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79 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Biological psychology |
The scientific study between biological and psychological processes |
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Neuron |
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system |
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Dendrites |
A neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body |
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Axon |
The neuron extension that passes messages through it's branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands |
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Myelin sheath |
A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage like node to the next |
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Acton potential |
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels between an axon |
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Refractory period |
A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired |
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Threshold |
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse |
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All-or-none response |
A neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing |
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Synapse |
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called synaptic cleft or gap |
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Neurotransmitters |
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse |
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Reuptake |
A neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neurons |
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Endorphins |
"Morphine within" —natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure |
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Agonist |
A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, simulates a response |
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Antagonist |
A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response |
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Nervous system |
The body's speedy electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral nervous system |
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Central nervous system |
Brain and spinal chord |
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Peripheral nervous system |
The sensory and motor neurons that connect central nervous system to the rest of the body |
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Nerves |
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscle, glands, and sense organs |
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Sensory (afferent) neurons |
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord |
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Motor (efferent) neurons |
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles and glands |
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Interneuron |
Neurons within the brain and spinal chord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs |
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Somatic nervous system |
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal system |
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Autonomic nervous system |
Part of the peripheral nervous system that controls glands and muscles of internal organs |
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Sympathetic nervous system |
Division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing it's energy in stressful situations |
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Parasympathetic nervous system |
Division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving it's energy |
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Reflex |
Simple autonomic response to a sensory stimulus, such as a knee jerk response |
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Endocrine system |
The body's slow chemical communication system, a set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream |
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Hormones |
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues |
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Adrenal glands |
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones, that help arouse the body in times of stress |
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Pituitary glands |
The endocrine system's most influential glands. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands |
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Lesion |
Tissue distribution, brain lesion is destruction of brain tissue |
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Electroencephalogram (EEG) |
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. Measured by electrodes placed on scalp |
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CT (computed tomography) scan |
A series of x ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure |
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PET (positron emission topography) scan |
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a task |
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MRI ( magnetic emission tomography) |
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated image of soft tissue |
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fMRI (functional MRI) |
Technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Show function as well as structure |
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Brain stem |
Oldest part and central core of brain beginning where the spinal chords swells as it enters the skull, the brain stem is responsible for autonomic survival functions |
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Medulla |
Base of brain stem; controls heartbeat and breathing |
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Thalamus |
Brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brain stem, directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla |
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Cerebellum |
The little brain at the rear of the brain stem; functions include processing sensory input coordinating movement output and balance and enabling nonverbal learning and memory |
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Limbic system |
Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. |
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Amygdala |
2 Lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion |
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Hypothalamus |
A neural structure lying below the thalamus; direct several maintenance activities helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland and is linked to emotion and reward |
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Cerebral cortex |
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres the body's ultimate control and information processing center |
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Glial cells |
Cells and the nervous system that support nourish and protect neurons they may also play a role in learning and thinking |
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Frontal lobe |
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgment |
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Parietal lobes |
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input from touch and body position |
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Occipital lobes |
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying in the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields |
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Temporal lobes |
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying above the ears; includes the auditory areas each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear |
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Motor cortex |
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement |
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Somatosensory cortex |
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that register the bodies touch and movement sensations |
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Association areas |
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions rather they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning remembering thinking and speaking |
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Plasticity |
The brain's ability to change especially during childhood by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience |
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Neurogenesis |
Formation of new neurons |
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Corpus collosum |
The large band of nerve fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them |
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Split brain |
A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them |
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Consciousness |
Are awareness of ourselves and our environment |
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Cognitive neuroscience |
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition |
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Dual processing |
The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks |
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Behavior genetics |
The study of relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior |
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Environment |
Every external influence from parental nutrition to the people and things around us |
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Chromosomes |
Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes |
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DNA |
The molecule containing the genetic information that make up chromosomes |
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Genes |
The biochemical units of heredity that makes up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins |
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Genome |
The complete instructions for making an organism consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes |
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Identical twins ( monozygotic twins) |
Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two creating two genetically identical organisms |
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Fraternal twins (dizygotic twins) |
Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. they are genetically no closer than brother and sister but they share a fetal environment |
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Molecular Genetics |
The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes |
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Heritability |
The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary depending on the range of populations and environment studied |
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Interaction |
The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another |
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Epigenetics |
The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occurs without a DNA change |
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Evolutionary psychology |
The principle that I'm on the range of inherited trait variations those contributing to reproduction in survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations |
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Mutation |
A random error in gene replication that leads to a change |
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Paul Broca |
French physician in the late 19th century whose research led to the discovery of specialized language brain areas |
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Carl Wernicke |
19th century German researcher who studies led to the discoveries of specialized brain areas relating to understanding language |
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Roger Sperry |
A psychologist who along with Ronald Myer and Michael Gazzangia had divided the brains of cats and monkeys with no serious ill effects |
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Michael Gazzangia |
Psychologist who along with Roger Sperry and Donald Myer divided the brains of cats and monkeys with no serious ill effects |
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Charles Darwin |
British naturalist who devised the main principles of natural selection which is used by psychologists to understand the roots of behavior and mental processes |
