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Psychology 101 > Unit 2 Term List > Flashcards

Unit 2 Term List Flashcards

1
Q

Glia

A

Cells found throughout the nervous system that provide structural support for neurons.

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2
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

Surrounds and protects axons. Acts to speed up the transmission of signals that move along axons. Comprised of glia cells.

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3
Q

Synaptic Vesicles

A

Sac-like structures that contain neurotransmitters.

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4
Q

Resting Potential

A

The neuron’s stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive.

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5
Q

Action Potential

A

A very brief shift in a neuron’s electrical charge that travels along an axon.

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6
Q

Absolute Refractory Period

A

The time between action potentials.

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7
Q

All-Or-None-Law

A

An individual neuron either fires all of its voltage or none of its voltage.

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8
Q

Postsynaptic Potential

A

Begins immediately following the binding of the neurotransmitter molecules to the receptor site. The important question is: Will the next neuron fire an action potential?

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9
Q

Receptor Site

A

The location on the dendrite wall where the neurotransmitter binds (chemically joins).

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10
Q

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

A

Increases the likelihood the next neuron will fire an action potential.

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11
Q

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

A

Decreases the likelihood the next neuron will fire an action potential.

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12
Q

5 Step Process of Neurotransmitters

A
  1. Synthesis and storage
  2. Release
  3. Binding
  4. Inactivation and removal
  5. Reuptake
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13
Q

Agonist

A

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.

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14
Q

Antagonist

A

A chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter.

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15
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

This system is comprised of all nerves outside of the central nervous system.

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16
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions.

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17
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body’s resources for emergencies.

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18
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that conserves bodily resources.

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19
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

The division of the peripheral nervous system that connects to voluntary muscles and sensory receptors.

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20
Q

Afferent Nerves

A

Nerves in the somatic nervous system that move impulses toward the central nervous system.

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21
Q

Efferent Nerves

A

Nerves in the somatic nervous system that move impulses away from the central nervous system.

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22
Q

Hindbrain Region

A

Includes the cerebellum, the medulla, and the pons. The most primitive region of the brain.

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23
Q

Medulla

A

Responsible the regulating unconscious functions such as breathing.

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24
Q

Pons

A

Regulates arousal levels. The word “pons” is Latin for “bridge”.

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25
Q

Cerebellum

A

A large and deeply folded structure that regulates physical balance.

26
Q

Midbrain Region

A

The segment of the brainstem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain.

27
Q

Reticular Formation

A

Regulates sleep and wakefulness. The reticular formation runs through both the hindbrain and the midbrain regions.

28
Q

Forebrain Region

A

The largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

29
Q

Thalamus

A

The brain’s relay center. All sensory information goes to the thalamus first; the thalamus then relays the information to other structures in the brain.

30
Q

Cerebrum

A

The part of the forebrain that is responsible for cognition and reasoning. The brain’s largest and most complex structure - it consists of four lobes: the occipital lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe, and the frontal lobe.

31
Q

Broca’s Area

A

An area of the brain that plays an important role in speech production.

32
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

An area of the brain involved in language comprehension.

33
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

The brain structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

34
Q

Endocrine System

A

We will focus on five glands: the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the pancreas gland, the adrenal glands (pair), and the gonads (pair).

35
Q

Cerebral Hemispheric Specialization

A

A theory that hypothesizes that the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum perform different tasks, have differing modes of thinking, and suggests that each person has a dominant hemisphere.

36
Q

Neurons

A

Specialized cells of the nervous system that transmit electrical and chemical signals in the body.

37
Q

Soma (Cell Body)

A

The region of the neuron that includes structures that nourish the cell, and a nucleus containing DNA.

38
Q

Dendrites

A

Tiny, branchlike fibers extending from the cell body that receive messages from other neurons and send information in the direction of the cell body.

39
Q

Axon

A

Skinny tube-like structure of a neuron that extends from the cell body and sends messages to other neurons through its terminals.

40
Q

Synapse

A

The place where the axon terminal of a sending neuron meets the dendrite of a neighboring neuron or other type of cell receiving its signal; junction between neurons where communication occurs.

41
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers that neurons use to communicate at the synapse.

42
Q

Central Nervous System

A

A major component of the human nervous system; includes the brain and spinal cord.

43
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A small structure located below the thalamus that maintains the internal environment within a healthy range; helps regulate sleep-wake cycles, sexual behavior, and appetite.

44
Q

Limbic System

A

A collection of structures that regulates emotions and basic drives such as hunger, and aids in the creation of memories.

45
Q

Neuroscience

A

The study of the brain and other parts of the nervous system.

46
Q

Biological Psychology

A

The branch of psychology that focuses on how the brain and other biological systems influence human behavior.

47
Q

Phrenology

A

An early approach to explaining the functions of the brain by trying to link the physical structure of the skull with a variety of characteristics.

48
Q

Ablation

A

The act of destroying parts of a living animal’s brain to look at what functions were lost

49
Q

White Matter

A

Axons wrapped in myelin

50
Q

Gray Matter

A

Neuron cell bodies and glia cells

51
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

Relays messages from neurons to muscles in the body (enables movement).

52
Q

Norepinephrine (Ne)

A

Helps prepare the body for stressful situations and maintain attention (also regulates arousal and sleep).

53
Q

Serotonin

A

Helps control appetite, mood, anxiety, and sleep/breathing (involves feelings of pleasure and happiness).

54
Q

Dopamine (Da)

A

Impacts attention, learning through rewards, and the regulation of body movements (also associated with romantic love).

55
Q

Endorphins

A

Naturally produced opioids that regulate the secretion of other neurotransmitters and are released in response to pain (they block pain receptor sites).

56
Q

Reflex Arc

A

An automatic response to a sensory stimulus, using a simple pathway of communication from sensory neurons through interneurons in the spinal cord and back out through motor neurons.

57
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Controls voluntary movements and directs higher-level cognitive activities, such as language, emotions, control of social behavior, and decision making.

58
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Receives and processes sensory information such as touch, pressure, temperature, and spatial orientation.

59
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Processes visual information

60
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Processes auditory information

61
Q

Hippocampus

A

A pair of seahorse-shaped structures that create new memories and generate new neurons.

62
Q

Amygdala

A

A pair of almond-shaped structures that processes aggression and basic emotions such as fear, as well as associated memories.

Psychology 101 (5 decks)

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