Unit One Part One Vocab Flashcards
The scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological
Biological psychology
This perspective explores how natural selection affects the expression of behavior and mental processes to increase survival
Evolutionary Perspective
________ or ________, refers to genetic charateristics that influence physical, behavorial, and mental traits and processes
Nature or Heredity
________ or ________ refers to the external factors that one experiences, such as family interactions or education
Nuture or enviroment
The principle that inherited traits better enable an orgainism to survive and reproduce in a particular enviroment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations (Best genes)
Natural Selection
Seeks to eradicate genetic defects and improve the genetic makeup of populations through selective human breeding
Think Hitler
Eugenics
Reseach utilizing twins. Often involve comparing characteristics of identical and fraternal twins
Twin Studies
CNS or ________ is primary involved in mental activites and in coordinating and intergrading incoming sensory messages and outgoing motor messages
Central Nervous System
PNS or ________ is the portion of the nervous system that lies outisde the brain and spinal cord- that is, all parts outide the central nervous system. Sensory and motor neurons that connect to CNS
Peripheral Nervous System
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. Self regulated
EX: heartbeat
Autonomic Nervous System
The division of the peripheral nervous system that control the bosy’s skeletal muscles.Also called the skeletal nervous system. Movement/Position
Aware of
EX: Running, writing notes etc
Somatic Nervous System
Divison of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body; mobilizing its energy
Fight or flight
Sympathetic Nervous System
Division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body; Conserving energy
Rest and Digest
Parasympathetic Nervous System
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Neuron
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking and memory
Glial Cells
A neural circuit that is involoved in a reflex. It consists of an afferent or sensory, neuron that conducts nerve impulses.
Reflex Arc
Neurons that carry incoming information form the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Sensory (afferent) Neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Motor (Efferent) Neurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Interneurons
The principle that the amplitude of the action potenial in a neuron is independent of the magnitude of the stimulus. Thus, all stimuli above the neuron’s threshold trigger action potentials of identical magnitude
All or Nothing principle
Positive outside, negative inside state- resting potential
Polarization
Loss of the inside/outside charge difference, causes the next section of axon channels to open
Depolarization
In nerual processing, a brief resting period occurs after a neuron has fired
Refractory period
The electric potential across the plasma membrane of a neuron when it is in the non excited, or resting state
Resting Period
A neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron
Reuptake
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Threshold
Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotions
Dopamine
Affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal
Serotonin
Helps control alertness and arousal
Norepinephrine
A major excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory, oversupply can stimulate the brain, producing seizures, tremors and insomnia
Glutamate
A major inhibitory neurotransmitter, undersupply is linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia
GABA
A neurotransmitter in both peripheral and central nervous systems, it plays a role in the modulation of pain
Substance p
Neurotransmitters that can influence the perception of pain or pleasure
Endorphins
Enables muscle action, learning and memory
Acetylcholine
Chemical messengers manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstrem and affect other tissues
Hormones
A neurotrasmitter, it plays a role in attention, focus, panic, and excitement
Adrenaline
Protein hormone secreted by fat cells; when abundant, causes brain to increase metabolism and decrease hunger
Leptin
Hormone secreted by empty stomach; sends “I’m hungry” signals to the brain
Ghrelin
Hormone; initiation of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep cycle
Melatonin
Hormone that enables contractions associated with birthing, milk flow during nursing, and social connectedness/bonding
Oxytocin
Scarring and inflammtion of the protective myelin sheath of nerves, which damages and destroys the sheath
Multiple Sclerosis
An autoimmune disorder in which the body produces antibodies against acetylcholine receptors, causing faulty transmission of the nerve impulses at neuromuscular junctions
Myasthenia Gravis
Exerts an activating downstream effect on postsynaptic neurons. That is, they depolarize the postsynaptic neurons, resulting in a GREATER likelihood of an action potential
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
Resul in a SMALLER likelihood of an action potential by blocking or preventing the passage of a chemical message through the neural pathway
Inhibitory Neurotrasmitter
A drug of chemical agent that binds to a particular receptor and produces a physiological effect, typically one similar to that of the body’s own neurotransmitter at the receptor
Agonist Drugs
A drug or other chemical agent that inhibits the action of another substance
Antagonist drugs
Drugs (caffeine, nicotine, and more powerful drugs like cocaine. amphetiamines, methamphetamine and ecstasy) excite neural activity and speed up body functions
Stimulants
Drugs (such as alcohol) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
Depressants
Drugs, such as marijana or LSD that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
Hallucinogens
Opium and its derivatives, like morphine and heroin depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
Opioids/Opiates
With increasing doses, users start to crave the drug and continue to use it despite adverse consequences
Addiction
The discomfort and distress that follows continuing the addictive drug; can cause a person to go back on the drug
Withdrawal
With the continued use of drugs, brain chemistry adapts to the offset of the drug effect which then users require larger does to feel the effect of the drug
Tolerance
Research conduted amoung siblilings, parents or children to assess gentic links
Family studies
A research design that investigates the relationship amoung genetic and enviromnetal factos in development
Adoption Studies
Oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the ________ is responsible for automatic functions
Brain stem
The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
A part of the reticular formation thought to be particulatly involoved in the regulation of arousal, alertness, and sleep-wake cycles
Reticular Activation System
The little brain at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinationg movement output and balance and enabling nonverbal/procedural learning and memory
Cerebellum
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural calls covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s unlimite control and information-processing center. It is divided into four lobes
Cerebral Cortex
The left and right halves of the cerebrum, the part of the brain concerned with sensation and perception, motor control, and higher level cognitive processes are called
Hemispheres
This half of the brain has a greater responsiblity for spatial attention
Right hemisphere
This half of the brain has a greater responsibilty with speech
Left hemisphere
Neural system (including the amygdala, hyothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
Limbic system
The brains sensory control center, located on top of the brain stem; it directs messages to sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Thalamus
A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintance activities (eating, drinking, body temp), helps to govern the endoctrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
Hypothalamus
Endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the ________ gland regulates growth and controls other endoctrine glands
Pituitary gland
A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage of explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events
Hippocampus
Two lima bean sizewd neural clusters in the limbic system, linked to emotion, including fear and aggression
Amygdala
The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Corpus Callosum
The ________ Lobes generally control visual infomation processing and are located in the rear ofthe brain
Occipital Lobes
The ________ Lobes generally control auditory and linguistic processing and are located on the sides of the brain
Temporal Lobes
The ________ Lobes generally control association areas, which process and organize information, and the somatosensory cortex, whoch processes touch sensitivity. There lobes are located near the back crown of the brain
Parietal Lobes
The ________ lobes located just behind the forehead, generally control linguistic processing, higher order thinking, and executive functioning especially in the Prefrontal cortex.
Frontal Lobes
The ________ Cortex is located at the rear of the frontal lobes and controls most types of skeletal movement
Motor Cortex
____________ is achieved by severing the corpus callosum, reveals that the right and left hemispheres of the brain may specialize in different activities
Split Brain Reseach
This area in the left hemisphere of the brain specializing in speech production
Broca’s Area
This area in the left hemisphere of the brain specializing in speech comprehension
Wernicke’s Area
This type of patient has their Corpus Callosum severed in half
Split Brain Patient
Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage eith to Broca’s Area or Wernicke’s Area
Aphasia
________ is the ability of the brain to rewire itself or modify or create new connections throughout development and generally allows for the function of a damaged part of the brain to be assumed by a different part of the brain
Brain Plasticity
Phineas Gage
Research on the brain is done using _________
Used to view clear images of the brain structures
Brain Scans
Studies brain waves
EEG
used to localize areas cognitive activiation based on the correlation between brain activity and blood property
fMRI
Any disruption of or damage to the normal sturcture or function of an organ or part of an organ due to injury, disease or a surgical procedure
Lesioning
