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Psychology > Psy111 Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Psy111 Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Biological Psychology/Behavioral Neuroscience

A

Focus: biological parts of psychological processes, behavior and learning

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2
Q

Nervous System

A

Extensive network of specialized cells that carries information to and from all parts of the body

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3
Q

Neuron

A

Basic cell that makes up nervous system, receives and send messages within system

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4
Q

Dendrites

A

Branchlike structures of neuron that receive messages from other neurons

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5
Q

Soma

A

Cell body of neuron, responsible for maintaining life of cell

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6
Q

Axon

A

Tubelike structure

- carries neural messages from cell body to axon terminals for communication with other cells

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7
Q

Glial Cells

A
  • Provide support for neurons to grow
  • deliver nutrients to neurons
  • produce myelin to coat axons
  • clean up waste of dead neurons
  • influence information processing
  • during prenatal development: influence generation of new neurons
  • specific types have stem cell-like properties
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8
Q

Two types of glial cells produce myelin

A
  • Oligodendrocytes

- Schwann cells

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9
Q

Myelin

A
  • Fatty substance produced by certain glial cells

- Coats axon to insulate, protect, speed up neural impulse

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10
Q

Nerves

A

Bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel together through body

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11
Q

Axon Terminals

A
  • Enlarged ends of axonal branches

- specialized for communication between cells

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12
Q

Diffusion

A

Process of molecules moving from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration

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13
Q

Resting Potential

A

State of neuron when not firing a neural impulse - electrical charge at rest

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14
Q

Action Potential

A
  • Release of neural impulse, consisting of a reversal of electrical charge within axon
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15
Q

All-or-none

A

Neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all

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16
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical found in synaptic vesicles that, when released, has an effect on next cell

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17
Q

Synaptic vesicle

A

Saclike structures found inside synaptic knob containing chemicals

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18
Q

Synapse (synaptic gap)

A

Microscopic fluid-filled space between axon terminal of one cell and dendrites/soma of next cell

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19
Q

Receptor sites

A

3D Proteins on surface of dendrites/certain cells of muscles + glands
- shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters

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20
Q

Excitatory Synapse

A

Synapse at which neurotransmitter causes receiving cell to fire

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21
Q

Inhibitory Synapse

A

Synapse at which neurotransmitter causes receiving cell to stop firing

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22
Q

Antagonist

A

Chemical substances that block/reduce a cell’s response to action of other chemicals/neurotransmitters

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23
Q

Agonist

A

Chemical substances that mimic/enhance effects of neurotransmitter on receptor sites of next cell, increasing/decreasing activity on next cell

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24
Q

Reuptake

A

Process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into synaptic vesicles

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25
Q

Enzymatic Degradation

A

Process by which structure of neurotransmitter is altered so it can no longer act on a receptor

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26
Q

Major Neurotransmitters

A
  1. Acetylcholine (arousal, attention, memory, controls muscle contractions)
  2. Dopamine (control of movement, sensation of pleasure)
  3. Glutamate (learning, memory formation, nervous system development, synaptic plasticity)
  4. GABA (sleep, inhibits movement)
  5. Endorphins (pain relief)
  6. Serotonin (mood, sleep, appetite)
  7. Norepinephrine (arousal, mood)
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27
Q

Electrical Charge of Neurons (resting potential)

A
  • Balance between ions in and outside of the cell
  • Membrane semipermeable (and inside negatively charged as compared to outside)
  • change in electrical charge: action potential (cell fires)
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28
Q

Nervous System

A
  • Central Nervous System

- Peripheral Nervous System

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29
Q

Central Nervous System

A

Brain & Spinal Cord

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30
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Transmits information to and from central nervous system

  1. Autonomic Nervous System
  2. Somatic Nervous System
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31
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

Automatically regulates glands, internal organs, blood vessels, pupil dilation, digestion, blood pressure

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32
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

Carries sensory information, controls movement of skeletal muscles

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33
Q

Sensory system (afferent)

A

Carries messages from senses to central nervous system

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34
Q

Motor System (efferent)

A

Carries messages from central nervous system to muscles and glands

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35
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Autonomic Nervous System (Parasympathetic division, sympathetic division)

& Somatic Nervous System (Sensory System (afferent), Motor System (efferent))

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36
Q

Brain

A

Interprets and stores information; sends orders to muscles, glands & organs

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37
Q

Spinal Cord

A

Pathway connecting brain & peripheral nervous system

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38
Q

Parasympathetic division

A

Maintains body functions under ordinary conditions; saves energy

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39
Q

Sympathetic Division

A

Prepares the body to react and expend energy in times of stress

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40
Q

Interneuron

A
  • Found in center of spinal cord, receives info from afferent neurons and sends commands to muscles through efferent neurons
  • make up the bulk of neurons in the brain
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41
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

Ability within brain to constantly change both structure and function of many cells in response to experience/trauma

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42
Q

Reflex Arc

A

Connection of afferent neurons to interneurons to efferent neurons, resulting in a reflex action

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43
Q

Neurogenesis

A

Formation of new neurons; occurs primarily during prenatal development, but may also occur at lesser levels in some brain areas during adulthood

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44
Q

Stem Cell

A

Found in all tissues of body; capable of becoming other cell types when those cells need to be replaced

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45
Q

Epigenetics

A

Interaction between genes & environmental factors that influence gene activity (e.g. diet, life experiences, physical surroundings)

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46
Q

Fight or flight

A
  • Dilates pupils
  • decreases salivation
  • increases heart rate
  • dilates bronchi
  • decreases digestive functions of stomach, pancreas & intestines
  • inhibits bladder contraction
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47
Q

Rest & Digest

A
  • Constricts pupils & stimulates tear glands
  • slows heart rate
  • Increases salivation
  • constricts bronchi
  • increases digestive functions
  • allows bladder contraction
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48
Q

Endocrine Glands

A

Secrete chemicals called hormones directly into bloodstream

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49
Q

Hormones

A

Chemicals released into bloodstream by endocrine glands

50
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

Located in brain; secretes human growth hormone & influences all other hormone-secreting glands (also known as master gland)

51
Q

Pineal Gland

A

Located near base of Cerebrum, secretes melatonin

52
Q

Thyroid Gland

A

Found in neck, regulates metabolism

53
Q

Pancreas

A

Controls level of sugar in blood

54
Q

Gonads

A

Sex glands, secrete hormones that regulate sexual development, behavior and reproduction

55
Q

Ovaries

A

Female gonads/sex glands

56
Q

Testes

A

Male gonads/sex glands

57
Q

Adrenal glands

A
  • Located on top of each kidney
  • secrete over 30 different hormones to deal with stress
  • regulate salt intake
  • provide secondary source of sex hormones affecting sexual changes occurring during adolescence
58
Q

Oxytocin

A

Hormone released by posterior pituitary gland that is involved in reproductive and parental behaviors

59
Q

General Adaption Syndrome

A

3 stages of body’s physiological reaction to stress, including alarm, resistance & exhaustion

60
Q

Alarm

A
  • When body first reacts to stressor, sympathetic nervous system gets activated
  • adrenal glands release hormones that increase heart rate, blood pressure, supply of blood sugar -> burst of energy
  • (May lead to fever, nausea, headache )
61
Q

Resistance

A
  • as stress continues, body settles into sympathetic division activity -> release stress hormones that help the body resist stressor
  • early symptoms of alarm lessen, person may feel better
  • Stage will continue until stressor ends
  • (researchers found that one of hormones released unter stress, norepinephrine, seems to affect brain’s processing of pain, so person under stress may experience insensitivity to pain)
62
Q

Exhaustion

A
  • When body’s resources are gone, exhaustion occurs
  • can lead to formation of stress-related diseases (high blood pressure, weakened immune system) or death if outside help is unavailable
  • when stressor ends: parasympathetic division activates and body attempts to replenish its resources
63
Q

Immune System

A

System of cells, organs & chemicals of body that responds to attacks from diseases, infections, injuries

64
Q

Psychoneuroimmunology

A

The study of effects of psychological factors (stress, emotions, thoughts, behavior) on immune system

-> Researchers found that stress triggers same response in immune system that infection triggers

65
Q

Coronary Heart Disease

A

Buildup of waxy substance called plaque in arteries of heart

66
Q

Natural Killer (NK) Cell

A

Immune-system cell responsible for suppressing viruses and destroying tumor cells

67
Q

Type 2 Diabetes

A

typically occurring in middle adulthood when body either becomes resistant to effects of insulin/can no longer secrete enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels

68
Q

Glands

A

Organs in body that secrete chemicals; some affect functioning of body but not behavior, others have widespread influence on body and behavior

69
Q

Physiological Factors in Stress

A
  • Body protects itself through allostasis, dynamically adapting/adjusting in response to stress
  • involves activation of sympathetic nervous system, HPA axis, immune system etc
70
Q

Lesioning

A

Insertion of a thin, insulated electrode into brain through which an electrical current is sent, destroying brain cells at the tip of the wire

71
Q

Brain Stimulation

A
  • less harmful, no damage to neurons
  • causes neurons to react as if they had received message (electrical stimulation of brain/ESB)
  • Temporarily disrupt/enhance normal functioning of specific brain areas through electrical stimulation & study resulting changes in behavior
72
Q

Computed tomography (CT)

A

Brain-imaging method using computer-controlled X-rays of the brain

73
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

Brain-imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce detailed images of the brain

74
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

Recording of electrical activity of large groups or cortical neurons just below skull, most often using scalp electrodes

75
Q

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A

Used to evaluate individuals prior to brain surgery, explore various perceptual processes, detect potential of early dementia, explore development of cognitive processes in children

76
Q

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A

Radioactive sugar injected into subject; computer compiles a color-coded image of activity of the brain

77
Q

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A

MRI- based; allows for functional examination of brain areas through changes in brain oxygenation

78
Q

Looking Inside the Living Brain (methods for studying the structures and/or activity of the living brain)

A

🖊 Mapping Function

  • EEG
  • > PET
  • > MRI/fMRI

🖊 Mapping Structure

  • CT
  • MRI

🖊Lesioning Studies
🖊Brain Stimulation Studies

🖊Older Methods

  • Often relies on dissecting techniques after death
  • unable to directly observe function
79
Q

Medulla

A
  • First large swelling at top of spinal cord
  • lowest part of brain
  • responsible for life-sustaining functions (breathing, swallowing, heart rate)
80
Q

Pons

A
  • Part of hindbrain that relays information between cerebellum and cortex
  • plays part in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination, arousal
81
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Part of forebrain that regulates amount of fear, thirst, sexual drive, aggression

82
Q

Thalamus

A

Part of forebrain that relays information from sensory organs to cerebral cortex

83
Q

Corpus callosum

A

Connects left and right hemispheres of the brain

84
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

Controls complex thought processes

85
Q

Cerebellum

A

Controls/coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movements

86
Q

Reticular Formation(RF)

A

Responsible for general attention, alertness, arousal

87
Q

Limbic System

A

Involved in learning, emotion, memory, motivation

88
Q

Hippocampus

A

Responsible for formation of long-term declarative memories

89
Q

Amygdala

A

Responsible for fear responses and memory of fear

90
Q

Cortex

A
  • Frontal Lobes, temporal lobes, parietal lobes, occipital lobes
  • Outermost covering of brain
  • responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input
91
Q

Cerebral Hemispheres

A

Two sections of cortex on left and right sides of brain

92
Q

Occipital Lobe

A
  • Located at rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere

- containing primary visual centers of brain

93
Q

Parietal Lobes

A
  • located in lower back of brain

- containing centers for touch, temperature, body position

94
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

Responsible for sense of hearing and meaningful speech

95
Q

Frontal Lobes

A

Responsible for higher mental processes, decision making, fluent speech

96
Q

Motor cortex

A

Sends motor commands to muscles of somatic nervous system

97
Q

Mirror neurons

A

Neurons that fire when animal/person performs an action and also when an animal/person observes that same action being performed by another

98
Q

Association areas

A

Areas within each lobe of cortex for coordination and interpretation of information, as well as higher mental processing

99
Q

Broca’s aphasia

A

resulting from damage to Broca’s area, causing affected person to be unable to speak fluently, mispronounce words, speak haltingly

100
Q

Broca’s area

A

Production of speech, allows person to speak smoothly and fluently

101
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Involved in understanding meaning of words

102
Q

Wernicke’s aphasia

A

Condition arising from damage to Wernicke area, causing affected person to be unable to understand and produce meaningful language

103
Q

Spatial Neglect

A

Most often produced by damage to parietal association areas of right hemisphere, resulting in inability to recognize objects or body parts in left visual field

104
Q

Left Hemisphere

A
  • Controls right hand
  • spoken language
  • written language
  • mathematical calculations
  • logical thought process
  • analysis of detail
  • reading
105
Q

Right Hemisphere

A
  • Controls left hand
  • Nonverbal
  • Visual-spatial perception
  • Music and artistic processing
  • Emotional thought and recognition
  • Processing of the whole
  • Pattern recognition
  • Facial recognition
106
Q

Cerebrum

A

Upper part of brain consisting of the two hemispheres and the structures that connect them

107
Q

ADHD

A
  • Developmental disorder
  • in attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity
  • more than one cause: environment, heredity, personality factors
108
Q

Split Brain Research

A
  • Corpus Callosum sometimes severed to reduce seizures
  • Left Visual Field: right hemisphere
  • Right Visual Field: left hemisphere
109
Q

Temporal lobes

A

Responsible for sense of hearing and meaningful speech

110
Q

Auditory area

A

Hearing

111
Q

Motor area

A

Control of movement

112
Q

Somatosensory Area

A

Touch and body position

113
Q

Dopamine

A

Control of movement, pleasure

114
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Arousal, attention, memory, muscle contraction

115
Q

Endorphins

A

Pain relief

116
Q

GABA

A

Sleep, inhibits movement

117
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Arousal, mood

118
Q

Glutamate

A

Learning, memory formation, nervous system development, synaptic plasticity

119
Q

Serotonin

A

Mood, sleep, appetite

120
Q

Brain roughly divided

A 
Frontal lobe (Front) 
Temporal lobe (bottom/temples) 
Parietal lobe (top/back)
Occipital lobe (back/bottom)
121
Q

Brain illustration

A

Frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal

Motor, somatosensory, Wernicke, visual, cerebellum, brain stem, auditory

122
Q

Association areas

A

Responsible for coordination/interpretation of information; higher mental processing
(Broca’s and wernicke’s)

Psychology (7 decks)

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