Pyschology Chapter 2 Flashcards
also called nerve impulse; a brief disturbance from the resting potential of a neuron that is propagated along an axon, and results in the release of neurotransmitters (chemical messages) at the axon terminal
Action Potential
a neurotransmitter that is involved in muscle activation, sleep regulation, and memory consolidation.
Acetylcholine
the tendency for a drug to bind to a receptor site on a neuron.
Affinity
a drug that promotes the action of a neurotransmitter at the synapse.
agonist
a property of axon conduction whereby the size of action potential does not vary as it travels down an axon.
all-or-none law
the disturbance or loss of memory.
amnesia
a brain structure activated by pain and fear and responsible for evaluating the emotional significance of situations that may involve risk, pain, fear, reward and sexuality.
amygdala
a drug that inhibits or obstructs the action of a neurotransmitter at the synapse.
antagonist
neuron that fires when an individual “sees” an action performed, but is inhibited when the participant “performs” the same action.
anti-mirror neuron
the “following away” process that occurs whereby cells that are not used are absorbed by glial cells
apoptosis
glial cells that function to transport nutrients to neurons from blood vessels.
astrocytes
the branch of the peripheral nervous system that consists of nerves that control the function of smooth muscles, cardiac muscles, internal organs and glands.
autonomic nervous system
the process of a neuron that is specialized to conduct nerve impulses away from the soma towards the axon terminal.
axon
the boundary between the axon and the cell body
axon hillock
a motor area in the brain that activates the muscle contractions that underlie the capacity to speak.
Broca’s area
a brain scan technique whereby the brain tissue is visualized by taking x-ray at different angles of the brain and producing an image or picture of a “slice”, of the brain.
CAT ( computed tomography) scan
that portion of the nervous system in which the cell bodies are encased in bone (the skull and vertebrae).
central nervous system (cns)
the largest part of the brain that is composed of four lobes (frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal) and is responsible for higher cognitive functions; also known as the neocortex.
cerebral cortex
with regards to brain function, the process whereby an action on one side of the body is carried-out by the opposite-side brain hemisphere
contralateral
the process of a neuron that extends outward from the cell body multiplying the surface area near the cell body that is specialized to receive information from other neurons.
dendrite
a decrement in the polarity of a neuron produced by the inflow of sodium (NA+) ions.
depolarization
a synapse in which the receptor site and the affected ion channel are positioned in close proximity, resulting in rapid communication between neurons.
direct chemical synapse
neurotransmitter that is involved in movement, attention, learning, and reinforcement.
Dopamine
a graph displaying the range of effectiveness of a drug as a function of the dose administered.
dose-response curve
also known as tight junctions are synapses that do not involve the release or neurotransmitters. In these synapses the action potential opens ion channels in the receiving neuron, and they are found in some regions of the brain where time-of-arrival of neural impulses must be measured very precisely.
electrical synapses
a brain scan technique whereby the recording of electrical activity along the scalp is measured by placing electrodes on the scalp and recording the firing of neurons within the brain.
electroencephalogram (EEG)
synapses that depolarize the receiving neuron causing excitation.
excitatory synapses
deep grooves in the brain that separate gyri
fissures
)a type of MRI that is enhanced by measuring changes in brain behavior by looking at brain activation while specific tasks are performed.
(FMRI) functional magnetic resonance imagining
the most anterior portion of the neocortex. This lobe is responsible for activating the muscles underlying movement, and planning for movement.
frontal lobe
also known as “glue” cells; serve as helper cells of neurons by providing protection nourishment and support
glial cells
the parts of a brain comprised of cell bodies and unmyelinated axons.
grey matter
the chemical sense of taste.
gustation
normal protrusions in brain texture that cause irregularities in the surface of the brain.
gyri
a brain structure implicated in the formation of long-term memories, and spatial memory and navigation
hippocampus
the maintenance of a stable constant condition
homeostasis
literal translation is “little human”: a representation of the human body found on the somatosensory and motor areas of the cortex.
homunculus
an increment in the polarity of a neuron caused by the inflow of chloride (CL-) ions, or the outflow of potassium (K+) ions.
hyperpolarization
the brain structure responsible for the regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, hunger, thirst, sexual arousal, and sleep; it also controls the pituitary gland.
hypothalamus