Psychology Chapter 3 Terms

Front 1

Neuron

Back 1

Nerve cell specialized for communication

Front 2

Dendrite

Back 2

Portion of neuron that receives signals

Front 3

Axon

Back 3

Portion of neuron that sends signals

Front 4

Synaptic vesicle

Back 4

Spherical sacred containing neurotransmitters

Front 5

Neurotransmitter

Back 5

Chemical Messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron

Front 6

Synapse

Back 6

Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically

Front 7

Synaptic cleft

Back 7

A gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal

Front 8

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 enhances learning and memory

Front 9

Myelin sheath

Back 9

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

Front 10

Resting potential

Back 10

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

Front 11

Threshold

Back 11

Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

Front 12

Action potential

Back 12

Electrical impulse that travels down the axon, triggering the release of neurotransmitters

Front 13

Absolute refractory period

Back 13

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

Front 14

Graded potentials

Back 14

Postsynaptic potentials that can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on whether positively or negatively charged particles flow across the neuronal membrane and in which direction they flow

Front 15

Excitatory postsynaptic potential

Back 15

Graded potential in a dendrite that is caused by excitatory synaptic transmission

Front 16

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential

Back 16

Graded potential in a dendrite that is caused by inhibitory synaptic transmission

Front 17

Receptor site

Back 17

Location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitters

Front 18

Reuptake

Back 18

Means of recycling neurotransmitters

Front 19

Endorphin

Back 19

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

Front 20

Plasticity

Back 20

Ability of the nervous system to change

Front 21

Stem cell

Back 21

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

Front 22

Neurogenesis

Back 22

Creation of new neurons in the adult brain

Front 23

Central nervous system

Back 23

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

Front 24

Peripheral nervous system

Back 24

Nerves in the body that extend outside the central nervous system

Front 25

Cerebral ventricles

Back 25

Pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, which provides the brain with nutrients and cushions against injury

Front 26

Forebrain(cerebrum)

Back 26

Forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities

Front 27

Cerebral hemispheres

Back 27

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

Front 28

Corpus callosum

Back 28

Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

Front 29

Cerebral cortex

Back 29

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

Front 30

Frontal lobe

Back 30

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

Front 31

Motor cortex

Back 31

Part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement

Front 32

Prefrontal cortex

Back 32

Part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language

Front 33

Brock's area

Back 33

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

Front 34

Parietal lobe

Back 34

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

Front 35

Temporal lobe

Back 35

Lower part of cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory

Front 36

Werner's area

Back 36

Part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech

Front 37

Occipital lobe

Back 37

Back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision

Front 38

Primary sensory cortex

Back 38

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

Front 39

Association cortex

Back 39

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

Front 40

Basal ganglia

Back 40

Structures in the forebrain that help to control movement

Front 41

Limbic system

Back 41

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

Front 42

Thalamus

Back 42

Gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex

Front 43

Hypothalamus

Back 43

Part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state

Front 44

Amygdala

Back 44

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

Front 45

Hippocampus

Back 45

Part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory

Front 46

Brain stem

Back 46

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

Front 47

Midbrain

Back 47

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

Front 48

Reticular activating system

Back 48

Brain area that plays a key role in arousal

Front 49

Hindbrain

Back 49

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

Front 50

Cerebellum

Back 50

Brain structure responsible for our sense of balance

Front 51

Pons

Back 51

Part of brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum

Front 52

Medulla

Back 52

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

Front 53

Spinal cord

Back 53

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

Front 54

Interneuron

Back 54

Neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby

Front 55

Reflex

Back 55

Automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus

Front 56

Endocrine system

Back 56

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

Front 57

Hormone

Back 57

Chemical released into the bloodstream that influences particular organs and glands

Front 58

Pituitary gland

Back 58

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

Front 59

Adrenal gland

Back 59

Tissue located on top of the kidneys that releases adrenalin and cortisol during states of emotional arousal

Front 60

Electroencephalograph

Back 60

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

Front 61

Computed tomography

Back 61

Scanning techniques using multiple X-rays to construct three-dimensional images

Front 62

Magnetic resonance imaging

Back 62

Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure

Front 63

Positron emission tomography

Back 63

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

Front 64

Functional MRI

Back 64

Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using the bold response

Front 65

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Back 65

Technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function

Front 66

Magnetoencephalography

Back 66

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

Front 67

Lateralization

Back 67

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

Front 68

Split brain surgery

Back 68

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

Front 69

Chromosome

Back 69

Slender thread inside a cell's nucleus that carries genes

Front 70

Gene

Back 70

Genetic material, composed of deoxyribonucleic acid

Front 71

Genotype

Back 71

Our genetic makeup

Front 72

Phenotype

Back 72

Our observable traits

Front 73

Dominant gene

Back 73

Gene that masks other genes effects

Front 74

Recessive gene

Back 74

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

Front 75

Fitness

Back 75

Organisms capacity to pass on their genes

Front 76

Heritability

Back 76

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

Front 77

Family study

Back 77

Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families

Front 78

Twin study

Back 78

Analysis of how traits differ in identical vs fraternal twins

Front 79

Adoption study

Back 79

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