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Psychology - Biopsychology P2 > Key Words > Flashcards

Key Words Flashcards

1
Q

Central nervous system

A

Sub-system of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

All parts of the nervous system that are outside the brain and spinal cord

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3
Q

Autonomic NS

A

Sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary responses like breathing and heart rate

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4
Q

Somatric NS

A

Part of the peripheral nervous system responsible for carrying sensory and motor info to and from the CNS

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5
Q

Sympathetic NS

A

Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that activates nerves, glands and visceral muscles in times of stress or threat (fight or flight)

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6
Q

Parasympathetic NS

A

A subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body after action and also retains the body functioning at its normal state (homeostasis)

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7
Q

Reflex

A

Action that is performed without conscious thought as a response to a stimulus (e.g. knee jerk)

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8
Q

Sensory neuron

A

Carry nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and the brain

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9
Q

Relay neuron

A

Neurona that allow sensory and motor neurone to communicate with each other

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10
Q

Motor neuron

A

Form synapses with muscles and control heir contractions

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11
Q

Synapse

A

The small gap between two neurons

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12
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical substances that play an important part in the workings of the nervous system by transmitting nerve impulses across a synapse

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13
Q

Axon

A

A single long slender fibre that carries the nerve impulse away from the cell body

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14
Q

Excitatory neurotransmitter

A

Neurotransmitter that increase the likelihood that a nerve cell will produce an action potential

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15
Q

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

A

Neurotransmitters that decrease the likelihood that a nerve cell will produce an action potential

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16
Q

Summation

A

Combination of effects from the activity of 2 or more synapses onto a single neuron

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17
Q

Receptor

A

A cell able to respond to light, heat, or other external stimulus and transmit a signal to a sensory nerve

18
Q

Endocrine system

A

A collection of organs that secrete hormones into the blood stream

19
Q

Gland

A

A gland is a group of cells in the body that synthesises substances (e.g.hormones ) fo release into the bloodstream

20
Q

Hormone

A

The body’s chemical messengers, they travel through the bloodstream, influencing many different processes (e.g. mood)

21
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Part of the brain that has a vital role in controlling many bodily functions including the release of hormones from the pituitary gland

22
Q

Fight or flight response

A

The way an animal (including humans) responds to stress as it becomes physiologically aroused to fight an aggressor or to run away

23
Q

Adrenaline

A

Helps the body respond to a stressful situation by increasing heart rate and blood flow

24
Q

Noradrenaline

A

Construction of the blood vessels, causing blood pressure to increase

25
Q

Cortisol

A

“Stress hormone”- hormone responsible for blood glucose regulation, immune functions, and anti-stress responses -production is increased by stress

26
Q

Adrenal cortex

A

Produces cortisol as a response to stress

27
Q

Adrenal medulla

A

Releases adrenaline and noradrenaline in preparation for fight or flight response

28
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

A technique for studying the brain. It works by detecting changes in blood oxygenation and flow that indicates increased neural activity

29
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

A method of studying the brain by recording changes in electrical activity of the brain using electrodes attached to the scalp

30
Q

Event-related potential (ERP)

A

A technique that takes EEG data and uses it to investigate cognitive processing of a specific event. It achieves this by taking multiple readings and averaging them in order to filter out brain activity that is not related to the stimulus appearance

31
Q

Post mortem examination

A

Way of studying the brains of people who have shown particular psychological abnormalities prior to their death in an attempt to establish the possible neurobiological cause for this behaviour

32
Q

Localisation

A

Refers to the belief that specific areas of the brain are associated with specific cognitive processes

33
Q

Broca’s area

A

An area in the frontal lobe of the brain usually in the left hemisphere related to speech production

34
Q

Wernickes area

A

An area in the temporal lobe of the brain important in the comprehension of language

35
Q

Visual cortex

A

The part of the cerebral cortex that received and processes sensory nerve impulses from the eyes

36
Q

Auditory cortex

A

The part of the cerebral cortex that processes info received through hearing - it receives signals from the ears regarding pitch and volume of sound

37
Q

Motor cortex

A

A region of the brain responsible for the generation of voluntary motor movements

38
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

A region of the brain that processes input from sensory receptors in the body that are sensitive to touch

39
Q

Hemispheric lateralisation

A

Refers to the fact that some mental processes in the brain are mainly specialised to either the left or the right hemisphere

40
Q

Corpus callosum

A

Nerve divers that divides the cerebral cortex lobes into left and right hemispheres

41
Q

Brain plasticity

A

Refers to the brains ability to modify its own structure and function as a result of experience

42
Q

Functional recovery of the brain

A

Refers to the recovery of abilities and mental processes that have been compromised as a result of brain injury or disease

Psychology - Biopsychology P2 (2 decks)

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