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Brain And Behaviour > Chapter 3 - Biological Psychology definitions > Flashcards

Chapter 3 - Biological Psychology definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Define neurons

A

Nerve cells specialised for communication.

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2
Q

Define dendrites

A

Portions of neurons that receive signals

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3
Q

Define axons

A

Portions of neurons that send signals

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4
Q

Define synaptic vesicles

A

Spherical sacs containing neurotransmitters

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5
Q

Define neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messages specialised for communication and released at the synapse.

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6
Q

Define synapse

A

Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted.

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7
Q

Define synaptic cleft

A

Space between two connecting neurons where neurotransmitters are released.

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8
Q

Define glial cells

A

Support cells in the nervous system that play a role in the formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, respond to injury and remove debris.

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9
Q

Define myelin sheath

A

Glial cell-wrappers around axons that act as insulators of the neurons signal

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10
Q

Define resting potential

A

Electrical charge difference (-60 millivolts) across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

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11
Q

Define threshold

A

Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

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12
Q

Define action potential

A

Electrical impulses that travel down the axon and allow neurons to communicate

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13
Q

Define absolute refractory period

A

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

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14
Q

Define receptor sites

A

Locations that uniquely recognise a neurotransmitter.

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15
Q

Define repuptake

A

Means of recycling neurotransmitters.

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16
Q

Define endorphins

A

Chemicals in the brain that play a specialised role in pain reduction.

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17
Q

Define plasticity

A

Ability of the nervous system to change

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18
Q

Define neurogenesis

A

Creation of new neurons in the adult brain.

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19
Q

Define stem cells

A

Unspecialised cells that retain the ability to become a wide variety of specialised cells.

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20
Q

Define the central nervous system (CNS)

A

The part of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord that controls mind and behaviour.

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21
Q

Define peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

Nerves in the body that extend outside the CNS.

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22
Q

Define cerebral cortex

A

Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analysing sensory processing and higher brain functions.

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23
Q

Define forebrain

A

Forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities; also known as the cerebrum.

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24
Q

Define cerebral hemispheres

A

Two halves of the cerebral cortex, which serve different yet highly integrated cognition functions.

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25
Define corpus callosum
Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.
26
Define frontal lobe
Forward part of the cerebral cortex, containing the motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex; responsible for motor function, language and memory.
27
Define motor cortex
Part of the frontal lobe responsible for body movement.
28
Define prefrontal cortex
Part of the frontal lobe responsible for coordination of thinking, planning and language.
29
Define Broca’s area
Language area in the left prefrontal cortex that helps control speech production.
30
Define parietal lobe
Upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe, specialised for touch and perception.
31
Define temporal lobe
Lower part of the cerebral cortex below the temples, which plays a role in hearing, understanding language and memory.
32
Define Wernicke’s area
Part of the left temporal lobe involved in understanding speech.
33
Define occipital lobe
Back part of the cerebral cortex specialised for vision.
34
Define sensory cortex
Regions of the cerebral cortex devoted to vision, touch, hearing, balance, taste and smell.
35
Define association cortex
Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions.
36
Define basal ganglia
Structured in the forebrain that help control movement
37
Define limbic system
Emotional centre of brain that also plays a role in smell, motivation and memory.
38
Define thalamus
Serves as a gateway for sensory inputs to the cerebral cortex and as a hub for interactions between cortical regions.
39
Define hypothalamus
Part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state.
40
Define amygdala
Part of the limbic system that okays a key role in fear, excitement and arousal.
41
Define hippocampus
Part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory.
42
Define cerebellum
Small cerebrum in the hindbrain, responsible for our sense of balance.
43
Define brain stem
Part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons and medulla.
44
Define midbrain
Part of the brain stem that lies between the forebrain and hindbrain; it helps to control head and neck reflexes and modulate motor activity.
45
Define reticular activating system (RAS)
Group of neurons projecting from the brain stem that play a key role in arousal.
46
Define hindbrain
Part of the brain between the spinal cord and midbrain, consisting of the pons, cerebellum and medulla
47
Define pons
Part of the hindbrain that connects the cerebral cortex with cerebellum.
48
Define medulla
Part of the brain stem involved in vital functions, such as heartbeat and breathing.
49
Define interneurons
Neurons that send messages to other neurons nearby
50
Define reflex
Automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus like muscle stretch.
51
Define somatic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system carrying messages from the CNS through the body to control movement.
52
Define the autonomic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which (along with the limbic system) participates in emotion.
53
Define sympathetic division
Part of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis, or after actions requiring fight or flight.
54
Define parasympathetic division
Part of the autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion.
55
Define endocrine system
System of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood- borne chemical messengers.
56
Define hormones
Blood - borne chemicals that influence target tissues and glands.
57
Define pituitary gland
Master gland that, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body.
58
Define adrenal glands
Tissues located on top of the kidneys that release adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotional arousal.
59
Define lesion
Area of damage due to surgery, injury or disease
60
Define electroencephalography (EEG)
Recording of the brains electrical activity at the surface of the scalp.
61
Define computed tomography (CT)
A scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct three- dimensional images.
62
Define magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualise brain structure.
63
Define positron emission tomography (PET)
Imaging technique that measured uptake of radioactive glucose molecules, yielding a picture of regional metabolic activity in different brain regions.
64
Define functional MRI (fMRI)
Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualise changes in blood oxygen levels due to brain activity.
65
Define transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Technique involving a coil that generates a magnetic field that can temporarily block or stimulate neural transmissions within a small brain area
66
Define magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Measure of brain activity using magnetometers, which sense tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain.
67
Define lateralisation
Cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other
68
Define split- brain surgery
Procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures
69
Define chromosomes
Slender threads inside a cells nucleus that carry genes
70
Genes
Genetic material, composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
71
Define genotype
Our genetic make up
72
Define phenotype
Our observable traits
73
Define dominant genes
Genes that mask other genes effects
74
Define recessive genes
Genes that are expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene
75
Define natural selection
Principle that organisms possess adaptations survive and reproduce at a higher rate than other organisms.
76
Define fitness
Organisms capacity to pass on their genes
77
Define heritability
Percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes
78
Define family studies
Analyses of how traits run in families
79
Define adoption studies
Analyses how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives
80
Define twin studies
Analyses of how traits differ in identical twins versus fraternal twins

Brain And Behaviour (14 decks)

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