Chapter 3 - Biological Psychology

Front 1

Neuron

Back 1

Nerve cell specialised for communication

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Dendrite

Back 2

Portion of neuron that receives signals

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Axon

Back 3

Portion of neuron that sends signals

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Synaptic vesicle

Back 4

Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters

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Neurotransmitter

Back 5

Chemical messenger specialised for communication from neuron to neuron

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Synapse

Back 6

Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically

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Synaptic cleft

Back 7

A gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal

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Glial cell

Back 8

Cell in nervous system that plays a role in the formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, and enhanced learning and memory

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Myelin sheath

Back 9

Glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron's signal

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Resting potential

Back 10

Electrical charge difference (-60 mV) across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

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Threshold

Back 11

Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

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Action potential

Back 12

Electric impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters

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Absolute refractory period

Back 13

Time during which another potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate

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Receptor site

Back 14

Location that uniquely recognises a neurotransmitter

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Reuptake

Back 15

Means of recycling neurotransmitters

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Endorphin

Back 16

Chemical in the brain that plays a specialised role in pain reduction

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Plasticity

Back 17

Ability of the nervous system to change, e.g. growth of dendrites and axons, synaptogenesis, pruning and myelination

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Synaptogenesis

Back 18

The formation of new synapses

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Pruning

Back 19

The death of certain neurons and the retraction of axons to remove connections that aren't useful

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Myelination

Back 20

The insulation of axons with a myelin sheath

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Less is more

Back 21

Our brains can often process information more efficiently with fewer neurons

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Neurogenesis

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Creation of new neurons in the adult brain

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Stem cell

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A cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialised cell

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Central nervous system (CSN)

Back 24

Part of nervous containing brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behaviour

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Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Back 25

Nerves on the body that extend outside the central nervous system

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Cerebral ventricles

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Pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provide the brain with nutrients and cushion against injury

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Cerebral cortex

Back 27

Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analysing sensory processing and higher brain functions

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Forebrain (Cerebrum)

Back 28

Forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities

Front 29

Cerebral hemispheres

Back 29

Two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serves distinct get highly integrated functions

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Corpus callosum

Back 30

Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

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Frontal lobe

Back 31

Forward part of cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, memory and planning

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Motor cortex

Back 32

Part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement

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Prefrontal cortex

Back 33

Part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning and language

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Broca's area

Back 34

Language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production

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Parietal lobe

Back 35

Upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that is specialised for touch and perception

Front 36

Temporal lobe

Back 36

Lower part of cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language and memory. Separated from the rest of the cortex by a horizontal groove called the lateral fissure.

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Wernicke's area

Back 37

Part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech

Front 38

Occipital lobe

Back 38

Back part of cerebral cortex specialised for vision

Front 39

Primary sensory cortex

Back 39

Regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses

Front 40

Association cortex

Back 40

Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions

Front 41

Basal ganglia

Back 41

Structures in the forebrain that help to control movement

Front 42

Limbic system

Back 42

Emotional center of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, and memory

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Thalamus

Back 43

Gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex

Front 44

Hypothalamus

Back 44

Part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state

Front 45

Amygdala

Back 45

Part of limbic system that plays roles in fear, excitement, and arousal

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Hippocampus

Back 46

Part of the brain that pays a role in spatial memory

Front 47

Cerebellum

Back 47

Brain structure responsible for our sense of balance

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Brain stem

Back 48

Part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons, and medulla

Front 49

Midbrain

Back 49

Part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound

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Reticulated activating system (RAS)

Back 50

Brain area that pays a key role in arousal

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Hindbrain

Back 51

Region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons and medulla

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Pons

Back 52

Part of the brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum

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Medulla

Back 53

Part of brain stem involved in basic functions, such as heartbeat and breathing

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Spinal cord

Back 54

Thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and the body

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Interneuron

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Neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby

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Reflex

Back 56

An automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus

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Somatic nervous system

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Part of the nervous system that conveys information between the CNS and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement

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Autonomic nervous system

Back 58

Part of the nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which (along with the limbic system) participates in emotion regulation

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Sympathetic nervous system

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Division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight

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Parasympathetic nervous system

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Division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion

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Endocrine system

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System of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers

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Hormone

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Chemical released into the blood stream that influences particular organs and glands

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Pituitary gland

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Master gland that, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body

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Adrenal gland

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Tissue locates on top of the kidneys that releases adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotional arousal

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Electroencephalograph (EEG)

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Recording of brain's electrical activity at the surface of the skull

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Computer tomography (CT)

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A scanning technique using multiple X-ray to construct three-dimensional images

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

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Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualise brain structure

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Position emission tomography (PET)

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Imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain

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Functional MRI (fMRI)

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Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualise brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level

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Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

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Technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface if the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function. The only noninvasive brain imaging technique that allows us to infer causation.

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Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

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Technique that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain

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Neuro-seduction

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Placing unwarranted confidence in evidence derived from brain imaging studies

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Lateralisation

Back 73

Cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other

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Split-brain surgery

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Procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures

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Chromosome

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Slender thread inside a cell's nucleus that carries genes

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Gene

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Genetic material, composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

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Genotype

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Our genetic makeup

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Phenotype

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Our observable traits

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Dominant gene

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Gene that masks other genes' effects

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Recessive gene

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Gene that is expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene

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Fitness

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Organisms' capacity to pass on their genes

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Heritability

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Percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes

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Family study

Back 83

Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families

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Twin study

Back 84

Analysis of how traits differ in identical versus fraternal twins

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Adoption study

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Analysis of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives