psych chapter 3 last minute study guiderino Flashcards
What is a neuron?
Nerve cell specialized for communication.
What is a dendrite?
portion of neuron that receives signals.
What is an axon?
Portion of neuron that sends signals.
What is a synaptic vesicle?
Spherical sac containing NTs.
What is a neurotransmitter?
Chemical messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron.
What is a synapse?
Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitter chemically.
What is a synaptic cleft?
A gap into which NTs are releases from the axon terminal.
What are glial cells?
Cell in nervous system that plays a role in the formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, and enhances learning and memory
What is a myelin sheath?
glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron’s signal.
What is resting potential?
electrical charge difference across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited.
What is threshold potential?
;membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential.
What is an action potential?
Electrical impulse that travels down the axon, triggering the release of neurotransmitters.
What is the absolute refractory period?
time during which another action potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate.
What are graded potentials?
postsynatpic potentials that can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on whether positively or negatively charged particles flow across the neuronal membrane and in which direction they flow.
What is an EPSP?
graded potential in a dendrite that is caused by excitatory synaptic transmission.
What is an IPSP?
graded potential in a dendrite that is cased by inhibitory synaptic transmission.
What is a receptor site?
location that uniquely recognizes a NT.
What is reuptake?
means of recycling NTs.
What is plasticity?
ability of nervous system to change.
What is a stem cell?
a cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized cell.
What is neurogenesis?
creation of new neurons in the adult brain.
What is the CNS?
part of the nervous system containing the brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behaviour
What is the PNS?
nerves in the body that extend outside the CNS
What are cerebral ventricles?
pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provides the brain with nutrients and cushions against injury.
What is the forebrain (cerebellum)?
forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual activities.
What are the cerebral hemispheres?
two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serves distinct yet highly integrated functions.
What is the corpus callosum?
Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.
What is the cerebral cortex?
outermost part of the forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing and higher brain functions.
What is the frontal lobe?
Forward part of cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, memory and planning.
What is the motor complex?
part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning and language.
What is Broca’s area?
language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production.
What is the parietal lobe?
upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that is specialized for touch and perception.
What is the temporal lobe?
lower part of the cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory.
What is Wernicke’s area?
part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech.
What is the occipital lobe?
back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision.
What is the primary sensory cortex?
regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions.
What is the basal ganglia?
Structures in the forebrain that help to control movement.
What is the limbic system?
Emotional centre of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, and memory.
What is the thalamus?
gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex.
What is the hypothalamus?
part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state.
What is the amygdala?
part of the limbic system that plays key roles in fear, excitement and arousal.
What is the hippocampus?
part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory.
What is the brain stem?
part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons and medulla.
What is the midbrain?
part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound.
What is RAS?
brain area that plays a key role in arousal.
What is the hindbrain?
region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons, and medulla.
What is the cerebellum.
brain structure responsible for our sense of balance.
What is the pons?
part of the brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum
What is the medulla?
part of the brain stem involved in basic functions such as heartbeat and breathing.
What is the spinal cord?
thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and body.
What are interneurons?
neurons that sends messages to other neurons nearby.
What is a reflex?
automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus.
What is the somatic nervous system?
part of the nervous system that conveys info between the CNS and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement.
What is the autonomic nervous system?
part of the nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands; along with the limbic system, it participates in emotion regulation.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion.
What is the endocrine system?
system of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers.
What is a hormone?
chemical released into the bloodstream that influences particular organs and glands.
What is the pituitary gland?
master gland that, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body.
What is the adrenal gland?
tissue located on top of the kidneys that releases adrenalin and cortisol during states of emotional arousal.
What is an EEG?
electroencephalograph. recording of brain’s electrical activity at the surface of the skull.
What is CT?
computed tomography. scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct 3D images
What is MRI?
magnetic resonance imaging. technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure.
What is PET?
positron emission tomography. imaging technique that measure consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain.
What is fMRI?
functional MRI. technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using the BOLD response.
What is TMS?
transcranial magnetic stimulation. technique that applies strong and quickly changes magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or disrupt brain function.
What is MEG?
magnetoencephalography. technique that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain.
What is lateralization?
cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other.
What is split-brain surgery?
procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures.
What is heritability?
percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes. (i.e. genes for height cause differences for height NOT the environment in which they are in (not actually true tho))
What is a family study?
analysis of how characteristics run in intact families.
What is a twin study?
analysis of how traits different in identical vs. fraternal twins.
What is an adoption study?
analysis of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from the biological relatives.
