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

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13
Q

reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

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14
Q

Serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins are all chemical messengers called __________.

A

neurotransmitters

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15
Q

endorphins

A

“morphine within”–natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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16
Q

Curare poisoning paralyzes its victims by blocking ACh receptors involved in muscle movements. Morphine mimics endorphin actions. Which is an agonist, and which is an antagonist?

A

Morphine is an agonist; curare is an antagonist.

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17
Q

nervous system

A

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

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18
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

the brain and the spinal cord

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19
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

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20
Q

nerves

A

bundled axons that form neural “cables”connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

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21
Q

sensory neurons

A

(afferent) neurons that carry information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

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22
Q

motor neurons

A

(efferent) neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

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23
Q

interneurons

A

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

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24
Q

somatic nervous system

A

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the “skeletal nervous system”.

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25
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

26
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

27
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

28
Q

What bodily changes does your autonomic nervous system (ANS) direct before and after you give an important speech?

A

Responding to this challenge, your ANS’s sympathetic division will arouse you. It accelerates your heartbeat, raises your blood pressure and blood sugar, slows your digestion, and cools you with perspiration. After you give the speech, your ANS’s parasympathetic division will reverse these effects.

29
Q

reflex

A

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

30
Q

endocrine system

A

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

31
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

32
Q

adrenal glands

A

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress

33
Q

pituitary gland

A

the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

34
Q

Why is the pituitary gland called the “master gland”?

A

Responding to signals from the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland releases hormones that triggers other endocrine glands to secrete hormones that in turn influence brain and behavior.

35
Q

How are the nervous and endocrine systems alike, and how do they differ?

A

Both of these communication systems produce chemical molecules that act on the body’s receptors to influence our behavior and emotions. The endocrine system, which secretes hormones into the bloodstream, delivers its messages much more slowly than the speedy nervous system, and the effects of the endocrine system’s messages tend to linger much linger than those of the nervous system.

36
Q

lesion

A

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.

37
Q

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

an amplified recording of the waves if electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

38
Q

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

A

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

39
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio eaves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

40
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.

41
Q

brainstem

A

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

42
Q

medulla

A

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

43
Q

thalamus

A

the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

44
Q

reticular formation

A

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and plays an important role in controlling arousal

45
Q

cerebellum

A

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

46
Q

Nerves from the left side of the brain are mostly linked to the __________ side of the body, and vice versa.

A

right

47
Q

In what brain region would damage be most likely to (1) disrupt your ability to skip rope? (2) disrupt your ability to hear and taste? (3) perhaps leave you in a coma? (4) cut off the very breath and heartbeat of life?

A
  1. cerebellum, 2. thalamus, 3. reticular formation, 4. medulla
48
Q

limbic system

A

neural system( including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres associated with emotions and drives

49
Q

amygdala

A

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

50
Q

Electrical stimulation of a cat’s amygdala provokes angry reactions, suggesting the amygdala’s role in aggression. Which ANS division is activated by such stimulation?

A

The sympathetic nervous system

51
Q

hypothalamus

A

a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

52
Q

What are the three key structures of the limbic system, and ehat functions do they serve?

A

(1) the amygdala are involves in aggression and fear responses. (2) The hypothalamus is involved in bodily maintenance, pleasurable rewards, and control of the hormonal system. (3) The hippocampus processes memory.

53
Q

cerebral cortex

A

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

54
Q

Which area of the human brain is most similar to that of less complex animals? Which part of the human brain distinguishes us most from less complex animals?

A

The brainstem; the cerebral cortex

55
Q

glial cells (glia)

A

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

56
Q

frontal lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

57
Q

parietal lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

58
Q

occipital lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

59
Q

temporal lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

60
Q

motor cortex

A

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement

61
Q

sensory cortex

A

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

62
Q

association areas

A

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

AP Psychology (3 decks)

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