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Psychology 201 > Vocab Ch 3 > Flashcards

Vocab Ch 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

The brain and the spinal cord

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2
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

All nerve cells in the body that are not part of the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes the somatic and autonomic nervous system.

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3
Q

Neurons

A

The basic units of the nervous system; cells that receive, integrate, and transmit information in the nervous system. They operate through electrical impulses, communicate with other neurons through chemical signals, and form neural networks.

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4
Q

Dendrites

A

Branchlike extensions of the neurons that detect information from other neurons.

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5
Q

Cell body

A

The site in the neurons where information from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated.

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6
Q

Axon

A

A long, narrow outgrowth of a neuron by which information is conducted from the cell body to the terminal buttons.

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7
Q

Terminal buttons

A

At the ends of a one, small modules that release chemical signals from the neurons into the synapse.

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8
Q

Synapse

A

The gap between the terminal buttons of a “sending” neuron and the dendrites of a “receiving” neuron; the site at which chemical communication occurs between neurons.

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9
Q

Action potential

A

The electrical signal that passes along the axon and subsequently causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons.

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10
Q

Testing membrane potential

A

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active.

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11
Q

Myelin sheath

A

A fatty material, made up of glial cells, that insulates some axons to allow for faster movement of electrical impulses along the axon.

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12
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

Small gaps of exposed axon, between the segments of myelin sheath, where action potentials take place.

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13
Q

All-or-none principle

A

The principles that when a neuron fires it fires with the same potency each time; a neuron either fires or not- it cannot partially fire, although the frequency of firing can vary

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14
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical substances that transmit signals from one neuron to another.

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15
Q

Receptors

A

In neurons, specialized proteins molecules on the postsynaptic membrane; neurotransmitters bind to these molecules after passing across the synapse.

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16
Q

Reuptake

A

The process whereby a neurotransmitter is taken back into the presynaptic terminal buttons, thereby stopping its activity

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17
Q

Acetylcholine (ACH)

A

The neurotransmitter responsible for motor control at the junction between nerves and muscles; it is also involved in mental processes such as learning, memory, sleeping, and dreaming.

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18
Q

Norepinephrine

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in states of arousal and attention

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19
Q

Seratonin

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter important for a wide range of psychological activity, including emotional states, impulse control, and dreaming.

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20
Q

Dopamine

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter involves in motivation, reward, and motor control over voluntary movement.

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21
Q

GABA

A

Gamma-aminobutyric acid: the primary inhibitory transmitter in the nervous system.

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22
Q

Glutamate

A

the primary exitatory transmitter in the nervous system

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23
Q

endorphins

A

neurotransmitters involved in natural pain reduction and reward

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24
Q

Broca’s area

A

a small portion of the left frontal region of the brain, crucial for the production of language

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25
Q

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

a device that measures electrical activity in the brain

26
Q

positive emission tomography (PET)

A

a method of brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream

27
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging

A

a method of brain imaging that uses a powerful magnetic field to produce high-quality images of the brain

28
Q

functional magnetic resonance imaging FMRI

A

an imaging technique used to examine changes i the activity of the working human brain by measuring the changes in the blood oxygen levels

29
Q

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A

the use of strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way to study brain regions

30
Q

brain stem

A

an extension of the spinal cord; it houses structures that control functions associated with survival, such as heart rate, breathing ,swallowing, vomiting, urination, and orgasm

31
Q

cerebellum

A

a large, convoluted protuberance in the back of the brain stem; it is essential coordinated movement and balance

32
Q

thalamus

A

the gateway to the brain; it receives almost all incoming sensory information before the information reaches the cortex

33
Q

hypothalamus

A

a brain structure that is involved in the regulation of bodily functions, rhythms, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels; it also influences our basic motivated behaviors.

34
Q

amygdala

A

a brain structure that serves a vital role in learning to associate things with emotional response and in processing emotional information

35
Q

basal ganglia

A

a system of subcortical structures that are important for the planning and production of movement

36
Q

cerebral cortex

A

the outer layer of brain tissue, which forms the convoluted surface of the brain; the site of all thoughts, perceptions, and complex behaviors

37
Q

corpus callosum

A

a massive bridge of millions of axons that connects the hemispheres and allows information to flow between them

38
Q

occipital lobes

A

regions of the cerebral cortex- at the back of the brain- important for vision

39
Q

parietal lobes

A

regions of the cerebral cortex- in front of the occipital lobes and behind the frontal lobes- important for the sense of touch and for attention to the environment.

40
Q

temporal lobes

A

regions of the cerebral cortex-below the parietal lobes and in front of the occipital lobes-important for processing auditory information, for memory, and for object and face perception.

41
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

the frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, especially prominent in humans; important for attention, working memory, decision making, appropriate social behavior, and personality.

42
Q

split brain

A

a condition that occurs when the corpus callous is surgically cut and the two hemispheres of the brain do not receive information directly from each other

43
Q

somatic nervous system SNS

A

a component of the peripheral nervous system; it transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and the skin, muscles, and joints.

44
Q

Autonomic Nervous System ANS

A

a component of the peripheral nervous system; it transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and the body’s glands and internal organs.

45
Q

sympathetic division

A

a division of the autonomic nervous system; it prepares the body for action

46
Q

endocrine system

A

a communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts, behaviors, and actions.,

47
Q

hormones

A

chemical substances, released from endocrine glands, that travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues; the tissues are subsequently influenced by the hormones.

48
Q

pituitary gland

A

a gland located at the base of the hypothalamus’ it sends hormonal signals to other endocrine glands, controlling their release of hormones.

49
Q

gonads

A

the main endocrine glands involved in sexual behavior: in males, the testes; in females the ovaries.

50
Q

plasticity

A

a property of the brain that allows it to change as a result of experience or injury.

51
Q

genes

A

the units of heredity that help determine the characteristics of an organism

52
Q

gene expression

A

whether a particular gene is turned on or off

53
Q

chromosomes

A

structures within the cell body that are made up of DNA, segments of which comprise individual genes.

54
Q

dominant gene

A

a gene that is expressed in the offspring whenever it is present

55
Q

recessive gene

A

a gene that is expressed only when it is matched with similar gene from the other parent plant.

56
Q

genotype

A

the genetic constitution of an organism, determined at the moment of conception.

57
Q

phenotype

A

observable physical characteristics from both genetic and environmental influences

58
Q

monozygotic twins

A

also called identical twins; twin siblings that result from one zygote splitting in two and therefore share the same genes.

59
Q

dizygotic twins

A

also called fraternal twins; twin siblings that result from two separately fertilized eggs and therefore are no more similar than non twin siblings.

60
Q

heredity

A

transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring through genes.

61
Q

heritability

A

a statistical estimate of the extent to which variation in a train within a population is due to genetics.

Psychology 201 (8 decks)

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