CHAPTER 3 TEST Flashcards
dendrites
bushy branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
parts of a motor neuron
cell body, dendrites, axon, neural impulse, terminal branches of axon, myelin sheath
a neural impulse will increase in speed if covered by a
myelin sheath
causes of multiple sclerosis
if the myelin sheath degenerates: communication to muscles slows, with eventual loss of muscle control
when is a neuron’s reaction an all or none response
once action potential is released, the axon either fires or it doesn’t
special junctions where impulses are chemically transmitted
synapses
endorphins
natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
help explain good feelings such as the “runner’s high,” the painkilling effects of acupuncture, and the indifference to pain in some severely injured people. But once again, new knowledge led to new questions
what neurotransmitter’s decline causes Alzheimer’s
Acetylcholine (ACh)
antagonists
bind to receptors, effect is instead to block a neurotransmitter’s functioning
nervous system
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
axons
the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
brain
key communicator for the CNS
pons
in brainstem and coordinates movements
provides link w/ nervous system and endocrine system
hypothalamus or pituitary gland??
controls voluntary movements
motor cortex
apply scenario involving direct stimulation of the motor cortex
????/
which lobe is most associated w/ schizophrenia
temporal
where are the association areas
all 4 lobes
purpose of the association areas
interpret, integrate, and act on information processed by the sensory areas (higher mental functions)
which brain region is involved in speech production
broca’s area
aphasia
impairment of language caused by left hemisphre damage either to broca’s or wernicke’s area
describe how the brain processes and controls language
????
one brain area can take over functions of a damaged area
plasticity
new neurons formed in the brain
neurogenesis
what is cut for split brain patients
corpus callosum
which part of the brain processes an optical illusion
right hemisphere
which part of the brain processes language
wernicke’s area; left hemisphere
describe a scenario that accounts for dual processing ability
?????
what type of scientists focus on nature v nurture
behavior geneticists
DNA
a complex molecule containing the genetic info. that makes up the chromosomes
biochemical units that determine heredity
genes
environmental conditions cause genes to
survive / reproduce
info. contained in a gene is expressed as
DNA
genome
the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes
heritability
the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied
genes can change based on conditions; this is called
heritability
this kind of scientist examines chromosomal differences
???????
natural selection
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generation
evolutionary theory
?????
evolutioinary psychologists
Critics argue that evolutionary psychologists start with an effect and work backward to an explanation, that the evolutionary perspective gives too little emphasis to social influences, and that the evolutionary viewpoint absolves people from taking responsibility for their sexual behavior
current psychology’s understanding of nature/nurture
??????/
what psychological perspective most directly address nature/nurture
evolution
