Chapter 3 Biopsychology Flashcards
action potential
electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon
agonist
drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter
all-or-none
phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation
amygdala
structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories
antagonist
drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter
auditory cortex
strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information
autonomic nervous system
controls our internal organs and glands
axon
major extension of the soma
Broca’s area
region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
cerebellum
hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory
cerebral cortex
surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities
chromosome long strand of genetic information
computerized tomography (CT) scan
imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates
multiple x-rays of a given area
corpus callosum
thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres
dendrite
branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs
electroencephalography (EEG)
recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp
forebrain
largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system,
among other structures
fraternal twins
twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic
material varies the same as in non-twin siblings
frontal lobe
part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time
gene sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics
genetic environmental correlation
view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our
environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes
genotype
genetic makeup of an individual
glial cell
nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport
gyrus
(plural: gyri) bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex
heterozygous
consisting of two different alleles
hindbrain
division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
hippocampus
structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory
hypothalamus
forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and behavior and a number of
homeostatic processes; serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system
lateralization
concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions
limbic system
collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged
medulla
hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate
membrane potential
difference in charge across the neuronal membrane
midbrain
division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular
formation
motor cortex
strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement
myelin sheath
fatty substance that insulates axons
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger of the nervous system
Nodes of Ranvier
open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon
occipital lobe
part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex
parasympathetic nervous system
associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body
parietal lobe
part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses in
the periphery of the body
pituitary gland
secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system
polygenic
multiple genes affecting a given trait
pons
hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
involves injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive substance
and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain
prefrontal cortex
area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
psychotropic medication
drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance
range of reaction
asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment
interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall
receptor
protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach
resting potential
the state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals
reticular formation
midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and
motor activity
reuptake
neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it
somatic nervous system
relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
somatosensory cortex
essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch,
temperature, and pain
substantia nigra
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement
sympathetic nervous system
involved in stress-related activities and functions
temporal lobe
part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of
language; contains primary auditory cortex
thalamus
sensory relay for the brain
thyroid
secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite
ventral tegmental area (VTA)
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood,
reward, and addiction
Wernicke’s area
important for speech comprehension
just noticeable difference
the minimum level of stimulation that a person can detect 50% of the time
Absolute threshold
In neuroscience and psychophysics, an absolute threshold was originally defined as the lowest level of a stimulus – light, sound, touch, etc. – that an organism could detect.
Cataplexy
This sudden loss of muscle tone while a person is awake leads to weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control
