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Introductory Psychology > Chapter 3 (module 2) > Flashcards

Chapter 3 (module 2) Flashcards

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1
Q

action potential

A

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

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2
Q

adrenal gland

A

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

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3
Q

agonist

A

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

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4
Q

all-or-none

A

phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to
reach the threshold of excitation

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5
Q

allele

A

specific version of a gene

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6
Q

amygdala

A

structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional
meaning to our memories

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7
Q

antagonist

A

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

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8
Q

auditory cortex

A

strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory
information

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9
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls our internal organs and glands

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10
Q

axon

A

major extension of the soma

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11
Q

biological perspective

A

view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are
associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems

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12
Q

Broca’s area

A

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

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13
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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14
Q

cerebellum

A

hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and
it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

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15
Q

cerebral cortex

A

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

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16
Q

chromosome

A

long strand of genetic information

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17
Q

computerized tomography (CT) scan

A

imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates
multiple x-rays of a given area

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18
Q

corpus callosum

A

thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres

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19
Q

dendrite

A

branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons

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20
Q

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A

helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

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21
Q

diabetes

A

disease related to insufficient insulin production

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22
Q

dominant allele

A

allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

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23
Q

electroencephalography (EEG)

A

recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp

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24
Q

endocrine system

A

series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

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25
Q

epigenetics

A

study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different
phenotypes

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26
Q

fight or flight response

A

activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system,
allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given
threat or run away to safety

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27
Q

forebrain

A

largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system,
among other structures

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28
Q

fraternal twins

A

twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic
material varies the same as in non-twin siblings

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29
Q

frontal lobe

A

part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language;
contains motor cortex

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30
Q

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time

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31
Q

gene

A

sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics

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32
Q

genetic environmental correlation

A

view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect
our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes

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33
Q

genotype

A

genetic makeup of an individual

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34
Q

glial cell

A

nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including
neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport

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35
Q

gonad

A

secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both
sexual motivation and behavior

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36
Q

gyrus (plural: gyri)

A

bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex

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37
Q

hemisphere

A

left or right half of the brain

38
Q

heterozygous

A

consisting of two different alleles

39
Q

hindbrain

A

division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory

40
Q

homeostasis

A

state of equilibrium—biological conditions, such as body temperature, are maintained at
optimal levels

41
Q

homozygous

A

consisting of two identical alleles

42
Q

hormone

A

chemical messenger released by endocrine glands

43
Q

hypothalamus

A

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

44
Q

identical twins

A

twins that develop from the same sperm and egg

45
Q

lateralization

A

concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

46
Q

limbic system

A

collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory

47
Q

longitudinal fissure

A

deep groove in the brain’s cortex

48
Q

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged

49
Q

medulla

A

hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart
rate

50
Q

membrane potential

A

difference in charge across the neuronal membrane

51
Q

midbrain

A

division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular
formation

52
Q

motor cortex

A

strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement

53
Q

mutation

A

sudden, permanent change in a gene

54
Q

myelin sheath

A

fatty substance that insulates axons

55
Q

neuron

A

cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential
for all of the tasks of the nervous system

56
Q

neurotransmitter

A

chemical messenger of the nervous system

57
Q

occipital lobe

A

part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual
cortex

58
Q

pancreas

A

secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar

59
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body

60
Q

parietal lobe

A

part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual
information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex

61
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses
in the periphery of the body

62
Q

phenotype

A

individual’s inheritable physical characteristics

63
Q

pituitary gland

A

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

64
Q

polygenic

A

multiple genes affecting a given trait

65
Q

pons

A

hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity
during sleep

66
Q

positron emission tomography (PET) scan

A

involves injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive

substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain

67
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning

68
Q

psychotropic medication

A

drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

69
Q

range of reaction

A

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

70
Q

receptor

A

protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach

71
Q

recessive allele

A

allele whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that
allele

72
Q

resting potential

A

the state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals

73
Q

reticular formation

A

midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness,
and motor activity

74
Q

reuptake

A

neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it

75
Q

semipermeable membrane

A

cell membrane that allows smaller molecules or molecules without an
electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules

76
Q

soma

A

cell body

77
Q

somatic nervous system

A

relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS

78
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch,
temperature, and pain

79
Q

substantia nigra

A

midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement

80
Q

sulcus (plural: sulci)

A

depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex

81
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

involved in stress-related activities and functions

82
Q

synapse

A

small gap between two neurons where communication occurs

83
Q

synaptic vesicle

A

storage site for neurotransmitters

84
Q

temporal lobe

A

part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of
language; contains primary auditory cortex

85
Q

terminal button

A

axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles

86
Q

thalamus

A

sensory relay for the brain

87
Q

theory of evolution by natural selection

A

states that organisms that are better suited for their
environments will survive and reproduce compared to those that are poorly suited for their
environments

88
Q

threshold of excitation

A

level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active

89
Q

thyroid

A

secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite

90
Q

ventral tegmental area (VTA)

A

midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood,
reward, and addiction

91
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

important for speech comprehension

Introductory Psychology (8 decks)

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