General Psychology, 3: Biology and Behavior Flashcards
What is the purpose of the nervous system?
To carry information, in the form of electrochemical impulses, throughout the body.
Which cell is the common, fundamental cell of the nervous system?
The neuron
Dendrite
Branchlike part of the neuron that recieves signals from multiple cells
Axon
Single long strand reaching out of the neuron, which transmits the action potential
Action Potential
The state of a neuron when it is actively firing, transmitting a signal to other neurons that are connected to it.
Resting Potential
the state of a neuron when its axon is not firing an action potential.
Synapse
Area between neurons which includes the axon’s terminal button as well as the receptors on dendrites.
Synaptic cleft
Microscopic gap between an axon’s terminal button and a dendrite.
Neurotransmitter
Chemical messengers released during an action potential into the synaptic cleft, which excite or dampen activity in the receiving neuron.
Central Nervous System
Consists of the brain and spinal cord
Endocrine system
Consists of glands that create and secrete hormones, which carry information through the bloodstream rather than the nervous system.
Who was Phineas Gage?
A man who suffered a tragic accident in which a railroad tie disfigured him and damaged a large part of his prefrontal cortex, unusually leaving him alive. However, his personality changed drastically afterward.
EEG
Brain measurement device that uses electrodes placed around the scalp to measure general electrical activity in various regions of the brain.
Limbic system
A network of brain structures in the center of the brain, critically involved in producing emotions, memories, appetites, and arousal.
Hormone
Chemical messengers used in the endocrine system. Secreted by glands, they travel through the bloodstream.
Nodes of Ranvier
Portions of the axon that are not myelinated
Basal ganglia
A collection of subcortical structures, within the limbic system. They are essential for planning and producing movement.
In physiology, what is the correct term for what are often called “pinched nerves”?
Bundles of long axons that extend from the brain out into peripheral parts of the body.
Nucleus accumbens
A structure within the basal ganglia which is an essential part of the reward circuit. The release of dopamine aids in motivating an organism to approach pleasurable experiences.
Genetic mutation
Random changes to DNA occuring within an organisms’ chromosomes. Although mutations are responsible for evolutionary change, the vast majority of them are detrimental to the organism’s fitness.
