Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psychology > Unit 2 Vocab - Biological Bases > Flashcards

Unit 2 Vocab - Biological Bases Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards AP® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

biological psychology

A

branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (neuroscience + behavior genetics) and psychological processes

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

neuron

A

nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system

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

dendrite

A

bushy branching extension of a neauron that receives messages and conducts impulses towards the cells of the body

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

axon

A

extension of a neuron ending in branching terminal fivers that pass messages to other neurons/muscles/glands

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

myelin sheath

A

a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fivers of neurons (white matter)
enables greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the pulse hope from node to node

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

action potential

A

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

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

threshold

A

level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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

synapse

A

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and dendrite/cell of the receiving neuron; tiny gap left at junction called the synaptic gap/synaptic cleft

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

neurotrasmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons
when released by sending neuron neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on receiving neuron influencing whether or not that neuron will generate a neural impulse

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

acetylcholine (ACh)

A

most common type of neurotransmitter that activates muscles to move
found in peripheral nervous system, spinal cord, areas of the brain

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

endorphins

A

“morphine within” natural, opiatelike neurotransmitter linked to pain control and pleasure

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

nervous system

A

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

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

central nervous system (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord

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

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

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

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

nerves

A

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense of organs

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

sensory neurons

A

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

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

motor neurons

A

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

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

interneurons

A

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

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

somatic nervous system (SNS)

A

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

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

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

part of the PNS that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs
sympathetic division arouses, parasympathetic division calms

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

sympathetic nervous system

A

division of the ANS that arouses the body to mobilize energy in stressful situations

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

parasympathetic nervous system

A

division of the ANS that calms the body to conserve energy

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

reflex

A

simple automatic response to a sensory stimulus

24
Q

neural networks

A

technique for stimulating the neuronal changes in the brain that underpin cognition and perception
involves connecting a large number of hypothetical neural units

25
Q

endocrine system

A

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system
set of glands secrete hormones into the bloodstream for transport

26
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers manufactured by the endocrine glands
travel through the bloodstream to affect other tissues

27
Q

adrenal glands

A

pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys that help arouse the boy in times of stress (adrenaline)

28
Q

pituitary gland

A

most influential gland in the endocrine system; under the influence of the hypothalamus
regulate growth and controls other endocrine glands

29
Q

lesion

A

tissue destruction
brain lesions cause destruction of brain tissue and are either naturally occurring or occur experimentally

30
Q

electroencephalogram

A

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

31
Q

positron emission tomography scan (PET scan)

A

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

32
Q

magnetic resonance image (MRI)

A

technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a computer-generated image of soft tissue
shows brain anatomy

33
Q

functional MRI

A

technique used to reveal bloodflow and brain activity by cmparing successive MRI scans
shows brain function

34
Q

brainstem

A

oldest part +central core of the brain
begins where spinal cord swells as it enters the skull
responsible for automatic survival functions

35
Q

medulla

A

base of the brainstem
controls heartbeat and breathing

36
Q

reticular formation

A

nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

37
Q

thalamus

A

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

38
Q

cerebellum

A

“little brain” located at the rear of the brainstem
processes sensory input + coordination of movement output and balance

39
Q

limbic system

A

doughnut shaped neural system (includes hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalumus) located below the cerebral hemispheres
associated with emotions and drives

40
Q

amygdala

A

two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system
linked to emotions

41
Q

hypothalamus

A

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

42
Q

cerebral cortex

A

intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres
the body’s ultimate control and info processing center

43
Q

glial cells

A

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

44
Q

frontal lobes

A

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

45
Q

parietal lobes

A

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

46
Q

occipital lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head
includes areas responsible for receiveing info from the visual fields

47
Q

temporal lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex above the ears
includes auditory areas that receive info primarily from the opposite ear

48
Q

motor cortex

A

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

49
Q

sensory cortex

A

area at the front of the parietal lobes that register and process body touch and movement sensations

50
Q

association areas

A

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor/sensory function
they are involved in higher mental functions like learning. remembering, thinking, and speaking

51
Q

aphasia

A

impairment of language; usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking), or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)

52
Q

Broca’s Area

A

controls language expression - an area usually in the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements invovled in speech

53
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobes

54
Q

plasticity

A

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

55
Q

corpus callosum

A

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres + carries messages between them

56
Q

split brain

A

condition resulting from surgery that isolate the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum connect them together)

Psychology (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions