General Psych: Chapter 2

Front 1

Biological Psychology?

Back 1

Specialized branch of psychology that studies the relationship between behavior and bodily processes and systems; also called biopsychology or psychobiology.

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

Sensory Neuron?

Back 4

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

Front 5

Motor Neuron?

Back 5

Type of neuron that signals muscles to relax or contract.

Front 6

Interneuron?

Back 6

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

Front 7

Cell Body?

Back 7

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

Front 8

Dendrites?

Back 8

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

Front 9

Axon?

Back 9

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

Front 10

Glial Cells (glia)?

Back 10

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

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 neurotransmitter molecules detach from a postsynaptic neuron and are reabsorbed by a presynaptic neuron so they can be recycled and used again.

Front 23

Acetylcholine?

Back 23

Neurotransmitter that causes muscle contractions and is involved in learning and memory.

Front 24

Dopamine?

Back 24

Neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of bodily movement, thought processes, and rewarding sensations.

Front 25

Serotonin?

Back 25

Neurotransmitter involved in sensory perceptions, sleep, and emotions.

Front 26

Norepinephrine?

Back 26

Neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and regulation of sleep; also a hormone manufactured by adrenal glands.

Front 27

GABA (gamma-amniobutyric acid)?

Back 27

Neurotransmitter that usually communicates an inhibitory message.

Front 28

Endorphins?

Back 28

Neurotransmitters that regulate pain perceptions.

Front 29

Agonist?

Back 29

Drug or other chemical substances that binds to a receptor site and triggers a response in the cell.

Front 30

Antagonist?

Back 30

Drug or other chemical substance that blocks a receptor site and inhibits or prevents a response in the receiving cell.

Front 31

Nervous System?

Back 31

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

Front 32

Nerves?

Back 32

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

Front 33

Central Nervous System?

Back 33

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

Front 34

Spinal Reflexes?

Back 34

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

Front 35

Peripheral Nervous System?

Back 35

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

Front 36

Somatic Nervous System?

Back 36

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 37

Autonomic Nervous System?

Back 37

Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary functions.

Front 38

Sympathetic Nervous System?

Back 38

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

Front 39

Parasympathetic Nervous System?

Back 39

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

Front 40

Endocrine System?

Back 40

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

Front 41

Hormones?

Back 41

Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream primarily by endocrine glands.

Front 42

Pituitary Gland?

Back 42

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 43

Adrenal Glands?

Back 43

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

Front 44

Adrenal Cortex?

Back 44

The outer portion of the adrenal glands.

Front 45

Adrenal Medulla?

Back 45

The inner portion of the adrenal glands; secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Front 46

Gonads?

Back 46

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

Front 47

Phrenology?

Back 47

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

Front 48

Cortical Localization?

Back 48

The notion that different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain; also called localization of function.

Front 49

Functional Plasticity?

Back 49

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

Front 50

Structural Plasticity?

Back 50

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

Front 51

Neurogenesis?

Back 51

The development of new neurons.

Front 52

Brainstem?

Back 52

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

Front 53

Hindbrain?

Back 53

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

Front 54

Medulla?

Back 54

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

Front 55

Pons?

Back 55

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 56

Cerebellum?

Back 56

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

Front 57

Reticular Formation?

Back 57

A network of nerve fibers located in the center of the medulla that helps regulate attention, arousal, and sleep; also called the reticular activating system.

Front 58

Midbrain?

Back 58

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

Front 59

Substantia Nigra?

Back 59

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

Front 60

Forebrain?

Back 60

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

Front 61

Cerebral Cortex?

Back 61

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

Front 62

Cerebral Hemispheres?

Back 62

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

Front 63

Corpus Callosum?

Back 63

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

Front 64

Temporal Lobe?

Back 64

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

Front 65

Occipital Lobe?

Back 65

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

Front 66

Parietal Lobe?

Back 66

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

Front 67

Frontal Lobe?

Back 67

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

Front 68

Limbic System?

Back 68

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

Front 69

Hippocampus?

Back 69

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

Front 70

Thalamus?

Back 70

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

Front 71

Hypothalamus?

Back 71

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 72

Amygdala?

Back 72

Almond shaped cluster of neurons in the brain's temporal lobe, involved in memory and emotional responses, especially fear.

Front 73

Lateralization of Function?

Back 73

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

Front 74

Aphasia?

Back 74

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

Front 75

Split-Brain Operation?

Back 75

A surgical procedure that involved cutting the corpus callosum.

Front 76

Pierre Paul Broca?

Back 76

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

Front 77

Roger Sperry?

Back 77

US 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

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.