unit 2 vocab Flashcards
1
Q
neuron
A
a nerve cell
2
Q
cell body
A
the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus
3
Q
axon
A
the neurons extensions that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles glands.
4
Q
dendrites
A
a neuron’s branching extensions that receive and integrate messages conducting impulses toward the cell body
5
Q
myelin
A
a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons
6
Q
glial cells
A
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; play a role in learning, thinking, and memory.
6
Q
action potential
A
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon
7
Q
threshold
A
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
8
Q
refectory period
A
in neural proccesing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state
9
Q
all or none response
A
a neuron’s reaction of either firing or not firing
10
Q
synapse
A
the junction between the axon tip of sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
11
Q
neurotransmitters
A
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
12
Q
reuptake
A
a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron
13
Q
endorphins
A
natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
14
Q
agonist
A
a molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action
15
Q
antagonist
A
a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action
16
Q
nervous system
A
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
17
Q
central nervous system (CNS)
A
the brain and spinal cord
18
Q
peripheral nervous system
A
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body
19
Q
nerves
A
bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs
20
Q
sensory neurons
A
neurons that carry incoming info from the body’s tissue and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
21
Q
motor neurons
A
neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
22
Q
interneurons
A
neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process info between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
23
Q
somatic nervous system
A
the divisional the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles
24
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
25
sympathetic nervous system
the division autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy
26
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.
27
reflex
a simple autonomic response to a sensory stimulus.
28
endocrine system
the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
29
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and effect other tissues.
30
adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help the body in times of stress.
31
pituitary glands
the endocrine system's most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
32
lesion
tissue destruction
33
electroencephalogram (EEG)
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface
34
magnetoencephalography
a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity.
35
CT scan
a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain structre
36
PET scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain preforms a given task
37
MRI
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue.
38
fMRI
a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.
39
Brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for autonomic survival functions
40
medulla
the base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing
41
thalamus
the brain sensory control center located on top of the brain stem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
42
reticular formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.
43
cerebellum
the little brain at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
44
limbic system
the neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
45
amygdala
two lima bean sized clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
46
hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion ad reward.
47
hippocampus
a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit memories of facts and events.
48
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.
49
frontal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscles movements and in making plans and judement
50
parietal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
51
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
52
occipital lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
53
temporal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
54
somatosensory cortex
an area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
55
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning remembering thinking and speaking.
56
plasticity
the brain's ability to change especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or buy building new pathway based on experience
57
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
58
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brianis hemispheres and carrying messages between them
59
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the two brains hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them
60
consciousness
our subjective awareness of ourselves and our envernment
61
cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brian activity linked with cognition
62
dual processing
the principle that information is often simotaisly processed on sperate conscious and unconscious track
63
blind sight
a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it
64
parallel processing
processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously
65
sequential processing
processing one aspect of a problem at a time
66
behavior genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.
67
heredity
the genetic transfer of charatrisices from parents to offspring
68
environment
every nongenetic influence from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
69
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes
70
DNA
a complex molecule containing genetic information that makes ups chromosomes
71
genes
the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes
72
genome
the complete instructions for making an organism
73
identical twins
develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms
74
fraternal twins
develop from separate fertilized eggs. they are genetically not closer than a normal pair of siblings
75
heritability
the promotion of varation among individuals in a group that we can attibute to genes
76
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor
77
molocular genetics
the subfeild of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes
78
molecular behavior genetics
the study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior
79
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without DNA change
80
evolutionary phycology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind using principles of natural selection
81
natural selection
the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular envernment will most likely be passed on to succeding generations
82
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
83
social script
a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations
84
consciousness
our subjective awareness of ourselves and our envernment
85
hypnosis
a social interaction in which one person suggests to another that certain perceptions feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur
86
posthypnotic suggestion
a suggestion made during hypnosis during a hypnosis session to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized
87
dissociation
a split in consciousness which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously
88
sleep
a periodic natural loss of consciousness
89
circadian rhythm
our biological clock
90
REM sleep
rapid eye movement sleep
91
alpha waves
the slow brain waves of a relaxed awake state
92
NREM sleep
non-rapid eye movement sleep
93
hallucinations
false sensory experiences such as seeing things in the dark
94
hypnagogic sensations
bizarre experinces such as jerking awake while transitioning to sleep
95
Delta waves
the large slow brain waves associated with the deep sleep of NREM-3
96
suprachiasmatic nucleus
a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rythem
97
insomnia
recurring problems in falling or staying asllep
98
narcolepsy
a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks
99
sleep apnea
a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
100
night terrors
a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified
101
dream
a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind
102
manifest content
the symbolic remembered storyline of a dream
103
latent content
the underlying meaning of a dream
104
REM rebound
the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation
105
psychoactive drug
a chemical substance that alters preceptions and moods
106
substance use disorder
a disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk
107
depressants
drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
108
alcohol use disorder
alcohol use marked by tolerance withdrawal and a drive to continue problematic use
109
barbiturates
drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment
110
opiates
opium and its derivatives such as morphine and heroin
111
stimulants
drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions
112
nicotine
a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco
113
cocaine
a powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant
114
amphetamines
drugs such as methamphetamine that stimulate neural activity causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes
115
methamphetamine
a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system with accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes over time appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels
116
Ecstasy
a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen Produces euphoria and social intimacy but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition
117
hallucinogens
psychedelic drugs such as LSD that distort preceptions and envoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
118
near-death experience
an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death
119
LSD
a powerful hallucinogenic drug also known as "acid"
120
THC
the major active ingredient in marijuana that trigger a variety of effects including mild hallucinations
