Unit 2 Biological Psychology Flashcards
sensory/afferent neuron
carry info from brain to spinal cord
motor/efferent neuron
carries info away from spinal cord
interneurons
brain’s internal communication
action potential
an electrical charge that makes a neuron fire
depolarization
positive ions enter neuron and make it fire
hyperpolarization
negative ions enter neuron and make it stop
✰ refractory period
after neuron fires it has to recharge before firing again
sodium potassium pumps
makes neuron ready to fire
synapse
space between neurons (aka synaptic gap)
all or none
action potential will always fire at 100%, or not fire at all
frontal lobe
in charge of judgement, reasoning, decision-making
Wernicke’s Area
in charge of understanding language
pituitary gland
master gland in charge of growth
temporal lobe
in charge of hearing
Pons
in charge of sleep, and connecting back of brain to the front
Medulla Oblengata
automatic functions
Sensory Cortex
sensation
Parietal Lobe
sensation
corpus callosum
connects both hemispheres, where seizures happen
occipital lobe
vision
cerebellum
balance and cordination
brain stem
connects brain to spinal cord
pineal gland
melatonin
thyroid
metabolism
kidney
filters blood
testes
sperm
thalamus
sending messages
adrenal gland
adrenaline
gonads
sex organs
acetylcholine (ACh)
enables muscle action, learning, memory
dopamine
pleasure. influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion.
serotonin
happiness
norepinepherine
adrenaline. Helps control alertness and arousal. Undersupply can depress mood.
GABA (gamma - aminobutyric acid)
Inhibitory neurotransmitter (slows things down)
Glutamate
Excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory.
endorphins
natural painkillers
Neurotransmitters
Chemical that travels through neuron
Reuptake
After neuron has taken neurotransmitter, any remaining chemicals are re-absorbed by the sending neuron
Lock and Key Mechanism
when the sending and receiving neurons are identical
Agonist
The neurotransmitter is close enough to a match that a neuron accepts it
Antagonist
Blocks neuron from accepting the neurotransmitter
Nerves
Multiple neurons
Glial cells
aka glue cells, support, nourish, and protect neurons
Hypothalamus
Sex, hunger, thirst
Visual agnosia
When you fail to recognize objects, persons, or color
Face blindness
Inability to recognize people’s faces
Association Area
Parts of the brain that are unknown
Plasticity
Brains ability to modify itself after some type of injury or illness
Corpus Callosum
connects both hemispheres, where seizures happen
In what disease is PCh low?
Alzheimer’s
Excess dopamine leads to what disease?
Schizophrenia
Too little dopamine is linked to what disorder?
Parkinson’s
Under supply of serotonin leads to what?
Depression
Too little GABA leads to what?
seizures, tremors, and insomnia.
Too much glutamate linked to…
migraines and seizures
aphasia
impairment of language caused by damage to Broca’s area of Wernicke’s area
sympathetic
spends energy
parasympathetic
mends energy
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
detects electrical activity in neurons
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
records magnetic fields from brains
CT scan
generates images to locate brain damage
MRI
to visualize brain structure
fMRI
an MRI while the person is doing a task
Broca’s Area
producing speech
motor cortex
moving muscles