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GE117- Social Psychology > Week 1- Biological Components of Psych > Flashcards

Week 1- Biological Components of Psych Flashcards

1
Q

acetylcholine (ACh)

A

a neurotransmitter that controls muscle contractions

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2
Q

action potential

A

the electrical impulse that provides the basis for the conduction of a neural impulse along an axon of a neuron

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3
Q

afferent neurons

A

neurons that transmit messages from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and brain; also called sensory neurons

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4
Q

all-or-none principle

A

the fact that a neuron fires an impulse of the same strength whenever its action potential is triggered

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5
Q

amygdala

A

a part of the limbic system that apparently facilitates stereotypical aggressive responses

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6
Q

aphasia

A

a disruption in the ability to understand or produce language

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7
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

the division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates glands and activities such as heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and dilation of the pupils

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8
Q

axon

A

a long, thin part of a neuron that transmits impulses to other neurons from bulb shaped structures called axon terminals or terminal buttons

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9
Q

Broca’s aphasia

A

a language disorder characterized by difficulty comprehending

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10
Q

cerebellum

A

a part of the hindbrain involved in muscle coordination and balance

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11
Q

cerebral cortex

A

the wrinkled surface area (gray matter) of the cerebrum

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12
Q

cerebrum

A

the large mass of the forebrain, which consists of two hemispheres

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13
Q

chromosome

A

a microscopic rod-shaped body in the cell nucleus carrying genes that transmit hereditary traits from generation to generation; humans normally have 46 chromosomes

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14
Q

computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scan)

A

a method of brain imaging that passes a narrow X-ray beam through the head and measures the structures that reflect the beams from various angles, enabling a computer to generate a three-dimensional image

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15
Q

corpus callosum

A

a thick fiber bundle that connects the hemispheres of the cortex

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16
Q

dendrites

A

root like structures, attached to the cell body of a neuron, that receive impulses, or incoming messages, from other neurons

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17
Q

depolarize

A

to reduce the resting potential of a cell membrane from about 70 millivolts toward zero

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18
Q

dizygotic (DZ) twins

A

twins that develop from two fertilized ova and who are thus as closely related as brothers and sisters in general; also called fraternal twins

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19
Q

DNA

A

acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid, the substance that forms the basic material of chromosomes; it takes the form of a double helix and contains the genetic code

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20
Q

dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter that affects the ability to perceive pleasure, voluntary movement, and learning and memory; it is involved in Parkinson’s disease and appears to play a role in schizophrenia

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21
Q

Down syndrome

A

a condition caused by an extra chromosome on the 21st pair and characterized by mental deficiency, a broad face, and slanting eyes

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22
Q

efferent neurons

A

neurons that transmit messages from the brain or spinal cord to muscles and glands; also called motor neurons

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23
Q

electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

a method of detecting brain waves by means of measuring the current between electrodes placed on the scalp

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24
Q

endocrine system

A

an assumed change in the nervous

system that reflects the impression made by a stimulus

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25
Q

endorphins

A

inhibitory neurotransmitters that occur naturally in the brain and in the bloodstream and are similar to the narcotic morphine in their functions and effects

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26
Q

epilepsy

A

the meaning of spoken language by slow, laborious speech

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27
Q

evolutionary psychology

A

the branch of psychology that studies the ways in which adaptation and natural selection are connected with mental processes and behavior

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28
Q

functional MRI (fMRI)

A

a form of MR I that enables researchers to observe the brain ?while it works? by taking repeated scans

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29
Q

gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

A

an inhibitory neurotransmitter that apparently helps calm anxiety

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30
Q

gene

A

a basic unit of heredity, which is found at a specific point on a chromosome

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31
Q

genetics

A

the area of biology that focuses on heredity

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32
Q

genotype

A

one’s genetic makeup, based on the sequencing of the nucleotides we term A, C, G , and T

33
Q

gland

A

an organ that secretes one or more chemical substances such as hormones, saliva, or milk

34
Q

glial cells

A

cells that remove dead neurons and waste products from the nervous system, nourish and insulate neurons, form myelin, and play a role in neural transmission of messages

35
Q

gray matter

A

the grayish neurons and neural segments that are involved in spinal reflexes

36
Q

heredity

A

the transmission of traits from parent to offspring by means of genes

37
Q

hippocampus

A

a structure of the brain that is involved in memory formation

38
Q

hormone

A

a substance secreted by an endocrine gland that regulates various body functions

39
Q

hypothalamus

A

a bundle of nuclei below the thalamus involved in body temperature, motivation, and emotion

40
Q

instinct

A

a stereotyped pattern of behavior that is triggered by a particular stimulus and nearly identical among members of a species, even when they are reared in isolation

41
Q

limbic system

A

a group of structures involved in memory, motivation, and emotion that forms a fringe along the inner edge of the cerebrum

42
Q

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

an imaging method that places a person in a magnetic field and uses radio waves to cause the brain to emit signals that reveal shifts in the flow of blood, which, when the brain is being scanned, indicate brain activity

43
Q

medulla

A

an oblong area of the hindbrain involved in regulation of heartbeat, blood pressure, movement, and respiration

44
Q

monozygotic (MZ)twins

A

twins that develop from a single fertilized ovum that divides in two early in prenatal development; M Z twins thus share the same genetic code; also called identical twins

45
Q

motor cortex

A

the section of cortex that lies in the frontal lobe, just across the central fissure from the sensory cortex; neural impulses in the motor cortex are linked to muscular responses throughout the body

46
Q

mutation

A

a sudden variation in an inheritable characteristic, as distinguished from a variation that results from generations of gradual selection

47
Q

myelin

A

a fatty substance that encases and insulates axons, facilitating transmission of neural impulses

48
Q

natural selection

A

the concept that holds that adaptive genetic variations among members of a species enable individuals with those variations to survive and reproduce

49
Q

nature

A

the inborn, innate character of an organism

50
Q

nerve

A

a bundle of axons from many neurons

51
Q

nervous system

A

the brain and spinal cord

52
Q

neural impulse

A

the electrochemical discharge of a nerve cell, or neuron

53
Q

neuron

A

a specialized cell of the nervous system that receives and transmits messages

54
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical substances involved in the transmission of neural impulses from one neuron to another

55
Q

norepinephrine

A

a neurotransmitter whose action is similar to that of the hormone epinephrine and that may play a role in depression

56
Q

nurture

A

the sum total of the environmental factors that affect an organism from conception onward

57
Q

parasympathetic division

A

the branch of the ANS that is most active during processes (such as digestion) that restore the body’s reserves of energy

58
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

the part of the nervous system consisting of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system

59
Q

phenotype

A

one’s actual development and appearance, as based on one’s genotype and environmental influences

60
Q

pituitary gland

A

the gland that secretes growth hormone, prolactin, antidiuretic hormone, and other hormones

61
Q

polarize

A

to ready a neuron for firing by creating an internal negative charge in relation to the body fluid outside the cell membrane

62
Q

polygenic

A

referring to traits that are influenced by combinations of genes

63
Q

pons

A

a structure of the hindbrain involved in respiration, attention, and sleep and arousal

64
Q

positron emission tomography (PET scan)

A

a method of brain imaging that injects a radioactive tracer into the bloodstream and assesses activity of parts of the brain according to the amount of glucose they metabolize

65
Q

receptor site

A

a location on a dendrite of a receiving neuron tailored to receive a neurotransmitter

66
Q

refractory period

A

a phase following firing during which a neuron is less sensitive to messages from other neurons and will not fire

67
Q

resting potential

A

the electrical potential across the neural membrane when it is not responding to other neurons

68
Q

reticular formation

A

a part of the brain involved in attention, sleep, and arousal

69
Q

serotonin

A

a neurotransmitter involved in emotional arousal and sleep; deficiencies of serotonin have been linked to eating disorders, alcoholism, depression, aggression, and insomnia

70
Q

sex chromosomes

A

the 23rd pair of chromosomes, whose genetic material determines the sex of the individual

71
Q

somatic nervous system

A

the division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system with sensory receptors, skeletal muscles, and the surface of the body

72
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

the section of cortex in which sensory stimulation is projected. It lies just behind the central fissure in the parietal lobe

73
Q

spinal cord

A

a column of nerves within the spine that transmits messages from sensory receptors to the brain and from the brain to muscles and glands throughout the body

74
Q

spinal reflex

A

a simple, unlearned response to a stimulus that may involve only two neurons

75
Q

sympathetic division

A

the branch of the ANS that is most active during emotional responses, such as fear and anxiety, that spend the body’s reserves of energy

76
Q

synapse

A

a junction between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another neuron

77
Q

thalamus

A

an area near the center of the brain involved in the relay of sensory information to the cortex and in the functions of sleep and attention

78
Q

Wernicke’s aphasia

A

a language disorder characterized by difficulty comprehending the meaning of spoken language

79
Q

white matter

A

axon bundles that carry messages to and from the brain

GE117- Social Psychology (2 decks)

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