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98 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Ch. 3 Biological Aspects of Psychology
-Biological Aspects of Psychology (8%-10%) |
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biological psychology
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study of the cells and organs of the body and the physical and chemical changes involved in behavior and mental processes
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nervous system
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complex combination of cells that allows you to gain information about what is going on inside and outside your body and to respond appropriately
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input
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received in the form of sensory signals from the world
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processing
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integrate the information with past experiences and decide what to do about it
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output
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occurs as your brain activates your muscles to act on the information
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Alzheimer's disease
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disease of the cells in the brain that usually occurs among older people; it causes a progressive and dramatic deterioration in reasoning and a broad range of other cognitive abilities
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outer membrane of nervous system
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lets substances pass in and out while blocking others
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cell body of nervous system
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contains a nucleus; the nucleus carries the genetic information that determines how a cell will function
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mitochondria of the nervous system
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structures that turn oxygen and glucose into energy
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neurons
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cells that are specialized to rapidly respond to signals and quickly send signals of their own
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glial cells
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"glue"; hold neurons together and help neurons communicate by directing their growth, keeping their chemical environment stable, secreting chemicals to help restore damage and even responding to signals from neurons
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axons
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fibers that carry signals AWAY from the cell body, out to where communication occurs with other neurons
dendrites-can be very short or several feet long; each neuron generally has one axon leaving the cell body, but has many branches |
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dendrites
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fibers that RECEIVE signals from the axons of other neurons and carry those signals to the cell body
-neuron can have many dendrites; dendrites usually have many branches as well and purpose is to DETECT |
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synapse
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minute gap between neurons
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selectively permeable
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cell membrane; lets some molecules pass through, while excludes others
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ions
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molecules that carry either a positive or negative electrochemical charge
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polarized
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the membrane is considered this when the inside of a cell is slightly more negative than the outside
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electrochemical potential
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drives positively charged molecules toward the inside of a cell where it is negative because the positive charge is attracted to the opposite
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depolarize
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when the area inside the membrane becomes less negative
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action potential
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abrupt change in the potential of an axon and its "contagious" nature is referred to as its self-propagating property; can also occur in dendrites
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fired
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when an action potential shoots down an axon
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all or none communication
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when the cell either fires at full strength or not at all
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myelin
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fatty substance that wraps around some axons and SPEEDS action potentials
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refractory period
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the short rest between firing periods
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neurotransmitters
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chemicals that transfer information at the synapse between the neurons
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vesicles
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numerous little "bags" that store the neurotransmitters at the tips of the axons
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receptors
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at the membrane of the postsynaptic cell (the next cell after neurotransmitters release to the synapse), it is the protein that neurotransmitters attach to; fits or binds to its own receptor like a puzzle piece; each neurotransmitter can bind to different receptors, but receptors only takes one known type
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postsynaptic potential
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change in the membrane potential of the dendrite or cell body of the postsynaptic cell; can make cell more or less likely to fire
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excitatory postsynaptic potential
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EPSP; depolarizing postsynaptic potential that can lead to the neuron to FIRE an action potential
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hyperpolarized
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when positively charged ions flow out of the neuron or negatively charged ions flow in; the neuron becomes more polarized and LESS LIKELY that the neuron will fire an action potential
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inhibitory postsynaptic potential
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IPSP; the term for a hyperpolarizing postsynaptic potential
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neural networks
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the organization of neurons in the brain and spinal cord
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sensory systems
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the groups of neurons in the nervous system that provide INPUT about the environment; vision, smell, hearing, taste and touch
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motor systems
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the OUTPUT system; parts of the nervous system that influence muscles and other organs to respond to the environment
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peripheral nervous system
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PNS, first division of the nervous system; includes all of the nervous that is not housed in bone, carries out all SENSORY and MOTOR functions
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central nervous system
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CNS; second division of the nervous system; the part encased in bone; includes the BRAIN (inside the skull) and the SPINAL CORD (inside the backbone/spinal column). It is the "central executive" of the body, information is usually sent to the CNS to be processed and acted on
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somatic nervous system
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PNS; transmits information from the senses to the CNS and carries signals from the CNS to the muscles that MOVE the skeleton; involved in every move you make
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autonomic nervous system
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PNS; carries messages back and forth between the CNS and the heart, lungs and other organs and glands; messages increase or decrease the activity of the organs and glands to meet varying demands placed on the body; suggests independent or "autonomous" operation because activities usually OUTSIDE OF CONSCIOUS CONTROL
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sympathetic nervous system
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division of the ANS; mobilizes the body for action in the face of stress, responses are known as the "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" response
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parasympathetic nervous system
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division of the ANS; REGULAYES the body's functions to conserve energy
-two divisions are OPPOSTITES |
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parallel distributed processing
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input simultaneously activates several paths in the network, so that information is processed at various places at the same time; CNS
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nuclei
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CNS; collections of neuronal cell bodies
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fibers tracts or pathways
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CNS; axons that travel together in bundles
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spinal cord
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CNS; RECEIVES signals from peripheral senses, including pain and touch from the fingertips, and RELAYS those signals to the brain through fibers within the cord; neurons in the spinal cord also carry signals downward, from the brain to the muscles.
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reflexes
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simple behaviors without instructions from the brain; response to incoming signals is directly "reflected" back out
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afferent
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sensory neurons in the spinal cord, "coming toward" APPROACH
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efferent
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motor neurons, "going away" EXIT
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brain
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3 major subdivisions: hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain
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hindbrain
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incoming signals first reach here, continuation of the spinal cord;
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medulla
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hindbrain; controls blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and other vital AUTONOMIC functions
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reticular formation
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"netlike", threading throughout the hindbrain and into the midbrain that is a collection of cells not arranged in any well-defined nucleus. It is important for ALTERING the activity of the rest of the brain and if fibers are disconnected then a permanent coma will occur
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locus coeruleus
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hindbrain; "blue spot", small nucleus within the reticular formation; involved in directing ATTENTION and abnormalities in it have been linked to depression
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cerebellum
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also part of the hindbrain; allows eyes to track moving targets, storehouse for rehearsed movements; controls finely coordinated MOVEMENTS and language and symbolic thought
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midbrain
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above the hindbrain; certain types of autonomic behavior that integrate simple movements with sensory input are controlled here such as moving your head as your eyes are looking in the opposite at the same time
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substantia nigra
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"black substance", small vital nucleus in the midbrain
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striatum
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"striped appearance", in the forebrain; ^^^these two connections are necessary for smooth INITIATION of movement
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forebrain
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responsible for the most complex aspects of behavior and mental life; contains the structures known as diencephalon and cerebrum and the latter is covered by the cerebral cortex
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thalamus
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in the forebrain, part of the diencephalon, RELAYS PAIN signals from the spinal cord as well as signals from the eyes and most other sense organs to the upper levels of the brain; plays an important role in PROCESSING and making sense out of this information
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hypothalamus
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in the forebrain, part of the diencephalon, "under", involved in REGULATING hunger, thirst, and sex drives; has many connections to the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system, as well to other parts of the brain.
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suprachiasmatic nuclei
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in the forebrain, part of the hypothalamus, keeps an 24 hour CLOCK that determines your biological rhythms
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cerebrum
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largest part of forebrain
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amygdala
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in the forebrain, structure within cerebrum that in important for memory and emotion; associates features of stimuli from two different SENSES and is involved in fear and other EMOTIONS.
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hippocampus
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in the forebrain, structure within cerebrum that in important for MEMORY and emotion; damage to this part can result in an inability to form new memories,
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limbic system
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parts include hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus and the septum; plays an important role in REGULATING memory and emotion;
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dementia
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deterioration of cognitive capabilities often associated with aging; major cause of Alzheimer's disease
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cerebral cortex
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forebrain, outermost part of the cerebrum and has right and left halves that are similar in appearance
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cerebral hemispheres
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halves of the brain, the outer part is the cerebral cortex that has a surface area or 1-2 square feet
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cerebral cortex
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associated with the analysis of information from all the SENSES, control of VOLUNTARY movements, higher order THOUGHT and other complex processes
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gyri
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RIDGES of the brain
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sulci or fissures
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VALLEYS of the brain
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four areas of the cortex
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FRONTAL, PARIETAL, OCCIPITAL and TEMPORAL
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sensory cortex
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lies in the PARIETAL, OCCIPITAL and TEMPORAL lobes
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visual cortex
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receives visual information and is located in the OCCIPITAL lobe
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auditory cortex
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receives auditory information and is located in the TEMPORAL lobe
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somatosensory cortex
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information from the SKIN about TOUCH, PAIN and TEMPERATURE is received here and is located in the PARIETAL lobe
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homunculus
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pattern of the "little man" that determinates where the information is located in the brain when upside down
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motor cortex
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in the FRONTAL lobe, initiates VOLUNTARY movements in specific parts of the body
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association cortex
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part of the cerebral cortex that is NOT involved in either receiving specific sensory information or initiating movement; perform complex tasks such as associating words with images
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aphasia
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creates DIFFICULTY in understanding or producing SPEECH and can involve all functions of the cerebral cortex
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broca's area
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Paul Broca described the difficulties associated with damage to the association cortex in the FRONTAL lobe near the MOTOR areas that control facial muscles; when damage to this area is done, the mental organization of speech suffers
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Wernicke's area
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Carl Wernicke described this area that is located in the TEMPORAL lobe near an area of the cortex that receives information from the ears and eyes. It is involved in the INTERPRETATION of both speech and written words; damage to this area can leave fluency intact but disrupt the ability to understand meaning of works or speak comprehensibly
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divided brain, but unified
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the LEFT hemisphere receives information from and controls movements of the RIGHT side of the body, whereas the RIGHT hemisphere receives input from and controls the LEFT side of the body
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Roger Sperry
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studied SPLIT BRAIN patients which are people who had undergone a radical surgical procedure in an attempt to control severe epilepsy; resulted in severing the corpus callosum; he concluded that each separate hemisphere when severed had a mind own its own
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corpus callosum
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massive bundle of more than a million fibers that CONNECTS the two HEMISPHERES
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lateralized
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a task that is performed MOREefficiently by one hemisphere than another
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synaptic plasticity
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property of the brain that is the ability to STRENGHTHEN neural connections at synapses as well as to ESTABLISH new synapses; provides the basis for the capacity to learn from experiences and form new memories. This occurs throughout the whole nervous system and the brains is limited when repairing damage
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Parkinson's disease
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disorder characterized by tremors, rigidity of the arms and legs, difficulty in initiating movements and poor balance; most common in elderly, treated by drugs that enable neurons to make more dopamine or that stimulate dopamine receptors
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neurotrophic factors
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naturally occurring proteins called GROWTH factors which promote the survival of neurons
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epidermal growth factor
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a growth factor that causes some brain cells to divide and produce new neurons and glial cells
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neurotransmitter system
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group of neurons that communicates using the SAME neurotransmitter
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acetylcholine
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neurotransmitter; used by neurons in both PERIPHERAL and CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS. In PNS, cholinergic neurons control the contraction of MUSCLES by releasing acetylcholine onto muscle tissues. Also used by the neurons of the parasympathetic nervous system to SLOW the heartbeat and ACTIVATE the gastrointestinal system. In the brain, cholinergic neurons plentiful in striatum where they occur in circuits that are important for movement.
-axons of neurons make up pathways in limbic system -drugs that interfere with neurotransmitter prevents the formation of new memories -Alzheimer's disease- loss of cholinergic neurons in forebrain -HIPPOCAMPUS AND CEREBRUM MEMORY AREAS |
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norepinephrine
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called "adrenergic" because they are also called NONADRENALINES; occurs in both PNS and CNS, contributes to AROUSAL. It is used by the SYMPATHETIC nervous system to ACTIVATE you and PREPARE you for action. About 1/2 of the transmitters in brain is in the cells in the locus coeruleus which is near the reticular formation in the hindbrain. It is involved in WAKEFULNESS and SLEEP, in LEARNING and regulation of MOOD
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serotonin
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most use is along the midline of the HINDBRAIN; region is the RAPHE NUCLEI. Serotonergic axons send branches throughout the forebrain and affects SLEEP and MOOD. Can get one of the substances from which it is made, TRYPTOPHAN, directly from food (from high carbs). A part of AGGRESSION and IMPULSE CONTROL. Low serotonin levels= depression, self-directed aggression and impulsivity more likely
-HYPOCAMPUS, HYPOTHALAMUS AND CEREBRAL CORTEX |
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dopamine
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used in the SUBSTANTIA NIGRA and STRIATUM that is important for MOVEMENT; malfunctions in this system causing movement disorders such as Parkinson's. Other dopamine systems SENDS axons from the midbrain to the forebrain including the cerebral cortex. Some of these neurons important in experience of REWARD, or PLEASURE which is vital in motivating and shaping BEHAVIOR. Cocaine's rewarding feeling is due to dopamine; malfunctioning of other dopaminergic neurons that go to cortex may be partly responsible for schizophrenia
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schizophrenia
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psychological disorder in which perceptions, emotional expression and THOUGHT are severely DISTORTED
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GABA
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REDUCES the likelihood that postsynaptic neurons will FIRE an action potential, it is the major INHIBITORY neurotransmitter in the CNS. Malfunctioning of the gaba system has been implicated in severe anxiety and Huntington's disease; gaba systems most likely contribute to epilepsy because drugs that block gaba receptors causes seizures
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Huntington's disease
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inherited and incurable disorder in which the victim is plagued by uncontrollable
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