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Psychology 201: Exam 1 > Chapter 3 > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the nervous system?

A

The body’s electrochemical communication circuitry.

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2
Q

What are the characteristics of the nervous system?

A

Complexity, integration, adaptability, and electrochemical transmission.

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3
Q

What is the characteristic of complexity?

A

Billions of nerve cells carrying out a multitude of functions (breathing, reading, thinking, etc.).

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4
Q

What is the characteristic of integration?

A

The brain is able to make sense of tons of different types of information at all times.

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5
Q

What is the characteristic of adaptable?

A

The brain is able to adapt to new conditions in order to help us survive (plasticity is the term for this).

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6
Q

What is plasticity?

A

The brain’s physical capacity to change.

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7
Q

What is the characteristic of electrochemical transmission?

A

This is how the brain communicates with the rest of the body. It is a system of electrical signals that trigger the release of chemicals and electrical impulses to communicate with other cells. An impulse will travel down a nerve cell or neuron.

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8
Q

What are afferent nerves?

A

Also known as sensory nerves. Nerves that carry information about the external environment to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors. They communicate external conditions (the sight of a sunrise) and internal conditions (fatigue or hunger).

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9
Q

What are efferent nerves?

A

Also known as motor nerves. Nerves that carry information out of the brain and spinal cord to other areas of the body (muscles, glands, etc.)

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10
Q

What are the two primary divisions of the nervous system?

A

The central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (RNS).

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11
Q

What is the central nervous system?

A

Made up of the brain and spinal cord. More than 99 percent of all nerve cells in our body are located in the CNS.

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12
Q

What is the peripheral nervous system?

A

The network of nerves that connects the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body.

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13
Q

What are the two divisions within the peripheral nervous system?

A

The somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

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14
Q

What is the somatic nervous system?

A

Consists of sensory nerves, whose function is to convey information form the skin and muscles to the CNS about conditions such as pain and temperature, and motor nerves who function is to tell the muscles what to do.

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15
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system?

A

Take messages to and from the body’s internal organs, monitoring such processes as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

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16
Q

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

A

Sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system.

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17
Q

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

A

Arouses the body to mobilize it for action.

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18
Q

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

It calms the body.

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19
Q

What are the two types of cells in the nervous system?

A

Neurons and glial cells

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20
Q

What are neurons?

A

A nerve cell that handles information processing. The brain has 100 billion neurons and each neuron can make as many as 10,000 physical connections with other cells.

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21
Q

What are mirror neurons?

A

Nerve cells that are activated (in human and nonhuman primates) when an action is preformed and when observing the action being preformed. Remember that neurons are specialized and mainly preform one function. However, mirror neurons can seem to preform both functions which is interesting.

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22
Q

What are glial cells?

A

Also known as glia. They provide support, nutritional benefits, and other functions and keep neurons running smoothly. The are not specialized like neurons are. However, there are more glial cells in the nervous system than neurons (10 glial cells for every 1 neuron). Can be seen as the pit crew in the raceway of the nervous system.

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23
Q

What does every neuron have?

A

A cell body, dendrites, and an axon.

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24
Q

What is the cell body of a neruon?

A

The part of the neuron that contains the nucleus, which directs the manufacture of substances that the neuron needs for growth and maintenance.

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25
Q

What are the dendrites of the neuron?

A

Treelike fibers projecting from a neuron, receive information and orient it toward the neuron’s cell body. Most nerve cells have numerous dendrites, which increase their surface area, allowing each neuron to receive input from many other neurons.

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26
Q

What is the axon of the neuron?

A

The part that carries information away from the cell body toward other cells. They are extremely thin and can be very long with many branches. Some may extent more than 3 feet, all the way to the top of the brain to the base of the spinal cord.

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27
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

A layer of cells containing fat, encases and insulates most axons. Because of this, they speed up transmission of nerve impulses. The myelin sheath has developed as the nervous system as evolved because as the brain got larger, it became necessary for information to travel longer distances in the nervous system. Axons needed myelin sheaths to speed up the electrical impulses and convey information rapidly.

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28
Q

What is the nucleus in the cell body?

A

It directs the manufacture of substances the neuron needs for growth and maintenance.

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29
Q

What is resting potential?

A

The stable, negative charge of an inactive neuron.

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30
Q

What is action potential?

A

The brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon.

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31
Q

What is the all or nothing principle?

A

The principle that once the electrical impulse reaches a certain level of intensity (called the threshold) it fires and moves all the way down the axon without losing any intensity.

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32
Q

What are the four steps when a single neuron is activated and fired?

A
  1. Resting potential
  2. Depolarization
  3. Action potential
  4. Refractory period
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33
Q

What is the threshold of a impulse?

A

-55

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34
Q

What are synapse?

A

Tiny spaces between neurons. most synapses lie between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another neuron.

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35
Q

What is the synaptic gap?

A

The gap created by synapses. Before an impulse can cross the synaptic gap, it must be converted into a chemical signal.

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36
Q

What are terminal buttons?

A

Structures at the end of fibers of branches of the axon. Within the terminal button, very tiny synaptic vesicles (scars) store chemicals called neurotransmitters.

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37
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemical substances that are stored in very tiny sacs within the terminal buttons and involved in transmitting information across the synaptic gap to the next neuron.

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38
Q

What happens to the rest of the neurotransmitter after delivering the message?

A

Some of it is used up in the production of energy, and some of it is reabsorbed by the axon that released it to await the next neural impulse.

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39
Q

What is reuptake?

A

When the axon that released the neurotransmitters reabsorbs the left over neurotransmitters once the message was delivered.

40
Q

What is the acetylcholine neurotransmitter?

A

Acetylcholine (ACh) usually stimulates the firing of neurons ad is involved in muscle action, learning, and memory. It is found throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems.

41
Q

What is GABA neurotransmitter?

A

It is Gamma aminobutyric acid and is found throughout the central nervous system. It inhibits neurons from firing. Said to be present in 1/3 of the brain’s synapses.

42
Q

What is Glutamate neurotransmitter?

A

It excites neurons to fire and is especially involved in learning and memory.

43
Q

What is norepinephrine neurotransmitter?

A

Released when stimulated by stress. Inhibits the firing of neurons in the central nervous system and excites the heart, muscles, intestines, and urogential tract.

44
Q

What is the dopamine neurotransmitter?

A

Helps control voluntary movement and affects sleep, mood, attention, learning, and the ability to recognize opportunities for rewarding experiences in the environment.

45
Q

What is the serotonin neurotransmitter?

A

Involved in the regulation of sleep, mood, attention, and learning.

46
Q

What is the endorphins neurotransmitters?

A

Natural opiates (substances that depress nervous system activity and eliminate pain) that mainly stimulate the firing of neurons. Eliminate pain and stimulate the firing of neurons.

47
Q

What is oxytocin neurotransmitter?

A

Also a hormone. Plays an important role in the experience of love and social bonding.

48
Q

What are neural networks?

A

Interconnected pathways of nerve cells that integrate sensory input and motor output.

49
Q

What is brain lesioning?

A

An abnormal disruption i the tissue of the brain resulting from injury or disease.

50
Q

What is an electroencephalograph (EEG)?

A

It records the brain’s electrical activity.

51
Q

What is a single unit recording?

A

Provides information about a single neuron’s electrical activity, a thin probe is inserted in or near an individual neuron.

52
Q

What is computerized axial tomography (CAT)?

A

Produces a three-dimensional image obtained from X rays of the head that are assembled into a composite image by a computer.

53
Q

What is positron-emission tomography (PET scan)?

A

Metabolic changes in the brain related to activity. Measures the amount of glucose in various areas of the brain.

54
Q

What is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?

A

Involves creating a magnetic field around a person’s body and using radio waves to construct images of the person’s tissues and biochemical activities.

55
Q

What is a functional magnetic resonance imaging?

A

Allows scientists to see what is happening in the brain while it is working.

56
Q

What is transcranial magnetic simulation (TMS)?

A

Uses magnets to stimulate parts of the brain.

57
Q

What are the parts of the brain?

A

The hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain.

58
Q

What is the hindbrain?

A

Located at the skull’s rear, the lowest portion of the brain, consisting of the medulla, cerebellum, and pons.

59
Q

What is the medulla?

A

It begins where the spinal cord enters the skull. It controls many vital functions, such as breathing and heartrate. It also regulates our reflexes.

60
Q

What is the pons?

A

It is a bridge in the hindbrain that connects the cerebellum and the brain stem. It contains several clusters of fibers involved in sleep and arousal.

61
Q

What is the brain stem?

A

Consists of the medulla, pons, and much of the hindbrain. Gets its name because it looks like a stem. It connects with the spinal cord at its lower end and then extends upward to encase the reticular formation of the midbrain. This is the most ancient part of the brain; it evolved more than 500 million years ago. Clumps of cells in the brain stem determine alertness and regulate basic survival function such as breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure.

62
Q

What is the cerebullum?

A

It extends from the rear of the hindbrain. It consists of two rounded structures thought to play an important role in motor coordination.

63
Q

What is the midbrain?

A

Located between the hindbrain and forebrain, an area in which many nerve fiber systems ascend and descend to connect the higher and lower portions of the brain; in particular, the midbrain relays information between the brain and the eyes and ears. It is rich in dopamine receptors and because of that this area is involved in reward experiences, pleasures, and also addictions.

64
Q

What is the stantia nigra?

A

It contains large numbers of dopamine producing neurons. It feeds dopamine into the striatum, the central input station for the basal ganglia.

65
Q

What is the reticular formation?

A

A system in the midbrain comprising a diffuse collection or neurons involved in stereotyped patters of behavior such as walking, sleeping, and turning to attend to a sudden noise.

66
Q

What is the forebrain?

A

The brain’s largest division and its most forward part.

67
Q

What is the cerebral cortex?

A

A forebrain structure that covers the hindbrain and midbrain structures.

68
Q

What are the human forebrain’s most important structures?

A

The limbic system, thalamus, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex.

69
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

A loosely connected network of structures under the cerebral cortex, important in both memory and emotion. Its two principal structures are the amygdala and the hippocampus.

70
Q

What is the amygdala?

A

An almond-shaped structure within the base of the temporal lobe that is involved in the discrimination of objects that are necessary for the organism’s survival, such as appropriate food, mates, and social rivals. There is one amygdala in each hemisphere of the brain. It is also emotional expression and awareness.

71
Q

What is the prefrontal cortex?

A

Associated with planning, self control, and decision making.

72
Q

What is the hippocampus?

A

The structure in the limbic system that has a special role in the storage of memories.

73
Q

What is the thalamus?

A

A forebrain structure that sits at the top of the brain stem in the brain’s central core and serves as an important relay station functioning like a server in a computer network.

74
Q

What is the basal ganglia?

A

Large neuron clusters located above the thalamus and under the cerebral cortex that work with the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex to control and coordinate voluntary movements.

75
Q

What is the hypothalamus?

A

A small forebrain structure, located just below the thalamus, that monitors three pleasurable activities: eating, drinking, and sex/ regulate body’s internal state/ emotion, stress, and reward.

76
Q

What is the cerebral cortex?

A

(bark) Part of the forebrain, the outer layer of the brain, responsible for the most complex mental functions, such as thinking and planning.

77
Q

What is the neocortex?

A

(New bark) The outermost part of the cerebral cortex, making up 80 percent of the cortex in the human brain.

78
Q

What are the four lobes of the brain?

A

Occipital lobes, temporal lobes, frontal lobes, and parietal lobes.

79
Q

What is the occipital lobes?

A

Structures located at the back of the head that respond to visual stimuli.

80
Q

What are the temporal lobes?

A

Structures in the cerebral cortex that are located just above the ears and are involved in hearing, language processing, and memory.

81
Q

What are the frontal lobes?

A

The portions of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead that are involved in personality, intelligence, and the control of voluntary muscles.

82
Q

What is the parietal lobe?

A

Structures at the top and toward the rear of the head that are involved in registering spatial location, attention, and motor control.

83
Q

What is the somatosensory cortex?

A

A region in the cerebral cortex that processes information about body sensations, located at the front of the parietal lobes.

84
Q

What is the motor cortex?

A

A region in the cerebral cortex that processes information about voluntary movement, located just behind the frontal lobes.

85
Q

What is the association cortex?

A

Also known as the association area. The region of the cerebral cortex that is the site of the highest intellectual functions, such as thinking and problem solving.

86
Q

What is the corpus callosum?

A

The large bundle of axons that connects the brain’s two hemispheres, responsible for relaying information between the two sides.

87
Q

What does the left hemisphere of the brain do?

A

Does much of language processing and production. It also recognizes words, numbers, comprehends syntax, and grammar.

88
Q

What does the right hemisphere of the brain do?

A

It processes nonverbal info like spatial perception, visual recognition, and emotion. It process faces as well.

89
Q

What is the fusiform face area?

A

Also known as the FFA and it is a dime size spot in the fusiform gyrus in the right temporal lobe just behind your right ear. It is a specialized area in the brain for processing faces.

90
Q

What is the endocrine system?

A

The body system consisting of a set of glands that regulate the activities of certain organs by releasing their chemical products into the bloodstream.

91
Q

What are glands?

A

Organs or tissues in the body that create chemicals that control many bodily functions.

92
Q

What is the pituitary gland?

A

A pea-sized gland just beneath the hypothalamus that controls growth and regulates other glands.

93
Q

What are the adrenal glands?

A

Glands at the top of each kidney that are responsible for regulating mood, energy level, and the ability to cope with stress.

94
Q

What is the pancreas?

A

A dual-purpose gland under the stomach that preforms both digestive and endocrine functions.

95
Q

What are stem cells?

A

Unique primitive cells that have the capacity to develop into most types of human cells.

Psychology 201: Exam 1 (4 decks)

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