Psychology 2/3 Test Flashcards
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
nerves, tissues, everything else
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
autonomic nervous system
maintains automatic survival functions like heartbeat
somatic or skeletal nervous system
deals with voluntary movements of the body
sympathetic nervous system
arouses body when in stressful situations…fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system
calms body down after a stressful situation is over
sensory neurons
(afferent neurons)
sends message from PNS to CNS
interneurons
communicate messages with CNS
motor neurons
efferent neurons (M turned sideways in motor is E) sends messages from the CNS to the PNS
location of neurons
dendrites(the bushy beginning near nucleus) Soma(the closest to nucleus) myelin sheath(the rectangular) axon(between myeline sheaths) terminal buttons(the bushy end)
serotonin
regulates MOOD (depression)
dopamine
regulates ATTENTION, PLEASURABLE EMOTIONS (Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia)
acetylcholine (AcH)
released with MUSCLE MOVEMENT and MEMORY (Alzheimer’s disease)
norepinephrine
released to AROUSE and raise ALERTNESS in your body during stress (sympathetic nervous system)
GABA
anti-anxiety neurotransmitter, CALMS BODY DOWN
parasympathetic nervous system
endorphins
PAINKILLER neurotransmitter also called “MORPHINE WITHIN”
mimicked by opiates like heroin
agonists
refers to chemicals that MIMIC (COPY) the effect of a neurotransmitter
antagonist
refers to chemicals that BLOCK the effect of a neurotransmitter
CT scan
uses X-RAYS passed through the brain to show structure or extent of a lesion
MRI
created more detailed computerized images using MAGNETIC FIELDS and pulses of RADIO WAVES to cause emissions of signals that depend on density of tissue
fMRI
functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals BLOOD FLOW and BRAIN ACTIVITY
EEG
amplified tracing of BRAIN ACTIVITY created by placing ELECTRODES over scalp to transmit signals about BRAINS ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY
PET
shows BRAIN ACTIVITY when RADIOACTIVITY tagged glucose rushes to active neurons
endocrine system
slower communication center
regulates body and behavioral processes
hormones
chemical messenger that travels through the bloodstream
pineal gland
gland in brain that produces melotonin which helps regulate circadian rhythms
adrenal gland
secrete stress hormones for “fight or flight” like the sympathetic nervous system
located above the KIDNEY
pituitary gland
“master gland”
produces hormones and regulates activity of other glands in endocrine system
neuron
nerve cell
threshold
minimal level stimulation required for an unreal impulse to fire
synapse
(junction or gap)
between the axon
nervous system
electrochemical communication center
reflex
simple autonomic inborn response to a sensory stimulus
lesion
natural or experimentally damaged tissue
hindbrain
consists medulla, pons, cerebellum
midbrain
consists reticular formation and clusters of nerve cells
forebrain
consists thalamus, limbic system, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex which contain the lobes of the brain
brainstem
oldest part of the brain
medulla
controls breathing and heartbeat
cerebellum
responsible for balance, movement
pons
connects lower and mid brain regions carry neural info between the areas
reticular formation
nerve network
thalamus
sensory switchboard
limbic system
controlling emotions
includes hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, pituitary
hippocampus
formation of memories
hypothalamus
“queen gland”
involved in a variety of drives
feeling of hunger, thirst, and sex
amygdala
neural clusters linked to emotions like aggression and fear
cerebral cortex
information processing center
frontal lobe
speaking and muscle movement
making plans and judgments
parietal lobe
register and process body sensations (sense of touch)
occipital lobe
visual areas
temporal lobe
auditory areas
association areas
areas of cerebral cortex not involved in motor or sensory processes
aphasia
impairment of language
Broca’s area
left FRONTAL LOBE that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
Wernicke’s area
left TEMPORAL LOBE involved in language comprehension
plasticity
the brain’s capacity for modification
corpus callosum
large bundle of neural fibers that allows the two sides of the brain to communicate
cutting it leads to split brains
split brain
split brain illustrates LEFT brain used for LANGUAGE and RIGHT used for SPATIAL and NON-LINGUISTIC FUNCTIONS
chromosome
threadlike structures
23 from mom/dad
DNA
containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
nucleotides
biochemical letters that make up genes (A T C G)
genes
biochemical units of heredity
genome
complete instructions for making an organism
genotype
specific genetic pattern or “blueprint” that makes you distinct from anyone else
phenotype
observable characteristics or traits of an individual
mutations
random errors in gene replication
evolutionary psychology
evolution of behavior using the principles of natural selection
gender
people define male or female
behavior genetics
the power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
environment
every non-genetic influence
identical twins
single fertilized egg
fraternal twins
develop from separate fertilized eggs
temperament
emotional reactivity and intensity
heritability
proportion of variation among individuals
interaction
effect of one factor depends on another factor
molecular genetics
studies molecular structure and function of genes
prenatal environment
first stage of nurture
culture
enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions
sociocultural perspective
behavior and thoughts change according to society/culture we were raised in
personal space
buffer zone
memes
self-replicating ideas
X chromosome
sex chromosome in men and women
Y chromosome
sec chromosome only in men
testosterone
most important male sex hormone
gender role
set of expected behaviors for males and females
gender identity
one’s sense of being male or female
social learning theory
learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished
gender schema theory
cognitive theory that children learn what is male and female and act accordingly
jean piaget
cognitive
John Watson
behavioral
sigmund Freud
psychodynamic
