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Psych 101 > chapter 3 > Flashcards

chapter 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

Neuroscience:

A

The study of the brain and the nervous system

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2
Q

Neuroimaging:

A

Techniques that allow for studying brain activity and structure by obtaining visual images in awake humans.

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3
Q

Neuron:

A

A nerve cell, is the fundamental building block of the nervous system. Communication among neurons is necessary for the normal functioning of the brain and spinal cord

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4
Q

Dendrites:

A

Extend like branches from the cell body to collect input from other neurons.

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5
Q

Dendrite:

A

The parts of neurons that receive input from other neurons.

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6
Q

Axon:

A

The part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body towards other neurons.

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7
Q

Axon Terminal:

A

A two-molecule thick neuron membrane completely covers the cell body, dendrites and axon.
The end of a neuron’s axon, from which neurotransmitters are released.

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8
Q

Glia:

A

The cells that, in addition to neurons, make up the nervous system.

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9
Q

Resting Potential:

A

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is at rest.

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10
Q

Concentration Gradient:

A

The difference in concentration of sodium ions inside and outside of the neuron

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11
Q

Ion channels:

A

Pores in the cell membrane that can open and close to allow certain ions into and out of the cell

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12
Q

Sodium-Potassium pump:

A

protein molecules in the membrane of cells that push out sodium ions and push in potassium ions

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13
Q

Threshold of excitation:

A

The point at which the relative influence of other neurons succeeds in causing a neuron to initiate an action potential.

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14
Q

Depolarization:

A

what occurs when the inside of the neuron membrane becomes less negative relative to the outside.

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15
Q

Hyperpolarization:

A

What occurs when the inside of the neuron membrane becomes more negative relative to the outside.

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16
Q

Myelin:

A

A fatty white substance formed from glial cells that insulates the axons of many neurons

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17
Q

Absolute refractory period:

A

A very brief period of time after an action potential, during which a neuron is completely unable to fire again

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18
Q

Relative refractory period:

A

A brief period just after the absolute refractory period during which a neuron can fire only if it receives a stimulus stronger than its usual threshold

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19
Q

Synapses:

A

tiny spaces between the axon terminal of one neuron and neuron through which chemical communication occurs

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20
Q

Neurotransmitters:

A

Specialized chemicals that travel across synapses to allow communication between neurons

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21
Q

Synaptic vesicles:

A

membrane bound spheres in the axon terminals of neurons in which neurotransmitters are stored before their release

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22
Q

Serotonin:

A

a neurotransmitter involved in activity levels and mood regulation

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23
Q

Neurotransmitter receptors:

A

Proteins in the membranes of neurons that bind to neurotransmitters

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24
Q

Postsynaptic potentials:

A

electrical events in postsynaptic neurons that occur when a neurotransmitter binds to one of its receptors.

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25
Q

Neuroplasticity:

A

the brain’s ability to create new neural pathways as a result of experience or following as an injury.

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26
Q

Afferent neurons:

A

Neurons that carry sensory information from the body to the CNS

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27
Q

Efferent Neurons:

A

Neurons that carry information out from the CNS to the muscles and glands

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28
Q

Interneurons

A

neurons that typically have a short axon and serve as a relay between different spinal classes of neurons; in the spinal cord, interneurons communicate with both sensory and motor neurons

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29
Q

Somatic nervous system:

A

All the peripheral nerves that transmit information about body sensation and movement to and from the central nervous system

30
Q

Autonomic nervous system:

A

portion of the peripheral nervous system that compromises the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

31
Q

Sympathetic nervous system:

A

the part of the autonomic nervous system that is activated under conditions of stress

32
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system:

A

The part of the autonomic nervous system that is active during restful times

33
Q

Spinal Cord:

A

Portion of the central nervous system that extends down from the base of the brain and mediates sensory and motor information

34
Q

Hindbrain:

A

the part of the brain closest to the spinal cord that consists of the medulla, the pons and the cerebellum; the reticular formation begins here and extends to the midbrain

35
Q

Medulla:

A

the part of the brain that controls basic bodily processes and regulates certain reflexes.

36
Q

Pons:

A

uppermost or anterior (front) part of the brainstem that includes the locus coeruleus

37
Q

Norepinephrine:

A

a neurotransmitter that is important for arousal and attention

38
Q

Cerebellum:

A

the part of the brain, near the base of the back of the head, important for motor coordination.

39
Q

Reticular formation:

A

a complex neural network extending from the hindbrain into the midbrain that plays a central role in regulating consciousness and arousal

40
Q

Dopamine:

A

neurotransmitter produced by neurons in the hindbrain and involved in movement and reward mechanisms.

41
Q

Substantia nigra:

A

a brain region important in fluidity of movement and inhibiting movements.

42
Q

Thalamus:

A

an area of the brain that serves in part as a relay station for incoming sensory information.

43
Q

Hypothalamus:

A

a brain structure important for motivation and control of the endocrine system

44
Q

Endocrine system:

A

the system that controls levels of hormones throughout the body

45
Q

Pituitary gland:

A

brain structure that plays a central role in controlling the endocrine system

46
Q

Limbic System:

A

a group of interconnected brain structures that are associated with learning, memory, basic emotions, and drives.

47
Q

Amygdala:

A

brain area involved in processing information about emotions, particularly fear.

48
Q

Hippocampus:

A

brain region important for certain types of learning and memory

49
Q

Nucleus accumbens:

A

a brain area important for motivation and reward

50
Q

Cerebral cortex:

A

the largest portion of the brain, responsible for complex behaviours including language and thought

51
Q

Association cortex:

A

areas of the cortex responsible for complex functions, including, higher-order sensory processing, thinking and planning - all of cortex that is neither purely sensory or motor.

52
Q

Occipital lobe:

A

lobe of the cortex at the back of the skull, important for processing very visual information.

53
Q

Temporal lobe:

A

part of the cortex important in processing sound, in speech comprehension, and in recognizing complex visual stimuli, such as faces.

54
Q

Wernicke’s area:

A

an area of the temporal cortex important in helping us understand language.

55
Q

Parietal lobe:

A

lobe of the cortex involved in processing information related to touch and complex visual information, particularly about locations.

56
Q

Somatosensory strip:

A

an area of the parietal cortex that processes tactile information coming from our body parts.

57
Q

Frontal lobe:

A

lobe of the cortex involved in many functions, including movement and speech production

58
Q

Broca’s area:

A

a brain region located in the frontal lobe important for speech production.

59
Q

Prefrontal lobe:

A

portion of the frontal cortex involved in higher order thinking, such as memory, moral reasoning and planning.

60
Q

Analogous:

A

characteristics that are similar between species and that CANNOT be traced back to a common ancestor

61
Q

Common Ancestors:

A

an organism that is common to the evolutionary history of two or more living species

62
Q

Convergent Evolution:

A

the development of similar physical characteristic of behaviours in different species that do not share a common ancestor, occurs because of exposure to similar environmental conditions for different species

63
Q

Corpus callosum:

A

bundle of axons that allows communication from on side of the cortex to the other

64
Q

Evolution:

A

a process of change over time

65
Q

Evolution by natural selection:

A

the differential likelihood between members of species in their ability to survive and reproduce

66
Q

Evolutionary psychology:

A

field of study that examines how the process of evolution has shaped the body and brain via interaction of our genes and the environment to produce our thoughts and behaviours

67
Q

Fitness:

A

the ability of an individual to successfully grow to maturity and have offspring that perpetuate the existence of the species that the individuals belong to

68
Q

Fossilize:

A

the geological process of turning biological material into stone

69
Q

Hemisphere:

A

two sides of the brain

70
Q

Homologous:

A

characteristics that are similar between species and that can be traced back to common ancestors

71
Q

Phylogeny:

A

the development of unique species over time

Psych 101 (2 decks)

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