Unit 2 Part 1 Flashcards
Biological Bases
Neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
cell body
part of neuron containing nucleus; the cell’s life support center
axon
neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
myelin sheath
fatty tissue layer segmental encasing axons of some neurons; enables faster transmission speed as neural impulses travel along axon
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, protect neurons; play role in learning memory and thinking
action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge traveling along the axon
threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
refractory period
brief resting period after neuron has fired, further action potentials cannot occur until axon returns to resting state
all or none response
neuron will either fire with full strength or not at all (toilet analogy)
synapse
junction between sending neuron and dendrite or cell body of receiving neuron
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross synaptic gap, released from sending neuron, travel to receiving neuron where they bind to receptor sites; influences if neuron generates neural impulse
reuptake
neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by sending neuron from synaptic gap
Acetylcholine [ACh]
excitatory
enables muscle movement, learning and memory
surplus: muscle spasms
deficit: alzheimers
dopamine
inhibitory; influences mood, movement, learning, attention, emotion, arousal, reward; surplus: schizophrenia; deficit: Parkinson’s, ADHD
serotonin
inhibitory; sleep, mood, arousal, hunger; surplus: hallucinations; deficit: depression, insomnia
norepinephrine
excitatory; arousal, alertness, mood, flight or flight; surplus: anxiety; deficit: depression
glutamate
excitatory; basisi of learning and longterm memory; surplus: brain overstimulation, migraines, seizures; deficit: N/A
GABA
inhibitory; regulates sleep-wake cycle; surplus: sleep & eating disorders; deficit: anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia
endorphins
inhibitory; pain control, stress reduction, positive emotions; surplus: artificial high, false pain perception; deficit: addicition (opiates)
agonist
molecule that INCREASES neurotransmitters action (whether inhibitory or excitatory)
antagonist
molecule that BLOCKS or INHIBITS neurotransmitters action (whether inhibitory or excitatory)
nervous system
body’s electrochemical communication network
Peripheral nervous system
sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to rest of body -> Autonomic and Somatic
Central nervous system
brain and spinal cord; in charge of interpretation and decision making
nerves
bundles of neural cables connecting CNS with muscles, glands, organs
Autonomic nervous system
[peripheral nervous system] controls self regulated action of internal organs and glands; -> sympathetic and parasympathetic
Somatic nervous system
[peripheral nervous system] controls skeletal muscles -> motor output, and sensory output
afferent neurons
sensory neurons carry messages from sensory receptors to brain/spinal cord
efferent neurons
ef- like EXIT; motor neurons carry information from brain/spinal cord to muscles and glands
interneurons
neurons within brain and spinal cord; communicate internally and process information between sensory input and motor output
sympathetic nervous system
[Peripheral NS -> Autonomic NS] arouses body, mobilizing energy
parasympathetic nervous system
[peripheral NS -> Autonomic NS] Para- like Parachute to slow fall; calms body, conserving energy
endocrine system
body’s “slow” chemical communication of hormones through bloodstream
hormone
chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands into bloodstream to affect other tissues
adrenal glands
endocrine glands above kidneys that secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) to arouse body in times of stress
pituitary gland
most influential gland; influenced by hypothalamus to regulate growth and controls other endocrine glands
brainstem
oldest part of brain, central core; responsible for automatic survival functions
medulla
[brainstem] controls heartrate and breathing
pons
[brainstem] coordinates movement and sleep
thalamus
brain’s sensory control center; above brainstem; directs messages to sensory receiving areas in cortex, transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla
reticular formation
nerves network traveling through brainstem into thalamus; plays role in arousal
cerebellum
little brain at rear of brainstem; processes sensory input, coordinates movement output & balance, allows nonverbal memory & learning
limbic system
neural system located below cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives: -> amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, pituitary gland
amygdala
[limbic system] neural clusters linked to emotion (anger & fear)
hypothalamus
[limbic system] neural structure lying below thalamus; directs maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp); linked to emotion & reward, controls endocrine system with pituitary gland
hippocampus
[limbic system] neural center for storing memories of favts & events longterm
spinal cord
pathway of neural fibers to and from brain; controls simple reflexes
cerebral cortex
intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells coveting cerebral hemispheres; body’s control & info processing center
frontal lobes
speaking, muscle movements, planning & judgement
parietal lobes
receives sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes
receive information from visual fields
temporal lobes
auditory areas
motor cortex
rear of frontal cortex; controls voluntary movements
somatosensory cortex
front of parietal lobes; registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
association areas
areas in cerebral cortex not directly involved in motor or sensory functions; higher mental processing, thinking, remembering and speaking
plasticity
brains ability to change
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
EEG (Electroencephalogram)
electrodes placed on scalp measure electrical ACTIVITY in neurons; for sleep research
CT/CAT (Computerized (Axial) Tomography)
sophisticated x-ray; x-ray cameras rotate around head to create 3D picture of brain structure; detects tumors or brain demage ; patients lie in scanning ring
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging; uses magnetic fields of radio waves to make computer genterated images of brain; measures structure, location, density
PET
Positron Emission Tomography; produces visual display of brain ACTIVITY by tracking temporarily radioactive glucose as its consumed in brain for energy
fMRI
functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging; patient lies in chamber that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to provide map of brain structure and track blood flow in brain
MEG
Magnetoencephalography; head coil records magnetic fields from brains natural electric currents from brain ACTIVITY
corpus callosum
large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the two hemispheres by cutting fibers connecting them
consciousness
our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment
cognitive neuroscience
interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition (perception
dual processing
principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
blindsight
condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it
parallel processing
unconscious; processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; ised to process well-learned information or to sdolve easy problems, usually for rutine business
sequential processing
conscious; processing one aspect of a problem at a time; used to process new info or to solve difficult problems; for focused attention on one thing at a time
behavior genetics
study of relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
heredity
genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring
heritability
proportion of variation among individuals in a group that can be attributed to genes; in same environment = heritability is 100%, if environmental differences DECREASE, heritability INCEASES
environment
every nongenetic influence (prenatal nutrition, people, events)
genome
complete instructions for making an organism, all genetic material
chromosomes
threadless structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid; a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up chromosomes
genes
biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; SEGMENTS of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change; life experiences leave epigenetic marks of methyl molecules that affect expression of DNA
interaction
interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (like environement) depends on another factor (like heredity)
molecular behavior genetics
study of how structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior
evolutionary psychology
study of evolution of behavior and the mind
natural selection
principle that inherited traits that better enable organisms’ survival and reproduction in a particular environment are more likely to be passed on to future generations
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
social script
a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations
biological influences on development
shared human genome, individual genetic variations, sex related genes, hormones, physiology
psychological influences on development
gene-environment interaction, neurological effect of early experiences, responses evoked by our own temperament, gender, etc, beliefs, feelings, expectations
social-cultural influences on development
parental influences, peer influences, cultural individualism or collectivism, cultural gender norms
critique of evolutionary psychology (on human sexuality)
- starts with effect and works backward 2. overlooks socialization and cultural influences 3. men use it to rationalize inappropriate behavior
dendrites
neurons’ bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body
