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Introduction to Psychology FINAL > FlashcardsChapter03 > Flashcards

FlashcardsChapter03

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1
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

The neurotransmitter responsible for motor control at the junction between nerves and muscles; it is also involved in mental processes such as learning, memory, sleeping, and dreaming. (page 78)

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2
Q

Action potential

A

The electrical signal that passes along the axon and subsequently causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons. (page 72)

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3
Q

All-or-none principle

A

The principle that when a neuron fires, it fires with the same potency each time; a neuron either fires or not – it cannot partially fire, although the frequency of firing can vary. (page 75)

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4
Q

Amygdala

A

A brain structure that serves a vital role in learning to associate things with emotional responses and in processing emotional information. (page 86)

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5
Q

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

A component of the peripheral nervous system; it transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and the body’s glands and internal organs. (page 98)

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6
Q

Axon

A

A long, narrow outgrowth of a neuron by which information is conducted from the cell body to the terminal buttons. (page 71)

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7
Q

Basal ganglia

A

A system of subcortical structures that are important for the planning and production of movement. (page 87)

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8
Q

Brain stem

A

An extension of the spinal cord; it houses structures that control functions associated with survival, such as heart rate, breathing, swallowing, vomiting, urination, and orgasm. (page 84)

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9
Q

Broca’s area

A

A small portion of the left frontal region of the brain, crucial for the production of language. (page 82)

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10
Q

Cell body

A

The site in the neuron where information from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated. (page 71)

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11
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

The brain and the spinal cord. (page 70)

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12
Q

Cerebellum

A

A large, convoluted protuberance at the back of the brain stem; it is essential for coordinated movement and balance. (page 84)

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13
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

The outer layer of brain tissue, which forms the convoluted surface of the brain; the site of all thoughts, perceptions, and complex behaviors. (page 87)

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14
Q

Chromosomes

A

Structures within the cell body that are made up of DNA, segments of which comprise individual genes. (page 106)

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15
Q

Corpus callosum

A

A massive bridge of millions of axons that connects the hemispheres and allows information to flow between them. (page 87)

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16
Q

Dendrites

A

Branchlike extensions of the neuron that detect information from other neurons. (page 71)

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17
Q

Dizygotic twins

A

Also called fraternal twins; twin siblings that result from two separately fertilized eggs and therefore are no more similar genetically than non-twin siblings. (page 111)

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18
Q

Dominant gene

A

A gene that is expressed in the offspring whenever it is present. (page 108)

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19
Q

Dopamine

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in motivation, reward, and motor control over voluntary movement. (page 79)

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20
Q

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

A device that measures electrical activity in the brain. (page 82)

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21
Q

Endocrine system

A

A communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts, behaviors, and actions. (page 99)

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22
Q

Endorphins

A

Neurotransmitters involved in natural pain reduction and reward. (page 80)

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23
Q

Frontal lobes

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex – at the front of the brain – important for movement and higher-level psychological processes associated with the prefrontal cortex. (page 84)

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24
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

An imaging technique used to examine changes in the activity of the working human brain by measuring changes in the blood’s oxygen levels. (page 84)

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25
Q

GABA

A

Gamma-aminobutyric acid; the primary inhibitory transmitter in the nervous system. (page 80)

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26
Q

Gene expression

A

Whether a particular gene is turned on or off. (page 106)

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27
Q

Genes

A

The units of heredity that help determine the characteristics of an organism. (page 106)

28
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic constitution of an organism, determined at the moment of conception. (page 108)

29
Q

Glutamate

A

The primary excitatory transmitter in the nervous system. (page 80)

30
Q

Gonads

A

The main endocrine glands involved in sexual behavior: in males, the testes; in females, the ovaries. (page 100)

31
Q

Heredity

A

Transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring through genes. (page 113)

32
Q

Heritability

A

A statistical estimate of the extent to which variation in a trait within a population is due to genetics. (page 113)

33
Q

Hippocampus

A

A brain structure that is associated with the formation of memories. (page 86)

34
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical substances, released from endocrine glands, that travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues; the tissues are subsequently influenced by the hormones. (page 99)

35
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A brain structure that is involved in the regulation of bodily functions, including body temperature, body rhythms, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels; it also influences our basic motivated behaviors. (page 86)

36
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

A method of brain imaging that uses a powerful magnetic field to produce high-quality images of the brain. (page 83)

37
Q

Monozygotic twins

A

Also called identical twins; twin siblings that result from one zygote splitting in two and therefore share the same genes. (page 111)

38
Q

Myelin sheath

A

A fatty material, made up of glial cells, that insulates some axons to allow for faster movement of electrical impulses along the axon. (page 74)

39
Q

Neurons

A

The basic units of the nervous system; cells that receive, integrate, and transmit information in the nervous system. They operate through electrical impulses, communicate with other neurons through chemical signals, and form neural networks. (page 70)

40
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical substances that transmit signals from one neuron to another. (page 75)

41
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

Small gaps of exposed axon, between the segments of myelin sheath, where action potentials take place. (page 74)

42
Q

Norepinephrine

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in states of arousal and attention. (page 79)

43
Q

Occipital lobes

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex – at the back of the brain – important for vision. (page 88)

44
Q

Parasympathetic division

A

A division of the autonomic nervous system; it returns the body to its resting state. (page 99)

45
Q

Parietal lobes

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex – in front of the occipital lobes and behind the frontal lobes – important for the sense of touch and for attention to the environment. (page 88)

46
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

All nerve cells in the body that are not part of the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. (page 70)

47
Q

Phenotype

A

Observable physical characteristics, which result from both genetic and environmental influences. (page 108)

48
Q

Pituitary gland

A

A gland located at the base of the hypothalamus; it sends hormonal signals to other endocrine glands, controlling their release of hormones. (page 99)

49
Q

Plasticity

A

A property of the brain that allows it to change as a result of experience or injury. (page 101)

50
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A

A method of brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream. (page 83)

51
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

The frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, especially prominent in humans; important for attention, working memory, decision making, appropriate social behavior, and personality. (page 90)

52
Q

Receptors

A

In neurons, specialized protein molecules on the postsynaptic membrane; neurotransmitters bind to these molecules after passing across the synapse. (page 76)

53
Q

Recessive gene

A

A gene that is expressed only when it is matched with a similar gene from the other parent. (page 108)

54
Q

Resting membrane potential

A

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active. (page 72)

55
Q

Reuptake

A

The process whereby a neurotransmitter is taken back into the presynaptic terminal buttons, thereby stopping its activity. (page 77)

56
Q

Serotonin

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter important for a wide range of psychological activity, including emotional states, impulse control, and dreaming. (page 79)

57
Q

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

A

A component of the peripheral nervous system; it transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and the skin, muscles, and joints. (page 97)

58
Q

Split brain

A

A condition that occurs when the corpus callosum is surgically cut and the two hemispheres of the brain do not receive information directly from each other. (page 92)

59
Q

Sympathetic division

A

A division of the autonomic nervous system; it prepares the body for action. (page 98)

60
Q

Synapse

A

The gap between the terminal buttons of a “sending” neuron and the dendrites of a “receiving” neuron; the site at which chemical communication occurs between neurons. (page 72)

61
Q

Temporal lobes

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex – below the parietal lobes and in front of the occipital lobes – important for processing auditory information, for memory, and for object and face perception. (page 90)

62
Q

Terminal buttons

A

At the ends of axons, small nodules that release chemical signals from the neuron into the synapse. (page 72)

63
Q

Thalamus

A

The gateway to the brain; it receives almost all incoming sensory information before that information reaches the cortex. (page 86)

64
Q

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A

The use of strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way to study brain regions. (page 84)

65
Q

Avoidant personality disorder

A

A mental disorder similar to social anxiety

Introduction to Psychology FINAL (15 decks)

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