Chapter 3/4 - Exam 3

Front 1

top-down processing

Back 1

a hierarchial model of pattern recognition in which info at higher levels of mental processing can also influence lower, "earlier" levels in the processing hierarchy

Front 2

bottom-up processing

Back 2

a hierarchial model of pattern recognition in which data are relayed from one level of mental processing to the next, always moving to a higher level of processing

Front 3

signal detection theory (SDT)

Back 3

a theory of perception based on the idea that the detection of a faint stimulus requires a judgement-- it is not an all-or-none principle

Front 4

sensory adaptation

Back 4

a decrease in sensitivity to a constant level of stimulation

Front 5

sensation

Back 5

the sense organs' detection of external stimuli, their responses to the stimuli and the transmission of these responses to the brain

Front 6

perception

Back 6

the processing, organization and interpretation of sensory signals; it results in an internal representation of the stimulus

Front 7

transduction

Back 7

a process by which sensory receptors produce neural impulses when they receive physical or chemical stimulation

Front 8

plasticity

Back 8

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

Front 9

dizygotic twins

Back 9

(fraternal twins) twin siblings that result from two separately fertilized eggs and therefore are no more similar genetically than nontwin siblings

Front 10

monozygotic twins

Back 10

(identical twins) twin siblings that result from one zygote splitting in two and therefore share the same genes

Front 11

pituitary gland

Back 11

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

Front 12

hormones

Back 12

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

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gonads

Back 13

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

Front 14

endocrine system

Back 14

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

Front 15

sympathetic division

Back 15

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

Front 16

parasympathetic division

Back 16

a division of the autonomic nervous system; it returns the body to its resting state

Front 17

somatic nervous system

Back 17

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

Front 18

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Back 18

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

Front 19

parietal lobes

Back 19

regions of the cerebral cortex--in front of the occipital lobes and behind the frontal lobes--important for the sense of touch and for conceptualizing the spatial layout of an environment

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temporal lobes

Back 20

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

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frontal lobes

Back 21

regions of the cerebral cortex--at the front of the brain--important for movement and higher level psychological processes associated with the prefrontal cortex

Front 22

prefrontal cortex

Back 22

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

Front 23

amygdala

Back 23

a brain structure that serves a vital role in our learning to associate things with emotional info

Front 24

basal ganglia

Back 24

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

Front 25

cerebral cortex

Back 25

the outer layer of brain tissue which forms the convoluted surface of the brain

Front 26

occipital lobes

Back 26

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

Front 27

hypothalamus

Back 27

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

Front 28

thalamus

Back 28

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

Front 29

hippocampus

Back 29

a brain structure that is associated with the formation of memories

Front 30

brain stem

Back 30

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

Front 31

cerebellum

Back 31

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

Front 32

Broca's area

Back 32

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

Front 33

Common Neurotransmitters and their Major Functions

Back 33

1. Acetylcholine: motor control over muscles; learning, memory, sleeping and dreaming

2. Epinephrine: energy

3. Norepinphrine: arousal and vigilance

4. Serotonin: emotional states and impulsiveness; dreaming

5. Dopamine: reward and motivation; motor control (voluntary movement)

6. GABA (gamma-aminobutynic acid): inhibition of action potentials; anxiety reduction; intoxication

7. Glutamate: enhancement of action potentials; learning and memory

8. Endorphins: pain reduction; reward

9. Substance p: pain perception; mood and anxiety

Front 34

reuptake

Back 34

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

Front 35

agonists

Back 35

drugs that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters

Front 36

antagonists

Back 36

drugs that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters

Front 37

receptors

Back 37

in neurons, specialized protein molecules on the postsynaptic membrane; neurotransmitters bind to these molecules after passing across the synaptic cleft

Front 38

neurotransmitters

Back 38

chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another

Front 39

all-or-none principle

Back 39

the principle whereby a neuron fires with the same potency each time, although frequency can vary; a neuron either fires or not--it cannot partially fire

Front 40

action potential

Back 40

the neural impulse that passes along the axon and subsequently causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons

Front 41

dendrites

Back 41

branchlike extensions of the neuron that detect info from other neurons

Front 42

cell body

Back 42

site, in the neuron, where info from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated

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axon

Back 43

a long narrow outgrowth of a neuron by which info is transmitted to other neurons

Front 44

terminal buttons

Back 44

small nodules, at the ends of axons, that release chemical signals from the neuron into the synapse

Front 45

synapse

Back 45

the site at which chemical communication occurs between neurons

Front 46

synaptic cleft

Back 46

the gap between the axon of a "sending" neurons and the dendrites of a "receiving" neuron; it contains extracellular fluid

Front 47

myelin sheath

Back 47

a fatty material made up of glial cells, that insulates the axon and allows for rapid movement of electrical impulses along the axon

Front 48

nodes of Ranvier

Back 48

small gaps of exposed axon, between the segments of myelin sheath, where action potentials are transmitted

Front 49

resting membrane potential

Back 49

the electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active

Front 50

sensory neurons

Back 50

one of three types of neurons; these afferent neurons detect info from the physical world and pass that info to the brain

Front 51

motor neurons

Back 51

one of three types of neurons; these efferent neurons direct muscles to contract or relax, thereby producing movement

Front 52

interneurons

Back 52

one of three types of neurons; these neurons communicate only with other neurons

Front 53

neurons

Back 53

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

Front 54

central nervous system (CNS)

Back 54

the brain and spinal cord

Front 55

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Back 55

all nerve cells in the body that are not part of the CNS; includes the somatic and autonomic nervous systems

Front 56

Back 56

1. dendrite

2. cell body

3. axon

4. nodes of Ranvier

5. myelin sheath

6. terminal buttons

7. synapse (synaptic cleft)

Front 57

Back 57

1. frontal

2. parietal

3. temporal

4. occipital