Unit 2, Modules 9-15 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Biological Psychology

A

Links biological (genetic, neural and hormonal) and psychological processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell; the basica building block of the nervous system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Soma/Cell body

A

The part of the a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life support center

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Axon

A

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

A fatty tissue layer encasing axons for some of the neurons; increases speed of transmission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Dendrites

A

A neuron’s often branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Axon Terminal

A

The place where the chemicals are released

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Action Potential

A

Neural impulse, brief electrical charge, that fires down an axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Resting Potential

A

The imbalance of electrical charge that exists between the interior of electrically excitable neurons (nerve cells) and their surroundings.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Threshold

A

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

All or None Response

A

A neuron’s reaction of firing (all or none)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or or cell body of the receiving neuron. The gap is known as the synaptic gap or the synaptic cleft.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps. Bind to receptor sites, influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Acetycholine (ACH)

+- Alzheimer’s disease

A

Attention
Arousal
Muscle action/ movement
Movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Dopamine
- Parkinson’s
+ Schizophrenia cocaine & amphetamines

A

Motor movements
Learning
Alertness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Norepinephrine

- Depression

A

Mood
Arousal
Learning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Serotonin
- Depression
+ Anxiety, inhibit dreaming

A

Mood
Sleep
Hunger
Aggresssoin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

GABA

- Anxiety, Huntington’s Disease, Epilepsy

A

Inhibitory effect on axons
Sleep
Movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Endorphins

No established problems

A

Pain
Pleasure
Example: Runner’s High

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Agonist

A

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Antagonist

A

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Central Nercous System (CNS)

A

The brain and the spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

24
Q

Somatic Nervous System (Skeletal Nervous System)

A

The division of the peripheral nervous system controls the body’s skeletal muscles. (Voluntary movements)
Afferent nerves - sensory
Efferent nevers - motor

25
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

The part of the Peripheral Nervous System that controls the glands and the muscle of internal organs. (Its sympathetic division arouses its parasympathetic division calms) (To sum this up, basically, this is the automatic things you do)

26
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body; mobilizing its energy. (Fight or flight)

27
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body.

28
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers manufactured by the endocrine glands, travels through blood, and affects other tissues

29
Q

Endocrine System*

A

The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

30
Q

Four Lobes of the Brain**

A

Frontal Lobe - Voluntary movement, expressive language
Parietal Lobe - sensory perception
Temporal Lobe - audio and processing of memory
Occipital Lobe - vision

31
Q

Hemisphere

A

Half of a sphere, usually referring to the left and right side of the brain
The right deals with creativity
The left deals with logic

32
Q

Brain Stem**

A

The oldest part and central core of the brain, starts at the spinal cord, and enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for AUTOMATIC SURVIVAL functions

33
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

A recording of the electrical activity across the brain’s surface. Measured by electrodes placed on scalp

34
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Shows the anatomy of the brain.

35
Q

Position Emission Tomography (PET)

A

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

36
Q

Cerebral Cortex**

A

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells overing the cerebral hemisphere; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

37
Q

Medulla*

A

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

38
Q

Corpus Callosum*

A

Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

39
Q

Hemispheric Dominance (Lateralization of Brain Function)

A

Just describes which hemisphere you are dominant.

40
Q

Reticular Formation*

A

A nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

41
Q

Thalamus*

A

The brain’s sensory control center, above the top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

42
Q

Cerebellum*

A

“little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal leraning and memory

43
Q

Limbic System*

A

Neural system (amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

44
Q

Amygdala*

A

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

45
Q

Hypothalamus*

A

Neural structure below the thalamus; directs the eating, drinking, body temperature (maintenance activities), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, linked to emotion and REWARD

46
Q

Motor Cortex**

A

Generates signals to direct the movement of the body

47
Q

Sensory Cortex**

A

All cortical areas linked with sensory functions

48
Q

Association Areas**

A

Areas of the cerebral cortex that don’t deal with primary motor functions, but higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

49
Q

Phineas Gage

A

One of the first cases that allowed people to second think the functions of the brain. Survived rod going through his frontal cortex, but his personality changed.

50
Q

Clive Wearing

A

Musicologist

51
Q

Aphasia

A

Impairment of language, usually cause by the left hemisphere damage, Broca’s area or Wenicke’s area

52
Q

Broca’s Area**

A

Helps control language expression - frontal lobe, left hemisphere, directs the muscle movements connected to speech

53
Q

Wernicke’s Area**

A

A brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in tthe temporal lobe

54
Q

Plasticity

A

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

55
Q

Split Brain Research

A

The research of Split Brain: (A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them)

56
Q

Pons*

A

The part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus. Critical role for the respiratory rythm of breathing. Fundamental to REM sleep.

57
Q

Hippocampus*

A

A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process (conscious) memories of facts and events