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PSYC 104 > Chapter Three - Biological Psychology > Flashcards

Chapter Three - Biological Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

Absolute Refractory Period

A

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

Approx. 1-2 ms after AP initiation.

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2
Q

Action Potential

A

Electrical impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters.

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3
Q

Adoption Study

A

Analysis of how traits vary in individuals who were raised apart from their biological relatives.

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4
Q

Adrenal Gland

A

Tissue located on top of the kidneys that releases adrenaline and cortisol during stages of emotional arousal.

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5
Q

Amygdala

A

Part of the limbic system that modulates attention, perception, and memory based on our emotions.

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6
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

Part of the NS controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which participates in emotion regulation.

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7
Q

Axon

A

Portion of neuron that sends signals.

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8
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Structures in the forebrain that help to control movement.

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9
Q

Brain Stem

A

Part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons and medulla.

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10
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Language area in prefrontal cortex that helps control speech production.

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11
Q

Central Nervous System

A

Part of nervous system containing the brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behaviour.

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12
Q

Cerebellum

A

Brain structure responsible for our sense of balance.

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13
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

Outermost part of the forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory information and higher brain functions.

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14
Q

Cerebral Hemispheres

A

Two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serves a distinct, yet highly integrated function.

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15
Q

Cerebral Ventricles

A

Pockets in the brain that contain CSF, which provide the brain with nutrients and cushion against injury.

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16
Q

Chromosome

A

Slender thread inside of a nucleus that carries genes.

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17
Q

Computed Tomography

A

CT: a scanning technique using multiple x-rays to construct 3D images.

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18
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

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19
Q

Deep Brain Stimulation

A

Technique in which electrodes and a battery source are implanted in the brain to deliver electricity to specific brain areas.

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20
Q

Dendrite

A

Portion of neuron that receives signals.

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21
Q

Dominant Gene

A

Gene that masks other genes’ effects.

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22
Q

Electroencephalograph

A

Recording of brain’s electrical activity at the surface of the skull.

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23
Q

Endocrine System

A

System of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers.

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24
Q

Epigenetics

A

A field that examines how environmental influences affect the expression of genes

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25
Q

Family Study

A

Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families.

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26
Q

Fitness

A

Organisms’ capacity to pass on their genes.

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27
Q

Forebrain

A

Top part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities.

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28
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Forward part of the cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, decision making, and planning.

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29
Q

Functional MRI

A

Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level.

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30
Q

Gene

A

Genetic material composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

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31
Q

Genotype

A

Our genetic makeup.

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32
Q

Glial Cell

A

Cell in the NS that plays a role in the formation of the myelin and the blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, facilitates communication among neurons, and enhances learning and memory.

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33
Q

Heritability

A

Percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is the result of genes.

34
Q

Hindbrain

A

Region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons, and medulla.

35
Q

Hippocampus

A

Part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory.

36
Q

Hormone

A

Chemical released into the bloodstream that influences particular organs and glands.

37
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state.

38
Q

Interneuron

A

Neuron that sends messages to other nearby neurons.

39
Q

Lateralization

A

Cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other.

40
Q

Limbic System

A

A network of regions involved in emotion, motivation, learning and memory.

41
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A

Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure.

42
Q

Magnetoencephalography

A

Technique that measures brain activity by deducting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain.

43
Q

Medulla

A

Part of the brain stem involved in basic functions such as heartbeat and breathing.

44
Q

Midbrain

A

Part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound.

45
Q

Motor Cortex

A

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for body movement.

46
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

Glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron’s signal.

47
Q

Neurogenesis

A

Creation of new neurons in the adult brain.

48
Q

Neuron

A

Nerve cells specialized for communication.

49
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron.

50
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Back part of the cerebral cortex specialized for vision.

51
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Division of the autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion.

52
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that’s specialized for touch and perception.

53
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Nerves in the body outside of the CNS.

54
Q

Phenotype

A

Our observable traits.

55
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

Master gland that, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body.

56
Q

Plasticity

A

Ability of the nervous system to change.

57
Q

Pons

A

Part of the brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum.

58
Q

Position Emission Tomography

A

Imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain.

59
Q

Prefrontal Cortex

A

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language.

60
Q

Primary Sensory Cortex

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses.

61
Q

Receptor Site

A

Location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter.

62
Q

Recessive Gene

A

Gene that is expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene.

63
Q

Reflex

A

An autonomic motor response to a sensory stimulus.

64
Q

Resting Potential

A

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

65
Q

Reticular Activating System

A

Brain area that plays a key role in arousal.

66
Q

Reuptake

A

Means of recycling neurotransmitters.

67
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

Part of the NS that conveys info between the CNS and the body. Controlling and coordinating voluntary movement.

68
Q

Spinal Cord

A

Thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and the body.

69
Q

Split - Brain Surgery

A

Procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures.

70
Q

Stem Cell

A

A cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity. to differentiate into a more specialized cell.

71
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

Division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight.

72
Q

Synapse

A

Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically.

73
Q

Synaptic Cleft

A

A gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal.

74
Q

Synaptic Vesicle

A

Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters.

75
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Lower part of the cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory.

76
Q

Thalamus

A

Gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex.

77
Q

Threshold of Excitation

A

Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential.

78
Q

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

A

Technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function.

79
Q

Twin Study

A

Analysis of how traits differ in monozygotic versus dizygotic twins.

80
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

Part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech and language.

81
Q

Franz Gall

A

Father of phrenology.

82
Q

Hans Berger

A

Developed the EEG - Electroencephalogram.

PSYC 104 (8 decks)

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