Unit 3 Vocab + Concepts Flashcards
The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.
biological psychology
A nerve cell; the basic building blocks of the nervous system
Neuron
A neurons bushy branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Dendrites
The neurori extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles and glands
Axon
Fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the acorns of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage like node to the next
Myelin sheath
The neural impulses; brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Action potential
a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired
Refractory period
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
Synapse
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to the receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
Nuerotransmitters
A neurotransmitters re absorption by the sending neuron
Reuptake
F-enables muscle action, learning, and memory
Malfunctions-with Alzheimer’s disease these neurons producing this deteriorate
Acetylcholine (ACh)
F-influences movement, leaning, attention, and emotion
MF- oversupply linked to schizophrenia. Under supply linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson’s disease
Dopamine
F-affect es mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
MF- undersupply linked to depression, some antidepressants raise these levels
Serotonin
F-helps control alertness and arousal
MF- undersupply can depress mood
Norepinephrine
F- a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
MF- undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia
GABA (gamma-amino uteri called acid)
F-a major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory
MF- oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines and seizures
Glutamate
“Morphine within” -natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Endorphins
A molecule that, bu binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response (in drugs)
Agonist
A molecule that binds to a receptor site and inhibits or blocks a response
Antagonist
The brain and spinal chord make up
The central nervous system
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Peripheral nervous system
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Nerves
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord
Sensory neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal chord to muscles and glands
Motor neurons
Neurons within the Brian and spinal chord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Interneurons
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system
Somatic nervous system
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. It’s sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
Autonomic nervous system
The division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations (fight or flight)
Sympathetic nervous system
The two nervous systems
Central and peripheral
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Parasympathetic nervous system
The two parts of the peripheral nervous system
Autonomic system and somatic system
the two parts of the autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
endocrine system
Part of endocrine glands that sit above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress
Adrenal glands
The endocrine system’s most influential gland under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Pituitary gland
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface. These waves are measured by the electrodes placed on the scalp
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angels and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brains structure
CT (computer tomography) scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes when the Brian performs a given task
PET (position emission tomography) scan
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. These scans show brain anatomy
MRI Scan (magnetic resonance imaging)
A technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. These scans show brain function as well as structure
fMRI (Functional MRI)
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; this part is responsible for automatic survival functions
Brain stem
The base of the brainstem-controls heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
The brains sensory control center, located on top of the brain stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas int he cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla- also helps with smell
Thalamus
Sits above medulla and helps correlate movement and regulate sleep
Pons
A nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal
Reticular formation
The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement, balance and posture output and balance, and enabling leaning and memory
Cerebellum
Neural system that included the hippocampus amygdala and hypothalamus - located below the cerebral hemispheres and associated with emotions and drives
Limbic systems
Two lima-bean-sized neuron clusters in the limbic system-linked to emotion- has a role in rage and fear
Amygdala
A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via pituitary glands and is linked to emotion and reward
Hypothalamus
Consciousness lies here, decision making and reasoning
Frontal lobe
Vision and visual association areas
Occipital lobe
Movement and stimulus perception-speech taste reading somatosensory areas
Parietal lobe
Speech recognition, hearing, auditory association areas
Temporal lobe
Located in the left frontal lobe and is responsible for speech
Broca’s Area
Located in the right frontal lobe and is responsible for language
Wernicke’s area
Located in the frontal lobe and responsible for voluntary movement
Motor cortex
Located in the occipital lobe, responsible for visual signals and process
Visual cortex
Located in the parietal lobe, responsible for visual and auditory interpretation and language
Angular Gyrus
Located in the parietal lobe, responsible for sensation
Sensory cortex
Linked to memory
Hippocampus
Axon fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
Corpus callosum
Pathway for neural fibers traveling to and from brain; controls simple reflexes
Spinal cord
The intricacies fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and informations processing center
Cerebral cortex
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking
Glial cells
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Somatosensory cortex
Ares of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions but rather in higher mental functions such as learning, thinking, remembering, and speaking
Association areas
