Psychology mod 9 Flashcards
study guide
Where in the body did plato believe the “mind” was located?
in the brain
how did Aristotle disagree with plato?
Aristotle thought the mind was in the heart
how did franz gall contribute to the mind-body question?
he believed studying bumps on the skull can reveal a persons brain size, abilities, and character traits
In what way was franz gall incorrect and right?
gall was right about various brain regions have particular functions. Franz was incorrect in believing brain sizes control peoples
What happy fact allows us to study animal brains to learn about human brains?
information systems of humans and other animals operate similarly
dendrite
- receive and integrate messages
- conduct impulses to the cell body
- listens
cell body
contains nucleus; cells life support system
axon
passes messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands
-speaks
terminal branches
form junctions with other cells
myelin sheath
allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly along nerve cells
What is action potential and why is it important to neural communication?
the impulses fired when a neuron sends a message is called action potential. When a impulse is fired it travels to the axon and sends messages to other neurons, glands, or muscles
what is the difference between an excitatory and inhibitory nerve signals?
excitatory pushes a neuron’s gas pedal and inhibitory pushes the brakes
what is a threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
what happens the level of neural stimulation above the threshold is increased? why?
the action potential travels down, branching into junctions with other neurons or the body’s muscles and glands
what is synapse?
the meeting point between neurons
how do neurons communicate with each other?
impulses travel to the axon, stimulates the release of neurotransmitter molecules, allows electrically charged atoms to enter a new action potential, and excess neurotransmitter get reabsorbed
what is reuptake?
when excess neurotransmitters get reabsorbed and are broken down by enzymes
what effect does the release of endorphins have on the body?
they control the body’s feelings
when a neuron connects with another what happens?
it becomes chemical
what does more pressure mean?
neurons fire faster
what is a reuptake?
when nerves recycle unused neurotransmitters
what is polarization?
the resting state of the neuron, charge is more positive outside the membrane and more negative inside
what is depolarization?
the action potential; the rushing in and out of positively charged ions
what is repolarization?
the refractory period; the closing of the membrane and re-establishing a more negative charge inside
what do drugs and neurotransmitters determine?
if an impulse is exhibitory or inhibitory
ex. of inhibitory: anesthesia
what is action potential?
electrical signals traveling down the axon
what are terminal branches of the axon?
branches that form junctions with other cells
what is myelin sheath?
a fatty tissue that helps speed neural impulses
neurotransmitters are what?
chemical
