Psychology - Chapter 2

Front 1

___________ refers to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or not at all

Back 1

all or none

Front 2

synaptic vesicles

Back 2

are sack-like structures found inside the synaptic knob containing chemicals

Front 3

neurotransmitters

Back 3

chemicals found in the synaptic vesicles which, when released, has an effect on the next cell

Front 4

excitatory neurotransmitter

Back 4

...causes the receiving cell to fire

Front 5

agonists....

Back 5

mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell (increasing or decreasing activity of that cell)

Front 6

spinal cord

Back 6

a long bundle of neurons that carries messages to and from the body to the brain

Front 7

a neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system (is known as the afferent)

Back 7

sensory neurons

Front 8

nerves/neurons that are not contained in the brain or spinal cord but through the body itself

Back 8

peripheral nervous system

Front 9

somatic nervous system

Back 9

sensory nerves that transmit information from the sense receptors (eyes, nose, ears) to the central nervous system and all the motor nerves and skeletal muscles

SNS - allows us to sense our environment and move

Front 10

autonomic nervous system

Back 10

automatic; transmits messages between CNS and the glands, cardiac (heart) muscle and the smooth muscles (large arteries, small blood vessels, gastrointestinal system)

Front 11

sympathetic division

Back 11

responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal

Front 12

electroencephalograph

Back 12

machine designed to record brain wave patterns

Front 13

part of lower brain that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid fine motor movement

Back 13

cerebellum

Front 14

thalamus

Back 14

located in center of brain (egg shaped);part of limbic system; relay station for all information that flows into and out of the higher brain centres

Front 15

hippocampus

Back 15

below thalamus; formation of conscious memory; regulates emotional behaviours

Front 16

amygala

Back 16

brain structure located near hippocampus; responsible for fear responses and memory of fear

Front 17

cortex

Back 17

outermost covering of the brain, consists of densely packed neurons, responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input

Front 18

corpus callosum

Back 18

thick band of neurons that connect right and left cerebral hemispheres

Front 19

occipital cortex

Back 19

located at rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual centers of the brain

Front 20

parietal cortex

Back 20

located at top and back of each cerebral hemisphere, containing centers for touch, taste and temperature sensations

Front 21

temporal lobes

Back 21

area of cortex located behind the temples, contains neurons responsible for sense of hearing and meaningful speech

Front 22

frontal lobes

Back 22

area of cortex located in front/top of brain; responsible for higher mental processes and decision making & production of fluent speech

Front 23

endocrine glands

Back 23

secretes hormones directly into bloodstream

Front 24

adrenal glandss

Back 24

located above the kidneys; produce hormones that activate SNS(control bodys salt balance, deal with stress, 2ndary source of sex hormones