Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

cell body (soma)

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

dendrite

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

axon

A

carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

myelin sheath

A

an insulating layer of fatty material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

glial cells

A

support cells found in the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

synapse

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

sensory neurons

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

motor neurons

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

interneurons

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

resting potential

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

action potential

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

refractory period

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

terminal buttons

A

knoblike structures at the end of an axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

neurotransmitters

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

receptors

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

dopamine

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

glutamate

A

major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

norepinephrine

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

serotonin

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

endorphins

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

agonists

A

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

antagonists

A

drugs that diminish the function of a neurotransmitter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

nervous system

A

an interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

composed of the brain and spinal cord

28
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

connects the central nervous system to the body’s organs and muscles

29
Q

somatic nervous system

A

a set of nerves that conveys information between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system

30
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

a set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands

31
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations

32
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

helps the body return to a normal resting state

33
Q

spinal reflexes

A

simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions

34
Q

reflex arc

A

a neural pathway that controls reflex actions

35
Q

hindbrain

A

an area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord

36
Q

medulla

A

an extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration

37
Q

reticular formation

A

regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal

38
Q

cerebellum

A

a large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills

39
Q

pons

A

a structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

40
Q

tectum

A

orients an organism in the environment using senses

41
Q

tegmentum

A

involved in movement and arousal

42
Q

cerebral cortex

A

the outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye, and divided into two hemispheres

43
Q

subcortical structures

A

areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the centre of the brain

44
Q

thalamus

A

relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex

45
Q

hypothalamus

A

regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behaviour

46
Q

hippocampus

A

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
Q

amygdala

A

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
Q

basal ganglia

A

a set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements

49
Q

endocrine system

A

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
Q

pituitary gland

A

“master gland” of the body’s hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body

51
Q

corpus callosum

A

connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemisphere

52
Q

occipital lobe

A

processes visual information

53
Q

parietal lobe

A

located in front of the occipital lobe, it carries out functions that process information about touch

54
Q

temporal lobe

A

located on the lower side of each hemisphere, it is responsible for hearing and language

55
Q

frontal lobe

A

sits behind the forebrain, has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

56
Q

association areas

A

composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex

57
Q

mirror neurons

A

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
Q

gene

A

major unit of hereditary transmission

59
Q

chromosomes

A

strands of DNA wound around each other in a double-helix configuration

60
Q

epigenetics

A

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
Q

epigenetic marks

A

chemical modifications to DNA that can turn genes on or off

62
Q

DNA methylation

A

adding a methyl group to DNA

63
Q

histone modification

A

adding chemical modifications to proteins called histones that are involved in packaging DNA

64
Q

heritability

A

a measure of the variability of behavioural traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors

65
Q

electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

a device used to record electrical activity in the brain

Psychology 101 (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions