Nervous System Flashcards
Biological Psychology
scientific study of links between biological and psychological processes
neuron
nerve cell
dendrites
receive messages/conduct impulses toward cell body
axon
passes messages through branches to other neurons, muscles or glands
myelin
fatty tissue holding the axon of some neurons
-greater transmission speed
action potential
neural impulses
-electrical charge that travels down an axon
refectory period
period of inactivity after neuron has fired
threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger neural impulse
all-or-none response
neurons reaction of firing or not firing
synapse
where axon tip (sending neuron) and dendrite (receiving neuron) meet
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross synaptic gap between neutrons
synaptic gap
tiny gap where axon tip and dendrite meet
reuptake
neurotransmitters reabsorption by sending neuron
endorphins
pain control and pleasure
agonist
stimulate a response
antagonist
blocks a response
nervous system
communication network that consists of all the nerve cells
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
sensory and motor neurons
-connect to CNS
nerves
axons that form neural “cables” that connect CNS with muscles, glands and sends organs
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming info from sensory receptors to brain and spinal cord
motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing info from brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
interneurons
neurons inside brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs
somatic nervous system
- division of PNS
- controls body skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system
- part of PNS
- controls glands/muscles of internal organs
sympathetic nervous system
- division of the autonomic
- arouses the body, mobilizes energy in stressful situations
parasympathetic
division of autonomic system
- calms body, conserving energy
reflex
automatic response to sensory stimulus
endocrine system
body’s slow chemical communication
- glands secrete hormones into bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers that travel through bloodstream and affect other tissue
- made by endocrine
adrenal glands
- secrete hormones that help arouse body in stressful situations
- pair of endocrine glands and are just above kidney
pituitary glands
- regulates growth and controls other endocrines glands
- under influence by hypothalamus
lesion
tissue destruction
electroencephalogram (EEG)
recording of brains electrical activity waves
CT Scan
x-ray photos taken from different angles that represents a slice of the brains structure
PET Scan
detects where radioactive glucose goes while brain preforms a given task
MRI
uses magnetic fields to produce images of soft tissue
- show brain anatomy
fMRI
reveals blood flow and compares to MRI to see brain function and structure
Brainstem
- central core where spinal cord swells entering skull
- responsible for automatic survival functions
medulla
base of brainstem
- controls heartbeat and breathing
thalamus
sensory control center
- directs messages to sensory receiving areas and transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla
• location = top of brainstem
reticular formation
nerve network that travels through brainstem and thalamus
- controls arousal
cerebellum
-processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, enables nonverbal learning/memory
• location= rear of brainstem
limbic system
location = below cerebral hemisphere
- responsible for emotions and drives
amygdala
- linked to emotion
- 2 lima bean sized neural clusters in limbic system
hypothalamus
• location = below thalamus
- directs maintenance activities: eating, drinking, body temp
> helps govern endocrine system and linked to emotion and reward
cerebral cortex
• control and processing center
- neural cells covering cerebral hemispheres
glial cells
- support, nourish, and protect neurons, play a role in learning/thinking
- in nervous system
frontal lobes
- lying just before forehead
- involved in speaking, muscle movements, and making plans and judgements
Parietal
• location = lying at top of head, toward rear
- receives sensory input for touch and body position
occipital
• location = back of head
- includes areas receive info from visual fields
temporal lobes
• location = roughly behind ears
- auditory areas, receiving info primarily from opposite ear
motor cortex
• location = rear of frontal lobes
- control voluntary movements
somatosensory cortex
• location = front of parietal lobes
- register/process body touch, movement sensations
association areas
- involved in higher mental functions: thinking, learning, memory ,speaking
- part of cerebral cortex
plasticity
- brains ability to change by reorganizing after damage/building new pathways based on experience
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
corpus callosum
band of neural fibers connecting 2 brain hemispheres
- carries messages
spilt brain
condition where separates the 2 hemispheres by cutting corpus callosum
cognitive neuroscience
study of brain activity linked with cognition (thinking, memory, language)
interaction
when the effect of 1 factor depends on another factor
Terminal buttons
branched end of axon that has neurotransmitters
schwann cells
provide growth of myelin sheath
cell body/soma
contains nucleus/other parts of cell needed to sustain life
afferent neurons
carry info from body to brain
interneurons
- in spinal cord/brain
- interpret incoming info and determine what to do next
efferent
carry info from spinal cord/brain to rest of body in order to initiate behavior
accidents
analysis of victims suffer from brain injury
- resulting in variations of normal behaviors
broca’s area
location= left frontal lobe
- controls language expression and muscles involved with speech
wernikes area
- location = left temporal lobe
- interprets written and spoken language
midbrain
- location = between midbrain and forebrain
- responsible for sight/hearing, pupil dilation and eyeball movement
reticular formation
extends from spine to thalamus
- responsible for arousal, wakefulness and attentiveness
resting potential
neurons is at rest and can complete an action
- neuron is polarized
negative ions
within cell
positive ions
surround cell
hormones
chemical messages produced by endocrine glands and circulated in blood
thyroid gland
-regulate energy level in body and controls metabolism
sex glands
influence emotion and physical development
- females = ovaries
- male = testes
testicles
release androgens
— primarily testosterone
ovaries
release estrogens
pancreatic gland
secretes insulin to regulate blood sugar
what happens when you have too much insulin?
devour all sugar in blood
- may lead to sluggishness, inattentiveness and seizures
what happens when you have to little insulin?
buildup of sugar
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