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AP Psychology > Neuroscience > Flashcards

Neuroscience Flashcards

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1
Q

A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior.

A

Biological psychology

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2
Q

Nerve cells.

A

Neuron

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3
Q

The part of a neuron specialized to receive messages from other neurons.

A

Dendrites

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4
Q

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles and glands.

A

Axon

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5
Q

The layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one mode to the next.

A

Myelin sheath

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6
Q

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon, produced by rapid fluctuations in the concentrations of sodium and potassium ions in the fluid inside and outside the axon membrane.

A

Action potential

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7
Q

The junction of the axon tip of the sending neuron with the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.

A

Synapse

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8
Q

The molecules released by the axon terminal into the synapse, influencing the firing rate of the next neuron.

A

Neurotransmitters

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9
Q

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.

A

Acetylcholine (ACh)

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10
Q

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

A

Endorphin

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11
Q

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

A

Nervous system

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12
Q

The brain and spinal cord.

A

Central nervous system (CNS)

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13
Q

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

A

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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14
Q

Neural “cables” containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

A

Nerves

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15
Q

Neurons that carry information from the body’s tissues and organs to the central nervous system; also called afferent neurons.

A

Sensory neurons

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16
Q

Neurons in the brain and spinal cord that link the sensory and motor neurons. They do the additional processing of the information needed to make sense of the events occurring within your body and outside in the environment. Most of the neurons in the central nervous system are of this type.

A

Interneurons

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17
Q

Neurons that carry outgoing info from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands.

A

Motor neurons

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18
Q

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.

A

Somatic nervous system

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19
Q

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

A

Autonomic nervous system

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20
Q

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

A

Sympathetic nervous system

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21
Q

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.

A

Parasympathetic nervous system

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22
Q

A simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus.

A

Reflex

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23
Q

Interconnected neural cells. With experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. Computer simulations of neural networks show analogous learning.

A

Neural networks

24
Q

The body’s slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

A

Endocrine system

25
Q

Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, which are produced in one tissue and affect another.

A

Hormones

26
Q

A pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. The adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, which help to arouse the body in times of stress.

A

Adrenal glands

27
Q

This is the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

A

Pituitary gland

28
Q

Tissue destruction; a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.

A

Lesion

29
Q

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by placing electrodes on the scalp.

A

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

30
Q

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

A

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

31
Q

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain.

A

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

32
Q

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

A

fMRI (functional MRI)

33
Q

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions.

A

Brainstem

34
Q

The base of the brain stem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

A

Medulla

35
Q

A nerve network in the brain stem that plays an important part in controlling arousal.

A

Reticular formation

36
Q

The brain’s sensory switchboard. Located on top of the brain stem, it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

A

Thalamus

37
Q

The little brain attached to the rear of the brain stem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.

A

Cerebellum

38
Q

A doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brain stem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.

A

Limbic system

39
Q

Two lima bean sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion.

A

Amygdala

40
Q

A neural structure laying below (“hypo”) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities.

A

Hypothalamus

41
Q

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control center.

A

Cerebral cortex

42
Q

Cells of the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

A

Glial cells

43
Q

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.

A

Frontal lobes

44
Q

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.

A

Parietal lobes

45
Q

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual info from the opposite visual field.

A

Occipital lobes

46
Q

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory info primarily from the opposite ear.

A

Temporal lobes

47
Q

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements.

A

Motor cortex

48
Q

The area at the front of the parietal lobes that register and process body touch and movement sensations.

A

Sensory cortex

49
Q

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

A

Association areas

50
Q

Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage, either to Broca’s area or to Wernicke’s area.

A

Aphasia

51
Q

Controls language expression; an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved with speech.

A

Broca’s area

52
Q

Controls language reception; a brain area involved in language, comprehension, and expression, usually in the left temporal lobe.

A

Wernicke’s area

53
Q

The brain’s capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development.

A

Plasticity

54
Q

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

A

Corpus callosum

55
Q

A condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them.

A

Split brain

AP Psychology (10 decks)

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