psy exam 2 chapter 3 Flashcards

1
Q

Neurons

A

Special cells that receive, process, and transmit signals throughout the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Glia Cells

A

Non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that provide support and protection to neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

(Neuron Structure) Dendrites:

A

Extension of the neuron that receive signals from other neurons or sensory receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

(Neuron Structure) Soma:

A

Neuron main cell body, contains the nucleus and other organelles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

(Neuron Structure) Axon:

A

A long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

(Neuron Structure) Myelin Sheath:

A

Fatty insulation layer around the axon the protects it and speeds up signal transmission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

(Neuron Structure) Synapse:

A

The junction between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite or soma of another neuron (neuron to neuron connection)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

(Neuron Structure) Vesicles:

A

Small sacs in the axon terminal that store neurotransmitters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

(Neuron Structure) Neurotransmitters:

A

Chemical messengers released from vesicles that cross the synapse and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

(Neuron Structure) Receptor Sites:

A

Proteins on the postsynaptic neuron that bind to neurotransmitters, initiating a response in the postsynaptic cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Action Potential

A

A brief electrical signal that travels down the axon of a neuron. Its made when the neurons membrane potential reaches a certain threshold

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

All or Nothing Law

A

An Action Potential either happens fully or not at all. If the stimulus is strong enough to reach the threshold, an action potential of a fixed size will be made.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Post-Synaptic Potential (PSP)

A

A change in the membrane potential of the postsynaptic neuron caused by the binding of neurotransmitters to receptors. Happens after an action potential reaches the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron, triggering the release of neurotransmitters.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Post-Synaptic Neuron

A

Neuron receiving the signal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Pre-Synaptic Neuron

A

Neuron sending the signal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Excitatory PSP (EPSP)

A

Depolarizes the postsynaptic neutron, making it more likely to fire an action potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Inhibitory PSP (IPSP)

A

Hyperpolarizes the postsynaptic neuron, making it less likely to fire an action potential.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Acetylcholine

A

(Major Neurotransmitters)
Function: Muscle contraction, memory, learning
Disorders when lacking: Alzheimer’s Disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Dopamine

A

(Major Neurotransmitters)
Function: Reward, motivation, movement, pleasure
Disorders when lacking: Parkinson disease, Schizophrenia, Addiction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Serotonin

A

(Major Neurotransmitters)
Function: Mood regulation, sleep, appetite
Disorders when lacking: Depression, anxiety

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Norepinephrine

A

(Major Neurotransmitters)
Function: Alertness, arousal, stress response
Disorders when lacking: Depression, ADHD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

GABA

A

(Major Neurotransmitters)
Function: Inhibition, Anxiety reduction
Disorders when lacking: Anxiety disorders, epilepsy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Glutamate

A

(Major Neurotransmitters)
Function: Excitation, learning, memory
Disorders when lacking: Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Endorphins

A

(Major Neurotransmitters)
Function: Pain relief, pleasure
Disorders when lacking: Chronic pain, addiction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Central Nervous System

A

Consists of the brain and spinal cord. Responsible for processing information, making decision, and coordinating bodily functions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Consists of all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Connects the Central Nervous System to the rest of the body, carrying information to the CNS and motor commands from the CNS to muscles and organs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

Responsible for the “fight-or-flight” response, preparing the body for action in stressful situation. Increase heart rate, dilates pupils, and inhibits digestion.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Responsible for the “rest-and-digest” response. Promotes relaxation and energy conservation. Slows heart rate, constricts pupils, and stimulates digestion.

29
Q

Medulla

A

(Brain Parts)
Controls vital functions like breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

30
Q

Cerebellum

A

(Brain Parts)
Coordinates movement, balance, and posture

31
Q

Thalamus

A

(Brain Parts)
Relays sensory information to the cortex

32
Q

Hypothalamus

A

(Brain Parts)
Regulates body temp, hunger, thrist, and the endocrine system

33
Q

Limbic System

A

(Brain Parts)
Involved in emotions, memory, and motivation

34
Q

Amygdala

A

(Brain Parts)
Processes emotions, particularly fear and aggression.

35
Q

Hippocampus

A

(Brain Parts)
Crucial for memory formation and retrieval

36
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

(Brain Parts)
Connects the two hemispheres of the brain. Allowing them to communicate.

37
Q

Brocas Area

A

(Brain Parts)
Responsible for speech production

38
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

Responsible for language comprehension

39
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

(Cortex Lobes)
Executive functions, planning, decision-making, personality

40
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

(Cortex Lobes)
Processes sensory information, spatial awareness

41
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

(Cortex Lobes)
Auditory processing, memory, emotion

42
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

(Cortex Lobes)
Visual Processing

43
Q

Prefrontal Cortex

A

The most anterior part of the frontal lobe, involved in complex cognitives functions like planning, decision-making, and social behavior

44
Q

Left Brain Hemisphere

A

Brain hemisphere that is generally dominant for language, logic, and analytical thinking.

45
Q

Right Brain Hemisphere

A

Brain hemisphere that is generally dominant for spatial reasoning, creativity, and emotional processing.

46
Q

Split-Brain Research

A

Involved studying individuals who had their corpus callosum severed.
Outcomes: each hemisphere can function independently to some extent, but the are better at different things.
Example: The left hemisphere may be able to name an object in the right visual field, but the right hemisphere may be able to draw the object or recognize it by touch.

47
Q

Brain Plasticity

A

Refers to the brain’s ability to change, adapt, and reorganize itself. Greatest during early childhood but continues throughout life.
Allows the brain to adapt, learn new skills, and recover from injury.

48
Q

Endocrine System

A

Network of glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

49
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers that travel through bloodstream to organs where they regulate bodily functions.

50
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

The “Master Gland” of the endocrine system. Controls activity of many other glands in the system. Makes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress response.

51
Q

Behavioral Genetics

A

The study of the influence of genes and environment on behavior. Investigates how those two interact to create differences in behavior.

52
Q

Research Methods used in Behavioral Genetics

A

Twin studies, adoption, studies, and family studies.

53
Q

Evolutionary Psychology

A

Examines behavior in terms of how it adapts for survival and reproduction.

54
Q

Charles Darwin

A

Thought that evolution occurs through natural selection.

55
Q

Fitness

A

An organism’s ability to survive and reproduce

56
Q

Natural Selection

A

The process where individuals with traits that increase their fitness are more likely to survive, leading to the evolution of those traits in a population.

57
Q

Adaptations

A

Traits that have evolved through natural selection because they increase an organism’s fitness

58
Q

Examples of Behavioral Adaptations

A

Fear of snakes and spiders, helped our ancestors avoid predators

Mate preferences, evolved to increase the likelihood of successful reproduction

Showing selfless concern for kin, evolved to increase the survival of relatives who share our genes

59
Q

Image of Women Contrast Study

A

Male participants were shown slides of either highly attractive women or no images(control group)

Afterward, both groups rated the attractiveness of an average-looking woman.

Men exposed to the attractive images rated the average woman much less attractive relative to the control group.

60
Q

Extrapolation

A

Process of extending a trend or pattern beyond known data to make predictions about the unknown

61
Q

Examples of Over-Extrapolation

A

Assuming that a stock that has been increasing in value will continue to do so indefinitely

Believing that a single study showing a positive effect of a certain intervention means it will show positive effects for everyone

62
Q

Mozart Effect

A

Classic example of over-extrapolation. A study found the listening to classical music briefly improved spatial reasoning performance in college students. Led to belief that making babies listen to classical music made them smarter. Subsequent research failed to replicate original findings

63
Q

Research Findings on over-extrapolation

A

Extrapolation can be useful but should be done cautiously

64
Q

Does more synapses equate to higher intelligence?

A

No, it does not, research shows learning involves pruning unused connections. Quality over quantity.

65
Q

Phantom Limb Syndrome

A

[Media Assignment]
Condition where patient feels pain in a missing limb

66
Q

Mirror box technique

A

[Media Assignment]
Dr. R’s solution for the amputees pain

67
Q

Blindsight

A

[Media Assignment]
Graham’s condition
(where a blind person can see motion)

68
Q

Amygdala

A

[Media Assignment]
Called the gateway to the emotional centers

69
Q

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

A

[Media Assignment]
John’s condition
(where he experiences intense religious experiences)