Psych Chapter 2 Flashcards
to learn
Pierre Pauul Broca
Confirmed that some language functions were localized to the left frontal lobe.
Roger Sperry
Gathered patients who had their brains split in half.
Karl Wernickle
Discovered that when an area of the left hemisphere was injured a different type of language disturbace would appear. Spoken and written
Biological Psychology
The scientific study of the biological bases of behavior and mental processes.
Neurons
Cells that are highly specialized to receive and transmit information from one part of the body to another.
Sensory Neuron
type of neuron that conveys information about the environment, such as light or sound, from specialized receptor cells in the sense organs to the brain.
Motor Neuron
type of neuron that communicates information from the muscles and glands of the body.
Interneuron
type of neuron that communicates information between neurons
Cell Body
The part of the neuron that contains structures that process nutrients providing the energy the neuron needs to functions
Dendrites
The part of the neuron that receives messages from other neurons.
Axon
Part of the neuron that carries information from the neuron to other cells in the body, including other neurons, glands, and muscles
Glial Cell
Cells that provide structural and functional support for neurons throughout the nervous system
Myelin Sheath
a white, fatty, covering wrapped around the axons of some, but not all neurons in the brain
Stimulus threshold
The minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron
action potential
a brief electrical impulse that transmits information along the axon of a neuron
resting potential
the state in which a neuron is prepared to activate and communicate its message if it receives sufficient stimulation.
synapse
The point of communication between 2 neurons
synaptic gap
a tiny fluid filled space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons
axon terminals
small branches at the end of the axon
synaptic vesicles
Tiny sacs in the axon terminal
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers manufactured by a neuron
synaptic transmission
the entire process of transmitting information at the synapse
reuptake
the process by which neurotransmitter molecules detach from the receptor and are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron so they can be recycled and used again.
acetlycholine
chemical means by which neurons communicate with the muscles : learning, memory, muscle contraction
dopamine
involved in movement, attention, learning and pleasurable rewarding sensations
serotinin
involved in sleep, sensory perceptions, mood, and emotional state.
norepinephrine
Physical arousal, learning, memory, regulation of sleep. Helps body gear up in the face of danger.
glutamine
excitatory messages
GABA
inhibitory messages
endorphines
pain perception, positive emotions
nervous system
system of 1 trillion linked neurons throughout the body in complex organized communication network
nerves
large bundles of neuron axons that carry information in the peripheral nervous system
central nervous system (CNS)
division of the nervous system consisting of spinal cord and brain
spinal reflexes
simple, automatic, behaviors that occur without any brain involvement
peripheral nervous system
includes the nerves lying outside of the CNS
somatic nervous system
communicates sensory information received by sensory receptors along sensory nerves to the CNS
autonomic nervous system
regulates involuntary functions like heartbeat, blood pressure breathing and digestion
sympathetic nervous system
bodys emergency system, rapidly activating bodily systems to meet the needs of threats
endocrine system
system of glands located throughout the body, secrete hormes into the bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers secreted into primarily the blood stream
hypothalamus
complex structure just beneath the thalamus. Direct link between the endocrine system and the nervous system via the pituitary gland
pituitary gland
pea-sized gland just under the brain that regulates body production of other hormones by many of the glands in the endocrine system.
oxytocin
hormone invovled in reproduction social motivation and social behavior that is produced by the hypothalamus and released through pituitary gland
adrenal glands
pair of endocrine glands that produce hormones involved in the human response and play a key role in the fight or flight response
functional plasticity
the brains ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas
structural plasticity
the brain’s ability to change its physical structure in response to learning active practice or environmental influences
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
image technique used that produces highly detailed images of the bodies structures and tissues =, using electromagnetic signals generated by the body in response to magnetic fields
diffusion MRI (dMRI)
maps neural connections in the brain by tracking the movement of eater molecules along myelinated axones
positron emission tomography (PET)
color-coded images of brain activity by tracking the brain use of a radioactively tagged compound, such as glucose, oxygen, or a drug.
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
uses magnetic feilds to map brain activity by measuring changes to the brains blood flow and oxygen levels
neurogenisis
the development of new neurons
brianstem
A region of the brain made up of the hindbrain and midbrain
hindbrain
at the base of the brain containing several structures that regulate basic life functions
medulla
hindbrain structure that controls vital life functions
pons
hindbrain structure that connects the medulla and two sides of the cerebellum and helps coordinate and integrate movements on each side of the body.
cerebellum
large 2 sided, hindbrain structure at the back of the brain that is responsible for muscle coordination and equilibrium
reticular formation
network of nerve fibers located in the center of the medulla that helps regulate attention arousal and sleep.
midbrian
relay station that contains centers involved in the processing of auditory and visual sensory info
forebrain
largest most complex, contains centers for complex behaviors and mental processes, also called cerebrum
limbic system
group of forebrain structures that form a border around the brainstem and involved in emotion, motivation learning and memory
hippocampus
large forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and embedded in the temporal lobe in each cerebral hemisphere.
thalamus
rounded forebrain structure located within each cerebral hemisphere that process sensory info except smell.
amygdala
almond-shaped cluster of neurons at the base of the temporal lobe. - involved in emotions
cerebral cortex
wrinkled outer portions of the forebrian. contains most complex brain centers.
cerebral hemispheres
nearly symmetrical left and right halve of the cerebral cortex.
corpus callosum
thick band of axons that connects 2 cerebral hemispheres and acts as a communication link between them
occipital lobe
area at the back of each cerebral hemisphere that is the primary receiving area for visual info
parietal lobe
area of each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex located above the temporal lobe that processes body sensations.
temporal lobe
an area on each hemi of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving center for auditory info.
frontal lobe
largest lobe. processes voluntary muscle movement and involved in thinking planning and emotional control.
cortical localization
idea that particular brain area are associated with specific functions
aphasia
the partial or complete inability to articulate ideas understand spoken language or written because of brain injury or damage
Broca’s area
brain region of the frontal lobe of the dominant hemi usually the left, that is crucial for speech production
Wernicke’s area
left temporal lobe of dominant hemi crucial for language.
lateralization of function
notion that specific functions are processed primary on one side of the brain
parasympathetic nervous system
conserves and maintains physical resources
