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Ap Psychology > Chapter 3 > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Flashcards

1
Q

Neuron

A

Nerve cell specialized for communication

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2
Q

Dendrite

A

Portion of neuron that receives signals

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3
Q

Axon

A

Portion of neuron that sends signals

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4
Q

Synaptic vesicle

A

Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters

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5
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron

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6
Q

Synapse

A

Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically

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7
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

The Gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal

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8
Q

Glial cell

A

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

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9
Q

Myelin sheath

A

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

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10
Q

Resting potential

A

Electrical charge difference across the neuronal membrane when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

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11
Q

Threshold

A

Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

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12
Q

Action potential

A

Electrical impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters

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13
Q

Absolute refractory period

A

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

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14
Q

Receptor site

A

Location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter

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15
Q

Reuptake

A

Means of recycling neurotransmitters

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16
Q

Endorphin

A

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

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17
Q

Plasticity

A

Ability of the nervous system to change

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18
Q

Neurogenesis

A

Creation of new neurons in the adult brain

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19
Q

Stem cell

A

A cell common often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized sound

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20
Q

Central nervous system

A

Part of the nervous system containing the brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behavior

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21
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

Nerves in the body that extend outside of the central nervous system

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22
Q

Cerebral ventricles

A

Pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, which provide the brain with nutrients and cushion against injury

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23
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

Utmost part of the forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing and higher brain functions

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24
Q

Forebrain

A

Forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities

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25
Q

Cerebral hemispheres

A

Two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serve distinct yet highly integrated functions

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26
Q

corpus callosum

A

Large band of fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

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27
Q

Frontal lobe

A

Forward part of the cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, memory, and planning

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28
Q

Motor cortex

A

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for body movement

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29
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language

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30
Q

Broca’s area

A

Language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps control speech production

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31
Q

Parietal lobe

A

Upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that specialized for touch and perception

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32
Q

Temporal lobe

A

Lower part of the cerebral cortex that plays a role in hearing, understanding, language, and memory

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33
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech

34
Q

Occipital lobe

A

Back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision

35
Q

Primary sensory cortex

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses

36
Q

Association cortex

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions

37
Q

Basal ganglia

A

Structures in the forebrain that help to control movement

38
Q

limbic system

A

Emotional center of brain that also plays a role in smell, motivation, and memory

39
Q

Thalamus

A

Gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex

40
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state

41
Q

Amygdala

A

Part of limbic system that place key roles and fear, excitement, and arousal

42
Q

Hippocampus

A

Part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory

43
Q

Cerebellum

A

Brain structure responsible for our sense balance

44
Q

Brain stem

A

Part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons, and medulla

45
Q

Midbrain

A

Part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking a visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound

46
Q

Reticular activating system

A

Brain area that plays a key roll in arousal

47
Q

hind brain

A

Region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons, and medulla

48
Q

Pons

A

Part of the brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum

49
Q

Medulla

A

Part of the brainstem involves in basic functions, such as heartbeat and breathing

50
Q

Spinal cord

A

Thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and body

51
Q

Interneuron

A

Neuron that sounds messages to other neurons nearby

52
Q

Reflex

A

An automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus

53
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

Part of the nervous system that conveys information between the central nervous system and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement

54
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

Part of the nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our initial organs and glands, which participates in emotion regulation

55
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight

56
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

Division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion

57
Q

endocrine system

A

System of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers

58
Q

Hormone

A

Chemical released into the bloodstream that influence particular organs and glands

59
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Master gland, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body

60
Q

Adrenal glands

A

Tissue located on top of the kidneys that releases adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotional arousal

61
Q

Electroencephalograph

A

Recording of the brain’s electrical activity at the surface of the skull

62
Q

Computed tomography

A

A scanning technique using multiple x-rays to construct three-dimensional images

63
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging

A

Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize the brain structure

64
Q

Positron emission tomography

A

Imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain

65
Q

Functional MRI

A

Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level

66
Q

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

A

Technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function

67
Q

Magnetoencephalography

A

Technique that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain

68
Q

Lateralization

A

Cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other

69
Q

Split brain surgery

A

Procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures

70
Q

Chromosome

A

Slender thread inside a cell’s nucleus that carries genes

71
Q

Gene

A

Genetic material composed of DNA

72
Q

Genotype

A

Our genetic makeup

73
Q

Phenotype

A

Our observable traits

74
Q

Dominant gene

A

Gene that masks other genes effects

75
Q

Recessive gene

A

Gene that is expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene

76
Q

Fitness

A

Organisms capacity to pass on their genes

77
Q

Evolutionary psychology

A

I feel that strikes to explain psychological traits as naturally selective adaptations

78
Q

Heritability

A

Percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is the result of genes

79
Q

Family study

A

Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families

80
Q

Twin study

A

Analysis of how traits differ in identical twins versus fraternal twins

81
Q

Adoption study

A

Analysis of how traits vary an individuals raised apart from their biological relatives

82
Q

Epigenetics

A

A field that examines how environmental influences affect the expression of genes

Ap Psychology (16 decks)

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