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PSY 2012 > Chapter 3 > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Flashcards

1
Q

neuron

A

nerve cell specialized for communication

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2
Q

soma/the cell body

A

the central region of the neuron

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3
Q

dendrite

A

portion of neuron that receives signal

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4
Q

axon

A

portion of neuron that sends signals

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5
Q

synaptic vesicle

A

spherical sac containing neurotransmitters

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6
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers specialized for communication from neuron to neuron

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7
Q

synapse

A

space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically

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8
Q

synaptic cleft

A

a gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal

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9
Q

glial cells

A

cell in the nervous system that plays a role in the formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, and enhances learning and memory

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10
Q

astrocyte

A

type of glial cell that communicates closely with neurons, increases the accuracy of their transmissions, help control blood flow in the brain, and plays a vital role in the development of the embryo. Found a lot in the blood-brain barrier

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11
Q

blood-brain barrier

A

a protective shield that insulates the brain from infection by bacteria, many poisons, etc

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12
Q

oligodendrocyte

A

another type of glial cell that promotes new connections among nerve cells, releases chemicals to aid in healing, produces the myelin sheath

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13
Q

myelin sheath

A

glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neurons signal

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14
Q

nodes

A

gaps along the axon

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15
Q

resting potential

A

electrical charge differences (-60 millivolts, the negative meaning the inside charge is more negative than the outside charge) across the neuronal membrane when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

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16
Q

threshold

A

membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

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17
Q

action potential

A

electrical impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters. Neuron “fires”

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18
Q

absolute refractory period

A

time during which another action potential is impossible; limits the maximal firing rate

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19
Q

receptor sites

A

location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter

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20
Q

reuptake

A

means of recycling neurotransmitters

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21
Q

psychoactive drugs

A

interact with the neurotransmitter systems affecting mood, thinking, arousal, behavior

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22
Q

agonsits

A

drugs that increase receptor site activity like opiates, codeine and morphine, tranquilizers, xanax (diminish anxiety by stimulating GABA receptor sites), antidepressants, prozac and paxil (inhibit the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters like serotonin)

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23
Q

antagonists

A

drugs that decrease receptor site activity. They act as fake neurotransmitters. Meds that treate schizophrenia block dopamine receptors by binding to them. Botox causes paralysis by blocking acetylcholines actions on muscles

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24
Q

endorphin

A

chemical in the brain that plays a specialized role in pain reduction

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25
plasticity
ability of the nervous system to change
26
potentiation
increase in connections and communication among neurons due to learning
27
neurogenesis
creation of new neurons in the adult brain
28
stem cell
a cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized cell
29
central nervous system (CNS)
part of nervous system containing the brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behavior
30
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
nerves in the body that extend outside the central nervous system
31
somatic nervous system
controls voluntary behavior
32
automatic nervous system
controls nonvoluntary functions of the body
33
meninges
three thin layers of membranes protecting the brain and spinal cord
34
cerebral ventricles
pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provides the brain with nutrients and cushion against injury
35
cerebral cortex
outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing and higher brain functions
36
forebrain (cerebrum)
forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities
37
cerebral hemispheres
two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serve distinct yet highly integrated functions
38
corpus callosum
large band of fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
39
frontal lobes
forward part of the cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, memory, and planning
40
motor cortex
part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement
41
prefrontal cortex
part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language
42
broca's area
language in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production
43
parietal lobe
upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that's specialized for touch and perception
44
temporal lobe
lower part of cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory
45
wenicke's area
part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech
46
lateral fissure
the horizontal groove separating the temporal lobe
47
auditory cortex
top of the temporal lobe dedicated to hearing
48
occipital lobe
back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision containing the visual cortex
49
primary sensory cortex
regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses
50
association cortex
regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions
51
basal ganglia
structures in the forebrain that help to control movement
52
limbic system
emotional center of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, and memory
53
thalamus
gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex
54
hypothalamus
part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state
55
amygdala
part of limbic system that plays key role in fear, excitement, and arousal
56
hippocampus
part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory
57
cerebellum
brain structure responsible for our sense of balance
58
brain stem
part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons, and medulla
59
midbrain
part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound
60
reticular activating system (RAS)
brain area that plays a key role in arousal
61
hindbrain
region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons, and medulla
62
pons
part of the brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum
63
medulla
part of the brain stem involved in basic functions, such as heartbeat and breathing
64
spinal cord
thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and body
65
interneurons
neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby
66
reflex
and autonomic motor response to a sensory stimulus
67
somatic nervous system
part of the nervous system that conveys information between the central nervous system and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement
68
autonomic nervous system
part of the nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which (along with the limbic system) participates in emotion regulation
69
sympathetic nervous system
division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight
70
parasympathetic nervous system
division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion
71
endocrine system
system of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers
72
hormone
chemical released into the bloodstream that influences particular organs and glands
73
pituitary gland
master gland that, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body
74
oxytocin
"cuddle hormone"
75
adrenal gland
tissue located on top of the kidneys that releases adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotional arousal
76
EEG
recording of brain's electrical activity at the surface of the skull
77
CT
a scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct three-dimensional images
78
MRI
technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure
79
PET
imaging technique that measures consumptions of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain
80
fMRI
technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level
81
TMS
technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function
82
MEG
technique that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain
83
lateralization
cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other
84
split-brain surgery
procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures
85
chromosome
slender thread inside a cells nucleus that carries genes
86
gene
genetic material composed of DNA
87
genotype
our genetic makeup
88
phenotype
our observable traits
89
dominant gene
gene that masks other genes effects
90
recessive gene
gene that is expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene
91
fitness
organisms capacity to pass on their genes
92
evolutionary psychology
a field that strikes to explain psychological traits as naturally selected adaptations
93
heritability
percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is the result of genes
94
family study
analysis of how characteristics run in intact families
95
twin study
analysis of how traits differ in identical versus fraternal twins
96
adoption studies
analysis of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives
97
epigenetics
a field that examines how environmental influences affect the expression of genes

PSY 2012 (3 decks)

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