Discovering Psychology Chapter 2

Front 1

Biological Psychology

Back 1

Specialized branch of psychology that studies the relationship between behavior and bodily processes and systems.

Front 2

Neuroscience

Back 2

The study of the nervous system especially the brain.

Front 3

Neuron

Back 3

Highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical form; a nerve cell.

Front 4

Glial cells

Back 4

Support cells that assist nurons by providing structural support, nutrition, and removal of cell wastes; manufacture myelin.

Front 5

Sensory neuron

Back 5

Type of neuron that conveys information to the brain from specialized receptor cells in sense organs and internal organs.

Front 6

Motor neuron

Back 6

Type of neuron that signals muscles to relax or contract.

Front 7

Interneuron

Back 7

Type of neuron that commnicates information from one neuron to the next.

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Cell Body

Back 8

Processes nutrients and provides energy for the neuron to function; contains the cell's nucleus; also called the soma.

Front 9

Dendrites

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Multiple short fibers that extend crom the neuron's cell body and receive information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells.

Front 10

Axon

Back 10

The long, fluid-filled tube that carries a neuron's messages to other body areas.

Front 11

Myelin Sheath

Back 11

A white, fatty covering wrapped around the axons of some neurons that increases their communication speed.

Front 12

Action potential

Back 12

A brief electrical impulse by which information is transmitted along the axon of a neuron.

Front 13

Stimulus threshold

Back 13

The minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron.

Front 14

Resting potential

Back 14

State in which a neuron is prepared to activate and communicate its message if it receives sufficient stimulation.

Front 15

All or none law

Back 15

The principle that either a neuron is sufficiently stimulated and an action potential occurs or a neuron is not sufficiently stimulated and an action potential does not occur.

Front 16

Synapse

Back 16

The point of communication between two neurons.

Front 17

Synaptic gap

Back 17

The tiny space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of an adjoining neuron.

Front 18

Axon terminals

Back 18

Branches at the end of the axon that contain tiny pouches, or sacs, called synaptic vesicles.

Front 19

Synaptic vesicles

Back 19

Tiny pouches or sacs in the axon terminals that contain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Front 20

Neurotransmitters

Back 20

Chemical messengers manufactured by a neuron.

Front 21

Synaptic transmission

Back 21

The process through which neurotransmitters are released by one neuron, cross the synaptic gap, and affect adjoining neurons.

Front 22

Reuptake

Back 22

The process by which neurotransmitters are released by one neuron, cross the synaptic gap, and affect adjoining neurons.

Front 23

Acetylcholine

Back 23

Neurotransmitter that causes muscle contraction and is involved in memory function.

Front 24

Dopamine

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Neurotransmitter involved int he regulation of bodily movement, thought processes, and rewarding sensations.

Front 25

Serotonin

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Neurotransmitter involved in sleep and emotions.

Front 26

Norepinephrine

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Neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory; also a hormone manuactured by adrenal glands.

Front 27

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Back 27

Neurotransmitter that usually commmunicates an inhibitory message.

Front 28

Endorphins

Back 28

Neurotranmitters that regulate pain perceptions.

Front 29

Nervous system

Back 29

The primary internal communication network of the body; divided into the central nervous sytem and the peripheral nervous system.

Front 30

Nerves

Back 30

Bundles of neuron axons that carry inforation in the peripheral nervous system.

Front 31

Central nervous system

Back 31

Division of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Front 32

Spinal reflexes

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Simple, automatic behaviors that are processed in the spinal cord.

Front 33

Peripheral nervous system

Back 33

Division of the nervous system that includes all the nerves lying outside the central nervous system.

Front 34

Somatic nervous system

Back 34

Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that communicates sensory information to the central nervous system and carries motor messages from the central nervous system to the muscles.

Front 35

Autonomic nervous system

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Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary functions.

Front 36

Sympathetic nervous system

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Branch of the autonomic nervous system that produces a rapid physical arousal in response to perceived emergencies or threats.

Front 37

Parasympathetic nervous system

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Branch of the autonomic nervous system that maintains normal bodily functions and conserves the body's physical resources.

Front 38

Endocrine system

Back 38

System of glands located throughout the body that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Front 39

Hormones

Back 39

Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodsteam primarily by endocrine glands.

Front 40

Pituitary gland

Back 40

Endocrine gland attached to the base of the brain that secretes hormones that affect the function of other glands as well as hormones that act directly on physical processes.

Front 41

Adrenal glands

Back 41

Pair of endocrine glands that are involved in the human stress response.

Front 42

Gonads

Back 42

The endocrine glands that secrete hormones that regulate sexual characteristics and reproductive processes; ovaries in females and testes in males.

Front 43

Phrenology

Back 43

A discredited psuedosciencetific theory of the brain that claimed that personality characteristics, moral character, and intelligence could be determined by examining the bumps on a person's skull.

Front 44

Cortical localization or localization of function

Back 44

The notion that different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain.

Front 45

Electroencephalograph

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An instrument that produces a graphic record of the brain's electrical activity by using electrodes placed on the scalp.

Front 46

Positron emission tomography (PET scan)

Back 46

An invasive imaging technique that provides color-coded images of brain activity by tracking the brain's use of radioactively tagged compound, such as glucose, oxygen, or a drug.

Front 47

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

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A noninvasive imaging technique that produces highly detailed images of the brain using electromagnetic signals generated by the brain in response to magnetic fields.

Front 48

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Back 48

A noninvasive imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to map brain activity by measuring changes in the brain's blood flow and oxygen levels.

Front 49

Cognitive neuroscience

Back 49

The study of the neural basis of cognitive process that integrates contributions from psychology, neuroscience, and computer science.

Front 50

Brainstem

Back 50

A region of the brain made up of the hindbrain and the midbrain.

Front 51

Hindbrain

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A region at the base of the brain that contains several structures that regulate basic life functions.

Front 52

Medulla

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A hindbrain structure that controls vital life functions such as breathing and circulation.

Front 53

Pons

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A hindbrain structure that connects the medulla to the two sides of the cerebellum; helps coordinate and integrate movements on each side of the body.

Front 54

Cerebellum

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A large, two-sided hindbrain structure at the back of the brain; responsible for muscle coordination and maintaining posture and equilibrium.

Front 55

Reticular formation

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A network of nerve fibers located in the center of the medulla that helps regulate attention, arousal, and sleep.

Front 56

Midbrain

Back 56

The middle and smallest brain region, involved in processing auditory and visual sensory information.

Front 57

Substantia nigra

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An area of the midbrain that is involved in motor control and contains a large concentration of dopamine-producing neurons.

Front 58

Forebrain

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The largest and most complex brain region, which contains centers for complex behaviors and mental processes, also called the cerebrum.

Front 59

Cerebral cortex

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The wrinkled outer portion of the forebrain, which contains the most sophisticated brain centers.

Front 60

Cerebral hemispheres

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The nearly symmetrical left and right halves of the cerebral cortex.

Front 61

Corpus callosum

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A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and acts as a communication link between them.

Front 62

Temporal lobe

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An area of each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information.

Front 63

Occipital lobe

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An area at the back of each cerebral hemisphere that is the primary receiving area for visual information.

Front 64

Parietal lobe

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An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex located above the temporal lobe that processes somatic sensations.

Front 65

Frontal lobe

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The largest lobe of each cerebral hemisphere; processes voluntary muscle movements and is involved in thinking, planning, and emotional control.

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Limbic system

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A group of forebrain structures that form a border around the brainstem and are involved in emotion, motivation, learning, and memory.

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Hippocampus

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A curved forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and is involved in learning and forming new memories.

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Thalamus

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A forebrain structure that processes sensory information for all senses, except smell, and relays it to the cerebral cortex.

Front 69

Hypothalamus

Back 69

A peanut-sized forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and regulates behaviors related to survival, such as eating, drinking, and sexual activity.

Front 70

Amygdala

Back 70

An almond-shaped forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and is involved in emotion and memory.

Front 71

Cortal localization

Back 71

The notion that different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain.

Front 72

Lateralization of function

Back 72

The notion that specific psychological or cognitive functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain.

Front 73

Aphasia

Back 73

The partial or complete inability to articulate ideas or understand spoken or written language because of brain injury or damage.

Front 74

Functional plasticity

Back 74

The brain's ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas.

Front 75

Structural plasticity

Back 75

The brain's ability to change its physical structure in response to learning, active practice, or environmental influences.

Front 76

Pierre Paul Broca

Back 76

1824-1880 French surgeon and neuroanatomist who in 1861 discovered an area on the lower left frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex that, when damaged, produces speech disturbances but no loss of comprehension.

Front 77

Roger Sperry

Back 77

1913-1994 American psychologist who received the Nobel prize in 1981 for his pioneering research on brain specialization in split-brain patients.

Front 78

Karl Wernicke

Back 78

1848-1905 German neurologist who in 1874 discovered an area on the left temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex that, when damaged, produces meaningless or nonsensical speech and difficulties in verbal or written comprehension.