Chapter 3 Flashcards
Understanding how the physical brain gives rise to behavior and mental processing
Biopsychology
A brain cell that stores and processes information using an electrical code
Neuron
A brain cell that supports the activities of neurons.
Glial Cell
Part of the neuron that contains machinery to keep the neuron alive and functioning.
Soma
Branching neural fibers that collect inputs from other neurons.
Dentrites
A single long wire that sends electrical signal from the soma to other neurons.
Axons
Glial cell that provides electrical insulation for the axon.
Myelin
Voltage maintained by a neuron when it is not sending any electrical messages.
Resting Potential
Electrical impulse that moves from the soma through the axon.
Action Potential
Passageways that enable charged particles (ions) to travel through the neural membrane when opened.
Ion Channels
The claim that the network that appears when examining brain tissue under a microscope consists of separate cells.
Neuron Doctrine
Tiny gap between two neurons where chemical transmission of neural messages occurs.
Synapse
Chemical messengers manufactured by one neuron that communicate with other neurons via synapses.
Neruotransmitters
Tiny bags used to contain and transport neurotransmitters from the soma to the end of the axon.
Vesicles
Places where neurotransmitters fit like a key in a lock to activate postsynaptic neurons.
Receptor Sites
Chemicals that alter mental function by interacting with one or more synaptic processes.
Psychoactive Drugs
Part of the brain that underlies feelings of pleasure.
Nucleus Accumbens
Tiny gap between a muscle fiber and the motor neuron controlling the fiber.
Neuromuscular Junction
The process of the sending neuron reclaiming used neurotransmitters from the synapse
Reuptake
A drug that boosts the effectiveness of a neurotransmitter
Agonists
A drug that reduces the effectiveness of a neurotransmitter
Antagonists
Influences learning, attention, and emotion
Dopamine
Causes a muscle fiber to contract when released into a neuromuscular junction
Acetylcholine
Affects mood, sleep and appetite
Serotonin
A drug that relieves pain by mimicking endorphins.
Morphine
A substance causing pain relief
Analgesic
the part of the nervous system made up of the brain and the spinal cord.
Central Nervous System
a neuron in the spine that is involved in reflexive movements.
Interneuron
the portion of the nervous system containing all nerves outside the central nervous system.
Peripheral nervous system
the portion of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary behaviors such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and digestion.
Autonomic nervous system
the portion of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary behaviors
Somatic nervous system
the portion of the autonomic nervous system that controls the body’s organ activity in response to threats (i.e., fight or flight).
Sympathetic Nervous systerm
the portion of the autonomic nervous system that controls normal organ activity
Parasympathetic Nervous System
A brainstem structure that controls basic reflexes such as breathing and heartbeat
Medulla
A brain structure that contributes to movements requiring balance,coordination, and precise timing.
Cerebellum
A group of midbrain structures that contributes to our emotional experience
Limbic System
Recieves incoming sensory information and passes the information onto the limbic system and the cortex
Thalamus
A midbrain structure that is essential to motivated behaviors such as feeding or fighting
Hypothalamus
Stores conscious experiences in memory to be made available for later retrieval
HIppocampus
The wrinkly surface of the brane
Cortex
Primary visual processing occurs in the occipital lobe at the back of the brain, then projects forward in the “Where” stream to the parietal lobe and in the “What” stream to the temporal lobe
Occipital Lobe
As the target of the “Where” stream , it Processes visual attention and perception of location
Parietal Lobe
Forms the front edge of the parietal lobe and processes touch sensations
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
As the target to of the “What stream , it processes complex shapes such as faces
Temporal Lobe
Implicated in executive functioning such as planning and impulse control
Frontal Lobe
Forms the rear edge of the frontal lobe and programs voluntary movements
Primary Motor Cortex
A thick bundle of fibers that connects the two hemisphere
Corpus Callosum
An operation to server the corpus callosum, which may reduce seizures
Corpus Callosotomy
Moves & Senses the right side of the body language
Left Hemisphere
Moves & Senses the left side of the body , has emotional processing and spatial reasoning.
Right Hemisphere
