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Psychology 101 > Chapter 3 > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Flashcards

1
Q

neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other to perform information-processing tasks

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2
Q

cell body (soma)

A

largest component of the neuron that coordinates the information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive

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3
Q

dendrite

A

receive information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body

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4
Q

axon

A

carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

an insulating layer of fatty material

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6
Q

glial cells

A

support cells found in the nervous system

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7
Q

synapse

A

junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another

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8
Q

sensory neurons

A

receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord

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9
Q

motor neurons

A

carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement

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10
Q

interneurons

A

connect sensory-, motor-, or other inter-neurons

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11
Q

resting potential

A

the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron’s cell membrane

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12
Q

action potential

A

an electric signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron’s axon to a synapse

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13
Q

refractory period

A

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated

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14
Q

terminal buttons

A

knoblike structures at the end of an axon

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15
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron’s dendrites

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16
Q

receptors

A

parts of the cell membrane that receive neurotransmitters and either initiate or prevent a new electric signal

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17
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

a neurotransmitter involved in a number of functions, including voluntary motor control

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18
Q

dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter that regulates motor behaviour, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal

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19
Q

glutamate

A

major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

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20
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

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21
Q

norepinephrine

A

involved in states of vigilance, or a heightened awareness of dangers in the environment

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22
Q

serotonin

A

involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, and aggressive behaviour

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23
Q

endorphins

A

chemicals that act within the pain pathways and emotion centres of the brain (endogenous morphine)

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24
Q

agonists

A

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

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25
antagonists
drugs that diminish the function of a neurotransmitter
26
nervous system
an interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body
27
central nervous system (CNS)
composed of the brain and spinal cord
28
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
connects the central nervous system to the body's organs and muscles
29
somatic nervous system
a set of nerves that conveys information between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system
30
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
a set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands
31
sympathetic nervous system
a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations
32
parasympathetic nervous system
helps the body return to a normal resting state
33
spinal reflexes
simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions
34
reflex arc
a neural pathway that controls reflex actions
35
hindbrain
an area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
36
medulla
an extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration
37
reticular formation
regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal
38
cerebellum
a large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills
39
pons
a structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
40
tectum
orients an organism in the environment using senses
41
tegmentum
involved in movement and arousal
42
cerebral cortex
the outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye, and divided into two hemispheres
43
subcortical structures
areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the centre of the brain
44
thalamus
relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex
45
hypothalamus
regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behaviour
46
hippocampus
critical for creating new memories and intergrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex
47
amygdala
located at the tip of each horn of the hippocampus, ,plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories
48
basal ganglia
a set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements
49
endocrine system
a network of glands that produce and secrete into the bloodstream chemical messages known as hormones, which influence a wide variety of basic functions, including metabolism, growth, and sexual development
50
pituitary gland
"master gland" of the body's hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body
51
corpus callosum
connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemisphere
52
occipital lobe
processes visual information
53
parietal lobe
located in front of the occipital lobe, it carries out functions that process information about touch
54
temporal lobe
located on the lower side of each hemisphere, it is responsible for hearing and language
55
frontal lobe
sits behind the forebrain, has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
56
association areas
composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex
57
mirror neurons
active when an animal performs a behaviour, such as reaching for or manipulating an object, and are also activated when another animal observes that animal performing the same behaviour
58
gene
major unit of hereditary transmission
59
chromosomes
strands of DNA wound around each other in a double-helix configuration
60
epigenetics
study of environmental influences that determine whether or not genes are expressed, or the degree to which they are expressed, without altering the basic DNA sequences that constitute the genes themselves
61
epigenetic marks
chemical modifications to DNA that can turn genes on or off
62
DNA methylation
adding a methyl group to DNA
63
histone modification
adding chemical modifications to proteins called histones that are involved in packaging DNA
64
heritability
a measure of the variability of behavioural traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors
65
electroencephalograph (EEG)
a device used to record electrical activity in the brain

Psychology 101 (4 decks)

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