Module 2A: Biopsychology

Question 1

Neuron

Answer 1

cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential for
all of the tasks of the nervous system

Question 2

glial cells (glia)

Answer 2

nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal
insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport

Question 3

Dendrites

Answer 3

branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons

Question 4

Axon

Answer 4

major extension of the soma

Question 5

Soma

Answer 5

cell body

Question 6

Myelin Sheath

Answer 6

fatty substance that insulates axons

Question 7

Action Potential

Answer 7

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

Question 8

Synapse

Answer 8

The neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to
receptors on the dendrites of the adjacent neuron

Question 9

Electrical and chemical energy

Question 10

threshold of excitation

Answer 10

level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active

Question 11

all-or-none

Answer 11

phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach
the threshold of excitation

Question 12

action potential

Answer 12

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

Question 13

neurotransmitter

Answer 13

chemical messenger of the nervous system

Question 14

excitatory vs inhibitory effects

Question 15

neuroplasticity

Answer 15

nervous system’s ability to change

Question 16

synaptogenesis

Answer 16

Synaptogenesis is a fancy scientific term that just means nerve cells are making new connections

Question 17

synaptic pruning

Question 18

endorphins

Answer 18

Endorphins help relieve pain, reduce stress and improve your sense of well-being. Endorphins are created in your pituitary gland and hypothalamus, both located in the brain. Endorphins are a type of neurotransmitter, or messenger in your body

Question 19

nervous system

Answer 19

The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and a complex network of nerves. This system sends messages back and forth between the brain and the body. The brain is what controls all the body’s functions. The spinal cord runs from the brain down through the back.

Question 20

central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 20

brain and spinal cord

Question 21

brain

Question 22

spinal cord

Question 23

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Answer 23

connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses in
the periphery of the body

Question 24

nerves

Question 25

somatic nervous system

Answer 25

relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS

Question 26

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Answer 26

controls our internal organs and glands

Question 27

sympathetic nervous system

Answer 27

involved in stress-related activities and functions

Question 28

parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 28

associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body

Question 29

endocrine system

Answer 29

series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

Question 30

hormones

Answer 30

chemical messenger released by endocrine glands

Question 31

adrenal glands

Answer 31

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

Question 32

hypothalamus

Answer 32

forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and behavior and a number of
homeostatic processes; serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system

Question 33

pituitary gland

Answer 33

secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of
messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system

Question 34

forebrain

Answer 34

largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system,
among other structures

Question 35

midbrain

Answer 35

division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular
formation

Question 36

hindbrain

Answer 36

division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

Question 37

brain stem

Question 38

medulla

Answer 38

hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

Question 39

pons

Answer 39

hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep

Question 40

thalamus

Answer 40

sensory relay for the brain

Question 41

reticular formation

Answer 41

midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and
motor activity

Question 42

cerebellum

Answer 42

hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is
thought to be important in processing some types of memory

Question 43

limbic system

Answer 43

collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory

Question 44

amygdala

Answer 44

structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning
to our memories

Question 45

ventral tegmental area (VTA)

Answer 45

midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood,
reward, and addiction

Question 46

hippocampus

Answer 46

structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory

Question 47

cerebral cortex

Answer 47

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

Question 48

frontal lobe

Answer 48

part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains
motor cortex

Question 49

parietal lobe

Answer 49

part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information;
contains the primary somatosensory cortex

Question 50

occipital lobe

Answer 50

part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex

Question 51

temporal lobe

Answer 51

part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of
language; contains primary auditory cortex

Question 52

motor cortex

Answer 52

strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement

Question 53

somatosensory cortex

Answer 53

essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch,
temperature, and pain

Question 54

visual cortex

Answer 54

The occipital lobe is located at the very back of the brain, and contains the primary visual cortex, which is
responsible for interpreting incoming visual information.

Question 55

auditory cortex

Answer 55

strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information

Question 56

Broca’s area

Answer 56

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

Question 57

Wernicke’s area

Answer 57

important for speech comprehension

Question 58

association areas

Question 59

lateralization

Answer 59

concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

Question 60

corpus callosum

Answer 60

thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres

Question 61

split brain