Chapter 2 Vocabulary

Question 1

Biological Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.

Question 2

Neuron

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Dendrite

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Axon

Answer 4

The neuron’s extension that passes messages though its branching terminal fibers that form junctions with other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Question 5

Action Potential

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Threshold

Answer 6

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Question 7

Synapse

Answer 7

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 call the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

Question 8

Neurotransmitters

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

Endorphins

Answer 9

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Question 10

Nervous System

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Central Nervous System

CNS

Answer 11

The brain and spinal cord

Question 12

Peripheral Nervous System

PNS

Answer 12

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Question 13

Nerves

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Sensory Neurons

Answer 14

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

Question 15

Motor Neurons

Answer 15

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

Question 16

Interneurons

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 17

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.

Question 18

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 18

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs.

Question 19

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 19

The division of the Autonomic Nervous System that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

Question 20

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Reflex

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Endocrine System

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Hormones

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Adrenal Glands

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Pituitary Gland

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Lesion

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Brainstem

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Electroencephalogram

EEG

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Positron Emission Tomography Scat

PET Scan

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRI

Answer 30

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; shows brain ANATOMY.

Question 31

Functional MRI

fMRI

Answer 31

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; shows brain FUNCTION.

Question 32

Medulla

Answer 32

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

Question 33

Thalamus

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

Reticular Formation

Answer 34

A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.

Question 35

Cerebellum

Answer 35

The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include some nonverbal learning, processing sensory input, and coordinating movement output and balance.

Question 36

Limbic System

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Amygdala

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Hypothalamus

Answer 38

A neural structure lying below 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.

Question 39

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Frontal Lobes

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Parietal Lobes

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Occipital Lobes

Answer 42

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual field.

Question 43

Temporal Lobes

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Motor Cortex

Answer 44

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

Question 45

Sensory Cortex

Answer 45

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

Question 46

Association Areas

Answer 46

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, speaking, and integration information.

Question 47

Aphasia

Answer 47

Impairment of language, usually caused by left-hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (understanding).

Question 48

Broca’s Area

Answer 48

Controls language expression; an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movement involved in speech.

Question 49

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 49

Controls language reception; a brain area, usually in the left temporal lobe, that is involved in language comprehension and expression.

Question 50

Plasticity

Answer 50

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.

Question 51

Neurogenesis

Answer 51

The formation of new neurons

Question 52

Corpus Callosum

Answer 52

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

Question 53

Split Brain

Answer 53

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.