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147 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Who is Dr. P?
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a music teacher who lost the ability to recognize objects by sight due to a large tumor. He sung songs to remember.
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Define: nervous system
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complex network the brain is a part of
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Two divisions of the nervous system.
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-Central Nervous System
-Peripheral Nervous System |
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Define: neurons
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nerve cells. basic building blocks of the nervous system.
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Define: brain
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the mass of nerve tissue encased in the skull that controls virtually everything we do and everything we are.
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Define: soma
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The cell body of a neuron that contains the nuclueus of the cell and carries out the cell's metabolic functions.
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Define: axon
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The tubelike part of a neuron which carries messages away from the cell body towards other neurons.
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Define: terminal buttons
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swellings at the tips of axons from which neurotransmitters are dispatched into synapses.
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Define: neurotransmitters
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chemical messengers that transport nerve impulses from one nerve cell to another.
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Define: synapse
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The small fluid-filled gap between neurons through which neurotransmitters carry neural impulses.
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Define: dendrites
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Rootlike structures at the end of axons that receive neural impulses from neighboring neurons.
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Three types of neurons
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-Sensory neurons
-Motor neurons -Interneurons |
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Define: sensory neurons
-and what is another name for them? |
Neurons that transmit information from sensory organs, muscles, and inner organs to the spinal cord and brain.
-Also called afferent neurons. |
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Define: motor neurons
-and what is another name for them? |
Neurons that convey nerve impulses from the central nervous system to muscles and glands.
-Also called efferent neurons. |
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Define: glands
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Body organs or structures that produce secretions.
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Define: hormones
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Secretions from endocrine glands that help regulate bodily processes
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Define: interneurons
-and what is another name for them? |
Nerve cells within the central nervous system that processes information.
-also called associative neurons |
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Define: nerve
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A bundle of axons from different neurons that transmit nerve impulses
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Define: glial cells
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Small but numerous cells in the nervous system that support neurons and that form the myelin sheath found on many axons
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What do glial cells do?
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Nourish the neurons, remove waste, and assist in communicating
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Define: myelin sheath
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A layer of protective insulation that covers the axons of certain neurons and helps speed transmission of nerve impulses
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Define: nodes of Ranvier
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gaps in the myelin sheath that create noninsulated areas along the axon
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Define: white matter
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Parts of the nervous system that contain myelinted axons
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Define: multiplesclerosis (MS)
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a disease of the central nervous system in which the myelin sheath that insulates axons is damaged or destroyed
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How many people in America have MS?
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350,000
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Define: ions
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electrically charged chemical particles
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Define: resting potential
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The electrical potential across the cell membrane of a neuron in its resting state.
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Resting potential of a neuron
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-70 mV (millivolts)
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Define: depolarization
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A positive shift in the electrical charge in the neuron's resting potential, making it less negativelly charged.
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Define: action potential
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an abrupt change from a negative to a positive charge of a nerve cell, also called a neural impulse
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Define: all-or-none principle
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the principle by which neurons will fire only when a change in the level of excitation occurs that is sufficient to produce an action potential
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Action potentials of different speeds depend on two things -
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-thickness (the thicker, the quicker)
-whether its covered with a myelin sheath or not |
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Define: refractory period
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A temporary state in which a neuron is unable to fire in response to continued stimulation
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Define: receptor site
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A site on the receiving neuron in which neurotransmitters dock.
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Define: excitatory effect
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make an action potential more likely to occur
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Define: inhibitory effect
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makes action potential less likely to occur. May cancel out excitatory messages
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Define: excitation threshhold
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level by which the excitatory messages exceed the inhibitory messages
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Define: reuptake
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The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the transmitting neuron
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Define: enzymes
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Organic substances that produce certain chemical changes in other organic substances through a catalytic action
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Define: neuromodulators
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Chemicals released in the nervous system that influence the sensitivity of the receiving neuron to neurotransmitters.
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Properties of acetylcholine (ACh)
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excitatory effect on skeletal muscles, stimulating them to contract in response to voluntary commands. Causes heart rate to slown down.
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Properties of curare
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Antagonist that paralyzes
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Define: antagonist
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Drugs that block the actions of neurotransmitters by occupying the receptor sites in which the neurotransmitters dock.
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Properties of dopamine
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controls muscle contractions and involved in learning, memory, and emotional functioning irregularities. Leads to schizophrenia.
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Define: schizophrenia
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A severe and chronic psychological disorder characterized by disturbances in thinking, perception, emotions, and behavior.
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How many people in America have schizophrenia?
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2-3 million
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Define: hallucinations
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perceptions experienced in the absence of external stimuli
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Define: delusions
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Fixed but patently false beliefs, such as believing that one is being hounded by demons
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Properties of antipsychotic drugs
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Antagonists, block receptor sites for dopamine. Control hallucinations and delusional thinking.
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Define: Parkinson's disease
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A progressive brain disease involving destruction of dopamine-producing brain cells and characterized by muscle tremors, shakiness, rigidity, and difficulty in waking and controlling fine body movements.
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How many Americans have Parkinson's disease?
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1 million
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Define: agonist
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Drugs that either increase the availability or effectiveness of neurotransmitters or mimic their actions.
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Define: stimulant
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A drug that activates the central nervous system, such as amphetamines and cocaine.
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Define: glutamate
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A neuratransmitter released with caffeine
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Define: amphetamines
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A class of synthetically derived stimulant drugs, such as methamphetamine or "speed".
- Is an agonist. |
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Properties of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
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inhibitory neurotransmitter
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Properties of serotonin
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Regulates emotional responses, feelings of satiation after eating and sleep.
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Define: antidepressants
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Drugs that combat depression by affecting the levels or activity of neurotransmitters.
-Is an agonist |
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Properties of Fluoxetine (Prozac)
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Increases Serotonin by interfering with reuptake of the chemical
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Experiment of Candace Pert and Solomon Snyder
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Traced morphine in the brain of an animal to see where it would be taken up. Discovered endorphins.
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Define: endorphins
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Natural chemicals released in the brain that have pain-killing and pleasure inducing effects
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Two parts of the nervous system
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-The central nervous system
-The peripheral nervous system |
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Define: central nervous system
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The part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord
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Define: peripheral nervous system
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The part of the nervous system that connects the spinal cord and brain with the sensory organs, muscles, and glands
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Two parts of the peripheral nervous system
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-The Somatic Nervous System
-The Autonomic Nervous System |
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Define: somatic nervous system
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The part of the peripheral nervous system that transmits information between the central nervous system and the sensory organs and muscles. also controls voluntary movements
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Define: autonomic nervous system
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The part of the peripheral nervous system that automatically regulates involuntary bodily processes, such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion
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Two parts of autonomic nervous system
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-Sympathetic nervous system
-Parasympathetic nervous system |
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Define: sympathetic nervous system
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The branch of the autonomic nervous system that accelerates bodily processes and releases stores of energy needed to meet increased physical demands
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Define: parasympathetic nervous system
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The branch of the autonomic nervous system that regulates bodily processes, such as digestion, that replenish stores of energy.
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Define: spinal cord
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The column of nerves that transmits information between the brain and the peripheral nervous system.
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Define: spine
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The protective bony column that houses the spinal cord
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Define: reflex
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An automatic, unlearned response to particular stimuli
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Define: spinal reflex
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A reflex controlled at the level of the spinal cord that may involve as few as two neurons
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Define: hindbrain
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The lowest and, in evolutionary terms, oldest part of the brain, includes the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.
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Define: medulla
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A structure in the hindbrain involved in regulating basic life functions, such as heartbeat and respiration.
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Define: brainstem
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The "stalk" in the lower part of the brain that connects the spinal cord to higher regions of the brain
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Define: pons
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A structure involved in motor and sensory information
-Lower brain stem just above brain stem |
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Define: cerebellum
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A structure in the hindbrain involved in controlling coordination and balance.
-Controls voluntary movements |
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Define: midbrain
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The part of the brain that lies on top of the hindbrain and below the forebrain
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Define: reticular formation
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A weblike formation of neurons involved in regulating states of attention, alertness, and arousal.
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Define: forebrain
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The largest and uppermost part of the brain; contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex
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Define: thalamus
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A structure in the forebrain that serves as a relay station for sensory information and that plays a key role in regulating states of wakefulness and sleep.
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Define: basal ganglia
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An assemblage of neurons lying in the forebrain that is important in controlling movement and coordination.
-controls walking |
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Define: Huntington's disease
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A genetically transmitted degenerative brain disease that results in involuntary jerking movements and progressive loss of control over bodily functions
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Define: hypothalamus
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A small, pea-sized structure in the forebrain that helps regulate many vital bodily functions, including body temperature and reproduction, as well as emotional states, aggression, and response to stress
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Define: limbic system
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A formation of structures in the forebrain that includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and parts of the thalamus and hypothalamus
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Define: amygdala
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A set of almond-shaped structures in the limbic system believed to play an important role in aggression, rage, and fear
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Define: hippocampus
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A structure in the limbic system involved in memory formation
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Define: cerebral cortex
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The wrinkled, outer layer of gray matter that covers the cerebral hemispheres, controls higher mental functions, such as thought and language
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Define: cerebrum
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The largest mass of the forebrain, consisting of 2 cerebral hemispheres
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Define: cerebral hemispheres
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The right and left masses of the cerebrum, which are joined by the corpus callosum
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Define: corpus callosum
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The thick bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres
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Define: occipital lobes
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The parts of the cerebral cortex, located at the back of both cerebral hemispheres, that process visual stimuli
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Define: parietal lobes
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The parts of the cerebral cortex, located on the side of each cerebral hemisphere, that process bodily sensations
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Define: somatosensory cortex
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The part of the parietal lobe that processes information about touch and pressure on the skin, as well as the position of the parts of our bodies as we move about
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Define: frontal lobes
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The parts of the cerebral cortex, located at the front of the cerebral hemispheres, that are considered the "executive center" of the brain because of their role in higher mental functions
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Define: motor cortex
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A region of the frontal lobes involved in regulating body movement
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Who is Jose Delgado?
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He stimulated the motor cortex, causing a person to make a fist when trying to keep his hand open.
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Define: temporal lobes
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The parts of the cerebral cortex lying beneath and somewhat behind the frontal lobes that are involved in processing auditory stimuli
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Define: association areas
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Areas of the cerebral cortex that piece together sensory information to form meaningful perceptions of the world and perform higher mental functions
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Define: EEG
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A device that records electrical activity in the brain by attaching electrodes to the scalp to measure brain waves
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Define: CT
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A computer-enhanved imaging technique in which an X-ray beam is passed through the body at different angles to generate a three-dimensional image of bodily structures
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Define: PET
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An imaging technique in which a radioactive sugar tracer is injected into the bloodstream and used to measure levels of activity of various parts of the brain
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Define: MRI
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A technique that uses a magnetic field to create a computerized image of internal bodily structures
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Define: electrical recording
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As a method of investigating brain functioning, a process of recording the electrical charges that occur in a specific neuron or groups of neurons in the brain in relation to particular activities or behaviors
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Define: electrical stimulation
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As a method of investigating brain functioning, a process of electrically stimulating particular parts of the brain to observe the effects of behavior
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Define: lateralization
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The specialization of the right and left cerebral hemispheres for particular functions
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Processes of left hemisphere
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Language abilities (speaking, reading, writing), logical analysis, problem solving, math computations
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Processes of right hemisphere
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Nonverbal processes, puzzles, arranging blocks, reading maps, recognizing faces, interpreting people's gestures and facial expressions
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Percentage of each handedness that are left hemisphere dominant for language
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-95% of right handers
-70% of left handers |
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Define: Broca's area
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An area of the left frontal lobe involved in speech
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Define: Wernicke's area
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An area of the left temporal lobe involved in processing written and spoken language
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Define: aphasia
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Loss or impairment of the ability to understand or express language
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Define: epilepsy
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A neurological disorder characterized by seizures that involve sudden, violent discharges of electrical activity in the brain
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Define: split-brain patients
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People whose corpus callosum has been surgically severed
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Who was Phineas Gage?
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He was shot with a metal rod but was still able to talk and walk. It damaged his prefrontal cortex and he became a drunk.
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Define: prefrontal cortex
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The area of the frontal lobe that lies in front of the motor cortex and that is involved in higher mental functions, including thinking, planning, impulse control, and weighing the consequences of behavior
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Define: laceration
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A type of brain trauma in which a foreign object, such as a bullet or piece of shapnel, pierces the skull and injures the brain
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Define: concussion
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A jarring of the brain caused by a blow to the head resulting in a momentary loss of consciousness
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Define: stroke (or CVA)
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The destruction of brain tissue arising from the blockage of a blood vessel that services the brain or from bleeding into the brain
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Define: plasticity
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The ability of the brain to adapt itself after trauma or surgical alteration
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Define: endocrine system
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The body's system of glands that release their secretions, called hormones, directly into the bloodstream
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Define: insulin
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a hormone produced by the pancreas, regulates the concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
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Define: pancreas
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An endocrine gland located near the stomach that produces the hormone insulin
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Define: homeostasis
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the tendency of systems to maintain a steady internally balanced state
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Define: diabetes
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A metabolic disease involving the insufficient production of insulin or failure to efficiently use the insulin that is produced
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Define: pituitary gland
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An endocrine gland in the brain that produces various hormones involved in growth, regulation of the menstrual cycle, and childbirth.
-"master gland" |
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Define: hGRF
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growth-hormone releasing factors that stimulate the pituitary to release growth hormone (GH), which promotes physical growth
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Define: pineal gland
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A small endocrine gland in the brain that produces the hormone melatonin, which is involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles
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Define: adrenal glands
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a pair of endocrine glands located just above the kidneys that produce various stree-related hormones
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Define: gonads
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Sex glands (testes in men, ovaries in women) that produce sex hormones and germ cells (sperm in the male, egg cells in the female)
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Define: ovaries
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The female gonads, which secrete the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, and produce mature egg cells
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Define: testes
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The male gonads, which produce sperm and secrete the male sex hormone testosterone
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Define: germ cells
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Sperm and egg cells from which new life develops
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Define: thyroid gland
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An endocrine gland in the neck that secretes the hormone throxin, which is involved in regulating metabolic functions and physical growth
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Define: genotype
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an organism's genetic code
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Define: genes
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Basic units of heredity that contain the individual's genetic code
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Define: DNA
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the basic chemical material in chromosomes that carries the individuals genetic code
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Define: chromosomes
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rodlike structures in the cell nucleus that house the individuals genes
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Define: nature-nurture problem
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The debate in psychology about the relative influences of genetics and environment in determining behavior
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Define: phenotype
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The observable physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism representing the influences of the genotype and environment
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Define: polygenic traits
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Traits that are influenced by multiple genes interacting in complex ways
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Define: zygote
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a fertilized egg cell
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Define: concordance rates
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In twin studies, the percentages of cases in which both members of twin pairs share the same trait or disorder
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Define: biofeedback training (BFT)
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A method of learning to control certain bodily responses by using information transmitted by physiological monitoring equipment
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Define: EMG biofeedback
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A form of BFT that involves feedback about changes in the level of muscle tension in the forehead or elsewhere in the body
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