Chapter 3 Biological Psychology Flashcards
Action Potential
An excitation that travels along the axon at a constant strength, no matter how far it travels
Synapse
Specialized junction between one
Synaptic Pruning
The process of synapse removal that takes place naturally, as a result of brain maturation which is believed to be caused by learning
Neurotransmitters
The brain has dozens of neurotransmitters and some disorders increase/decrease a particular transmitter/receptor
Stimulants
Drugs that increase energy, alertness, and activity by blocking the reabsorption of dopamine/serotonin by presynaptic neurons. (Ex: amphetamine, methamphetamine, and cocaine)
Dopamine
A critical component of motivation
Depressants
Drugs that decrease arousal such as alcohol, anxiolytic drugs, and tranquilizers.
Narcotics
Drugs that produce drowsiness, insensitivity, to pain, and decreased responsiveness such as opiates, opioids, and endorphins.
Marijuana
A drug that is difficult to classify that has a large number of potential medical uses, anandamide and 2-AG receptors are released by the postsynaptic neuron and bind to the presynaptic neurons.
Occipital Lobe
Specialized for vision
Temporal Lobe
Controls/regulates hearing/language, certain aspects of vision, emotion.
Parietal Lobe
Specialized for body senses, including touch, pain, temperature, and awareness of body parts.
Frontal Lobe
Include the primary motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex
Cortical Blindness
Results from occipital lobe damage which causes no visual imagery and is different from blindness caused by damage to the eye. (Occipital Lobe)
Blindsight
The ability to “see” without being consciously aware of it however part(s) of the occipital lobe are still working but not enough for conscious perception. (Occipital Lobe)
Motion Blindness
When the temporal lobe is damaged, and you cannot see moving objects however you can see objects that are not moving. (Temporal Lobe)
Prosopagnosia
Happens when the fusiform gyrus isn’t working properly and can be caused by injury/illness, and may be present at birth (aka facial blindness). (Temporal Lobe)
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
Has cells sensitive to touch in various body areas. Large areas=more sensitive (Parietal Lobe)
Primary Motor Cortex
Fine motor control (Frontal Lobe)
Mirror Neurons
Active when you make a movement and watch someone else make a similar movement. (Frontal Lobe)
Corpus Callosum
A set of axons that connect the left and right hemispheres of the cerebral cortex
Epilepsy
A condition in which cells somewhere in the brain emit abnormal rhythmic, spontaneous impulses.
Split Brain Patients
a type of disconnection syndrome when the corpus callosum connecting the two hemispheres of the brain is severed to some degree and is an association of symptoms produced by disruption of, or interference with, the connection between the hemispheres of the brain
Plasticity
Change as a result of experience
