Unit2 Vocab Flashcards
Biological psychology
Branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Neuron
Nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system
Sensory neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Motor neurons
Neurons that carry incoming info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Dendrite
Bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
Extension of a neuron,
Ending in branching terminal fibers through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Myelin sheath
A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one nod to the next
Action potential
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Threshold
Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Synapse
The junction between the axon top of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at the junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether than neuron will generate a neural impulse
Reuptake
A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron
(ACh) Acetylcholine
Role in learning/memory; messenger at every junction between a motor neuron and skeletal muscle
Endorphins
“Morphine within” - natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Agonist
Excites; chemical that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a temporary high by amplifying normal sensations of arousal or pleasure.
Antagonist
Inhibits; binds to receptors but their effects is instead to block a neurotransmitter’s functioning.
Electroencephalogram(EEG)
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. Measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
CT scan
A series of x ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body.
Still pics of brain structures; shows fluid damage area of brain
Dark color - fluid
White - tissue
PET scan
Visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
Red/yellow - lots of activity
Blue/purple - less activity
MRI
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI shows brain anatomy
fMRI
A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI shows brain function
Brain stem
Oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
Base of the brain stem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Reticular formation
Nerve network in the brain stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Thalamus
Brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; of directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Limbic system
Doughnut shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
Amygdala
Two Lima bean sized neural clusters in limbic system; linked to emotion
Aggression/fear
Hypothalamus
Directs several maintenance activists; helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland and is linked to emotion and reward
