Unit2 Vocab

Question 1

Biological psychology

Answer 1

Branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

Question 2

Neuron

Answer 2

Nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system

Question 3

Sensory neurons

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Motor neurons

Answer 4

Neurons that carry incoming info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Question 5

Interneurons

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Dendrite

Answer 6

Bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Question 7

Axon

Answer 7

Extension of a neuron,

Ending in branching terminal fibers through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Question 8

Myelin sheath

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Action potential

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Threshold

Answer 10

Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Question 11

Synapse

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Neurotransmitters

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Reuptake

Answer 13

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

Question 14

(ACh) Acetylcholine

Answer 14

Role in learning/memory; messenger at every junction between a motor neuron and skeletal muscle

Question 15

Endorphins

Answer 15

“Morphine within” - natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Question 16

Agonist

Answer 16

Excites; chemical that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a temporary high by amplifying normal sensations of arousal or pleasure.

Question 17

Antagonist

Answer 17

Inhibits; binds to receptors but their effects is instead to block a neurotransmitter’s functioning.

Question 18

Electroencephalogram(EEG)

Answer 18

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

Question 19

CT scan

Answer 19

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

Question 20

PET scan

Answer 20

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

Question 21

MRI

Answer 21

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI shows brain anatomy

Question 22

fMRI

Answer 22

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI shows brain function

Question 23

Brain stem

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Medulla

Answer 24

Base of the brain stem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Question 25

Reticular formation

Answer 25

Nerve network in the brain stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Question 26

Thalamus

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Limbic system

Answer 27

Doughnut shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Question 28

Amygdala

Answer 28

Two Lima bean sized neural clusters in limbic system; linked to emotion

Aggression/fear

Question 29

Hypothalamus

Answer 29

Directs several maintenance activists; helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland and is linked to emotion and reward