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ap psych > Unit 2 pt 1 > Flashcards

Unit 2 pt 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

A nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system

A

neuron

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2
Q

Part of the neuron that contains the nucleus; the cells life support center

A

cell body

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3
Q

Neurons often bushy, branching extensions that recieve and integrate messages, conducting impulses towards the cell body

A

dendrites

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4
Q

electrical wire that carries a signal sent from the nucleus

A

axon

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5
Q

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axon of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission

A

myelin sheath

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6
Q

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

A

glial cells

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7
Q

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

A

action potential

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8
Q

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

A

threshold

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9
Q

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

A

refractory period

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10
Q

a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing.

A

all or none response

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11
Q

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

A

synapse

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12
Q

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

A

neurotransmitters

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13
Q

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

A

reuptake

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14
Q

“morphine within”–natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

A

endorphins

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15
Q

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

A

agonist

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16
Q

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

A

nervous system

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17
Q

brain and spinal cord

A

central nervous system

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18
Q

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

A

peripheral nervous system

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19
Q

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

A

nerves

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20
Q

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

A

sensory neurons

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21
Q

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

A

motor neurons

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22
Q

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

A

interneurons

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23
Q

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

A

somatic nervous system

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24
Q

the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.

A

autonomic nervous system

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25
Q

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

A

sympathetic nervous system

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26
Q

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

A

parasympathetic nervous system

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27
Q

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

A

reflex

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28
Q

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

A

endocrine system

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29
Q

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

A

hormones

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30
Q

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

A

adrenal glands

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31
Q

The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

A

pituitary gland

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32
Q

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

A

EEG

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33
Q

a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

A

MEG

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34
Q

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

A

CT scan

35
Q

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

A

PET scan

36
Q

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

A

MRI

37
Q

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

A

fMRI

38
Q

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

A

brainstem

39
Q

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

A

medulla

40
Q

the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

A

thalamus

41
Q

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

A

reticular formation

42
Q

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

A

cerebellum

43
Q

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

A

limbic system

44
Q

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

A

amygdala

45
Q

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

A

hypothalamus

46
Q

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

A

hippocampus

47
Q

Fabric of interconnected neuron cells. Higher order thinking. Takes meaning and puts it to focus. The body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.

A

cerebral cortex

48
Q

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

A

frontal lobe

49
Q

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

A

parental lobe

50
Q

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

A

occipital lobe

51
Q

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

A

temporal lobe

52
Q

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

A

motor cortex

53
Q

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

A

somatosensory cortex

54
Q

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

A

association areas

55
Q

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

A

plasticity

56
Q

the formation of new neurons

A

neurogenesis

57
Q

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

A

corpus callosum

58
Q

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

A

split brain

59
Q

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

A

consciousness

60
Q

study of the physical changes in the brain and nervous system during thinking

A

cognitive neuroscience

61
Q

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

A

dual processing

62
Q

a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

A

blindsight

63
Q

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

A

parallel processing

64
Q

the processing of one aspect of a problem at a time; used when we focus attention on new or complex tasks

A

sequential processing

65
Q

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

A

behavior genetics

66
Q

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

A

heredity

67
Q

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

A

environment

68
Q

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

A

chromosomes

69
Q

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

A

DNA

70
Q

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

A

genes

71
Q

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes

A

genome

72
Q

Twins who develop from separate eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment

A

fraternal twins

73
Q

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

A

identical environment

74
Q

the passing of genetic traits from parent to offspring

A

heredity

75
Q

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

A

interaction

76
Q

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

A

molecular genetics

77
Q

the study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior

A

molecular behavioral genetics

78
Q

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

A

epigenetics

79
Q

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

A

evolutionary psychology

80
Q

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

A

natural selection

81
Q

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

A

mutation

82
Q

culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations

A

social script

83
Q

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

A

anatagonist

84
Q

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

A

lesion

ap psych (17 decks)

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