The Biology Of The Mind

Question 0

Neuron

Answer 0

Nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system

Question 1

Biological psychology

Answer 1

Scientific study of links between biological and psychological processes

Question 2

Dendrite

Answer 2

Branching extensions

Listens to other neurons

Question 3

Axon

Answer 3

Longer extension

Speaks to other neurons

Question 4

Action potential

Answer 4

Neural impulse (electric charge) travels down axon 
The message being sent

Question 5

Threshold

Answer 5

Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Question 6

Synapse

Answer 6

The junction between the axon tip of sending neuron and the dendrite of the receiving neuron; connects the two

Question 7

Neurotransmitters

Answer 7

Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps

Question 8

Reuptake

Answer 8

Process of a sending neuron that reabsorbs excess transmitters

Question 9

Difference between agonist molecules and antagonist

Answer 9

Agonist=may be similar enough to a transmitter to bind to its receptor and mimic its effect.
Antagonist=bind to receptors but the effect is to block a transmitter from functioning

Question 10

Dopamine

Answer 10

Function: influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion.
Malfunction: too much-schizophrenia, too little-tremors and decreased mobility

Question 11

Endorphins

Answer 11

Function: major inhibitory transmitter.
Malfunction: if flooded with drugs, the brain might stop producing endorphins

Question 12

Nervous system

Answer 12

Body’s electrochemical communication network

Question 13

Central nervous system

Answer 13

Brain and spinal cord

Question 14

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 14

All other nerves and neurons

Question 15

Nerves

Answer 15

Bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Question 16

3 types of neurons

Answer 16

Sensory neurons: ingoing messages from sensory receptors to brain and spinal cord
Motor neurons: outgoing messages from CNS–> PNS
Interneurons: brains and spinal cord (mediators between sensory and motor)

Question 17

Somatic nervous system

Answer 17

Part of PNS; skeletal muscles

Enables voluntary control

Question 18

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 18

Glands and muscles of our internal organs, part of PNS

Question 19

Two parts of autonomic nervous system

Answer 19

Sympathetic: arousal and getting you mobile when in danger
Parasympathetic: tells us to chill out, slows breathing and heart rate

Question 20

Pituitary gland

Answer 20

Endocrine system’s most influential gland; regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

Question 21

Brainstem

Answer 21

Oldest part of brain and central core

Question 22

Thalamus

Answer 22

Brain’s sensory switchboard, on top of brainstem

Question 23

Cerebral cortex

Answer 23

Intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; ultimate control and info processing center

Question 24

Frontal lobes

Answer 24

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements in making plans and judgments

Question 25

Why can the brain not feel pain?

Answer 25

No sensory receptors

Question 26

Reading out loud

Answer 26

1. Words register in visual area
2. Are relayed to angular gyrus, which makes them auditory code
3. Received and understood in Wernicke’s area
4. Sent to Broca’s area
5. Controls motor area and creates pronounced word

Question 27

Split brain

Answer 27

Result of cutting corpus callosum

Person can live