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Psych 202 > Chapter 3 > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform information-processing tasks

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2
Q

cell body

A

the part of a neuron that coordinates information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive

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3
Q

dendrite

A

the part of a neuron that RECIEVES information from other neurons and relays it to the cell body

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4
Q

axon

A

the part of the neuron that TRANSMITS information to other neurons, muscles, or glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

An insulating layer of fatty material that covers axons

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6
Q

Glial cells

A

support cells found in the nervous system

myelin sheath is composed of glial cells

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7
Q

demyelinating diseases

A

the myelin sheath deteriorates, slowing the transmission of information from one neuron to another

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8
Q

synapse

A

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

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9
Q

sensory neurons

A

neurons that recieve information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord

responds to light, sound, touch, taste, and smell

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10
Q

motor neurons

A

neurons that carry signals frm the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement

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11
Q

interneurons

A

compose most of the nervous system

neurons that connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons

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12
Q

mirror neurons

A

you see someone else doing something and that part of your brain acts up too

  • helps us understand emotion, empathy
  • mirror neurons may be lacking in autism patients
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13
Q

purkinje cells

A

a type of interneuron that carries information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain and spinal cord

(looks kind of like a tree)

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14
Q

pyramidal cells

A

found in the cerebral cortex

have a triangular cell body and a single long dendrite with other small dendrites

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15
Q

bioplar cells

A

a sensory neuron found in the retinas of the eye

-have a single axon and a single dendrite

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16
Q

conduction

A

conduction of electric signal over relatively long distances within neurons, from the dendrites, to the cell body, then throughout the axon

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17
Q

transmission

A

transmission of electric signals between neurons over the synapse

conduction + transmission = electrochemical action of neurons

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18
Q

resting potential

A

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

the resting potential is negative

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19
Q

action potential

A

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

only occurs when the electric shock reaches a certain threshold

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20
Q

action potential occurs when:

A

there is a change in the state of the axon’s membrane channels

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21
Q

refractory period

A

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

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22
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

break points in the myelin chain covering the axon

electric charges jump from node to node— this is called saltatory conduction

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23
Q

terminal buttons

A

at the end of axons

knoblike structures that branch out from an axon

filled with tiny vesicles that contain neurotransmitters

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24
Q

neurotransmitters

A

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

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25
Q

receptors

A

parts of the cell membrane that recieve the neurotransmitter and initiate or prevent a new electric signal

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26
Q

Neurotransmitters leave the synapse through three processess:

A
  1. Reuptake occurs when neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the terminal buttons of the presynaptic neuron’s axon
  2. Neurotransmitters can be destroyed by enzymes in the synapse in a process called enzyme deactivation
  3. Neurotransmitters can bind to the receptor sites called sutoreceptors on hte presynaptic neurons.
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27
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

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

Alzheimers = deterioration of ACh neurons

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28
Q

Dopamine

A

A neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal

high levels = scizophrenia

low levels = parkinsons

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29
Q

Glutamate

A

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in information transmission throughout the brain

too much = seizures

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30
Q

GABA

A

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

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31
Q

Norepinephrine

A

A neurotransmitter that influences mood and arousal

-hightened awareness

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32
Q

Serotonin

A

A neurotransmitter that is involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating and agressive behavior

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33
Q

Endorphins

A

chemicals that act within the pain pathways and emotion centers of the brain

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34
Q

Agonists

A

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter

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35
Q

Antagonists

A

drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter

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36
Q

methamphetamine

A

affects the pathways for dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrin at the neuron’s synapses

37
Q

amphetamine

A

drug that stimulates the release of norepinephrine and dopamine

*this and cocaine prevent reuptake of norep. and dopamine

38
Q

Prozac

A

treats depression

agonist

blocks reuptake of seratonin (making it an SSRI drug)

39
Q

Propranalol

A

drug that is an antagonist

obstructs receptor sites for norepinephrine in the heart

40
Q

nervous system

A

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

41
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord

-recieves sensory info and sends commands to the skeletal and muscular systems for action

42
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A
  • connects the CNS to the body’s organs and muscles
  • has 2 subdivisions: somatic and autonomic nervous systems
43
Q

The somatic nervous system

A

a set of nerves that conveys information in and out of the CNS

  • have conscience control over this system
  • percieve, think, coordinate behaviors
44
Q

the autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commnads that control blood vessels, body organs, and galnds

-has 2 subdivisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

45
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

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

46
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

a set of nerves that helps the body return to a normal, resting state

-reverses sympathetic system

47
Q

spinal cord functions

A

breathing, responding to pain, moving your muscles, allowing you to walk, connects brain and rest of body

48
Q

spinal reflexes

A

simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions

49
Q

hindbrain

A

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

-consists of the medulla, the pons, and the cerebellum

50
Q

medulla

A

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

51
Q

reticular formation

A
  • inside the medulla
  • small cluster of neurons
  • regulates sleep, wakefullness, and levels of arousal
52
Q

cerebellum

A
  • behind the medulla
  • a large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills
53
Q

pons

A

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

54
Q

midbrain

A
  • sits on top of the hindbrain
  • consists of the tectum and the tegmentum
55
Q

tectum

A

orients an organism in the environment

56
Q

tegmentum

A

involved in movement and arousal

57
Q

forebrain

A
  • highest level of the brain
  • contains cerebral cortex and subcortical structures
  • controls cognative, emotional, sensory and motor functions
58
Q

cerebral cortex

A

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

59
Q

subcortical structures

A

the areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the very center of the brain

-contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, limbic system, and basal ganglia

60
Q

thalamus

A

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

61
Q

hypothalamus

A
  • located below the thalamus
  • regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst and sexual behavior
62
Q

pituitary gland

A
  • located below the hypothalamus
  • the “master gland” of the body’s hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct teh functions of many other glands in the body
63
Q

limbic system

A

a group of forebrain structures including the hypothalamus, the amygdala, and the hippocampus, which are involved in motivation, emotion, learning and memory

64
Q

hippocampus

A

a structure critical for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex

65
Q

amygdala

A

a part of the limbic system that plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories

-almond shape

66
Q

basal ganglia

A

a set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements

-get input from cerebra cortex and send signals out to motor centers of the brain

67
Q

gyri

A

the smooth, raised part of the cerebral cortex

68
Q

sulci

A

the indentations or fissures in the cerebral cortex

69
Q

Three levels of organization of the cerebral cortex:

A
  1. the separation of the cortex into two hemispheres
  2. the functions of each hemisphere
  3. the role of specific cortical areas
70
Q

commissures

A

bundles of axons that make possible communication between parallel areas of the cortex in each half

71
Q

contralateral control

A

each hemisphere controls functions of the opposite side of the body

72
Q

corpus callosum

A

a thick band of nerve fibers that connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres

73
Q

occipital lobe

A
  • located at the back of the cerebral cortex
  • processes visual information
74
Q

parietal lobe

A
  • located in front of the occipital lobe
  • processes information about touch
  • contains the somatosensory cortex
75
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

a strip of brain tissues running from the top of the brain down the sides

-represents the skin areas of the opposite side of the body

76
Q

motor cortex

A
  • directly in front of the somatosensory cortex
  • different parts respond to different body parts
77
Q

temporal lobe

A
  • located on teh lower side of each hemisphere
  • responsible for hearing and language
  • contains the primary auditory cortex
78
Q

frontal lobe

A
  • behind the forehead
  • specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
79
Q

association areas

A

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

80
Q

brain placticity

A

functions that were assigned to certain areas of the brain may be capable of being reassigned to other areas of the brain to accomodate changing input from the environment

81
Q

ontogeny vs. phylogeny of the brain

A

ontogeny = how the brain develops within a given individual

phylogeny = how the brain developed within a particular species

82
Q

gene

A

the unit of hereditary transmission

83
Q

chromosomes

A

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

84
Q

heritability

A

a measure of th variability of behavioral traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors

85
Q

electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

A device used to record electrical activity in the brain

86
Q

CT scan

A
  • takes x-ray photos of brain
  • used to locate lesions or tumors
87
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A
  • applying magnetic pulses to the head and recording hown the pulses are absorbed throughout the brain
  • get clear picture of the brainbut reveal nothing about the function of the brain
88
Q

functional brain-imaging techniques

A
  • PET scan (use radioactive substance and see where brain lights up)
  • fMRI

Psych 202 (13 decks)

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