Curriculum Outcomes Flashcards
Biological psychology
the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. (Some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neurosci- entists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psycholo- gists, or biopsychologists.)
Neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.
Dendrites
a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
Axon
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
Myelin sheath
sheath a fatty tissue layer segmentally encas- ing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next.
Action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
Refectory period
a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.
Threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
Neurotransmitter
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neu- rotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Reuptake
a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron.
Endorphins
“morphine within”—natural, opiate- like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
Agonist
a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response.
Antagonist
a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response.
Nervous system
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communica- tion network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
CNS
The central nervous system (CNS) is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS receives sensory information from the nervous system and controls the body’s responses.
PNS
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is the division of the nervous system containing all the nerves that lie outside of the central nervous system.
Nerves
nerves bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
sensory (afferent) neurons
neurons that carry incoming informa- tion from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
motor (efferent) neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
interneurons
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that com- municate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.
Hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endo- crine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.
CT scan
a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a compos- ite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure.
PET scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
MRI scan
(magnetic resonance imaging) a technique that uses mag- netic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated im- ages of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
frontal lobe
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
occipital lobe
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive informa- tion from the visual fields.
glial cell
cells in the nervous system that support, nour- ish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking.
cerebellum
the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinat- ing movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learn- ing and memory.
Medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heart- beat and breathing.
Brain stem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions.
Thalamus
the brain’s sensory control center, lo- cated on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
fMRI scan
functional MRI measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow
limbic system
neural system (including the hippocampus, amyg- dala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of intercon- nected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.
amygdala
two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.
hypothalamus
A neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
adrenal gland
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and nor- epinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.
Lesion
tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
Reflex
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.
Endocrine system
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
pituitary gland
the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Partial lobe
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
All or non response
a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing.
