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78 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Biological Psychology
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Specialized branch of psychology that studies the relationship between behavior and bodily processes and systems.
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Neuroscience
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The study of the nervous system especially the brain.
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Neuron
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Highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical form; a nerve cell.
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Glial cells
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Support cells that assist nurons by providing structural support, nutrition, and removal of cell wastes; manufacture myelin.
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Sensory neuron
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Type of neuron that conveys information to the brain from specialized receptor cells in sense organs and internal organs.
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Motor neuron
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Type of neuron that signals muscles to relax or contract.
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Interneuron
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Type of neuron that commnicates information from one neuron to the next.
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Cell Body
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Processes nutrients and provides energy for the neuron to function; contains the cell's nucleus; also called the soma.
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Dendrites
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Multiple short fibers that extend crom the neuron's cell body and receive information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells.
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Axon
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The long, fluid-filled tube that carries a neuron's messages to other body areas.
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Myelin Sheath
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A white, fatty covering wrapped around the axons of some neurons that increases their communication speed.
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Action potential
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A brief electrical impulse by which information is transmitted along the axon of a neuron.
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Stimulus threshold
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The minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron.
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Resting potential
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State in which a neuron is prepared to activate and communicate its message if it receives sufficient stimulation.
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All or none law
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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.
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Synapse
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The point of communication between two neurons.
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Synaptic gap
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The tiny space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of an adjoining neuron.
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Axon terminals
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Branches at the end of the axon that contain tiny pouches, or sacs, called synaptic vesicles.
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Synaptic vesicles
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Tiny pouches or sacs in the axon terminals that contain chemicals called neurotransmitters.
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Neurotransmitters
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Chemical messengers manufactured by a neuron.
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Synaptic transmission
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The process through which neurotransmitters are released by one neuron, cross the synaptic gap, and affect adjoining neurons.
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Reuptake
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The process by which neurotransmitters are released by one neuron, cross the synaptic gap, and affect adjoining neurons.
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Acetylcholine
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Neurotransmitter that causes muscle contraction and is involved in memory function.
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Dopamine
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Neurotransmitter involved int he regulation of bodily movement, thought processes, and rewarding sensations.
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Serotonin
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Neurotransmitter involved in sleep and emotions.
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Norepinephrine
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Neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory; also a hormone manuactured by adrenal glands.
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GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
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Neurotransmitter that usually commmunicates an inhibitory message.
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Endorphins
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Neurotranmitters that regulate pain perceptions.
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Nervous system
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The primary internal communication network of the body; divided into the central nervous sytem and the peripheral nervous system.
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Nerves
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Bundles of neuron axons that carry inforation in the peripheral nervous system.
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Central nervous system
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Division of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.
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Spinal reflexes
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Simple, automatic behaviors that are processed in the spinal cord.
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Peripheral nervous system
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Division of the nervous system that includes all the nerves lying outside the central nervous system.
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Somatic nervous system
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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.
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Autonomic nervous system
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Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary functions.
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Sympathetic nervous system
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Branch of the autonomic nervous system that produces a rapid physical arousal in response to perceived emergencies or threats.
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Parasympathetic nervous system
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Branch of the autonomic nervous system that maintains normal bodily functions and conserves the body's physical resources.
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Endocrine system
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System of glands located throughout the body that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
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Hormones
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Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodsteam primarily by endocrine glands.
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Pituitary gland
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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.
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Adrenal glands
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Pair of endocrine glands that are involved in the human stress response.
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Gonads
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The endocrine glands that secrete hormones that regulate sexual characteristics and reproductive processes; ovaries in females and testes in males.
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Phrenology
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A discredited psuedosciencetific theory of the brain that claimed that personality characteristics, moral character, and intelligence could be determined by examining the bumps on a person's skull.
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Cortical localization or localization of function
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The notion that different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain.
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Electroencephalograph
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An instrument that produces a graphic record of the brain's electrical activity by using electrodes placed on the scalp.
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Positron emission tomography (PET scan)
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An invasive imaging technique that provides color-coded images of brain activity by tracking the brain's use of radioactively tagged compound, such as glucose, oxygen, or a drug.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
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A noninvasive imaging technique that produces highly detailed images of the brain using electromagnetic signals generated by the brain in response to magnetic fields.
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Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
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A noninvasive imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to map brain activity by measuring changes in the brain's blood flow and oxygen levels.
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Cognitive neuroscience
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The study of the neural basis of cognitive process that integrates contributions from psychology, neuroscience, and computer science.
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Brainstem
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A region of the brain made up of the hindbrain and the midbrain.
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Hindbrain
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A region at the base of the brain that contains several structures that regulate basic life functions.
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Medulla
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A hindbrain structure that controls vital life functions such as breathing and circulation.
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Pons
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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.
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Cerebellum
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A large, two-sided hindbrain structure at the back of the brain; responsible for muscle coordination and maintaining posture and equilibrium.
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Reticular formation
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A network of nerve fibers located in the center of the medulla that helps regulate attention, arousal, and sleep.
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Midbrain
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The middle and smallest brain region, involved in processing auditory and visual sensory information.
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Substantia nigra
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An area of the midbrain that is involved in motor control and contains a large concentration of dopamine-producing neurons.
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Forebrain
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The largest and most complex brain region, which contains centers for complex behaviors and mental processes, also called the cerebrum.
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Cerebral cortex
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The wrinkled outer portion of the forebrain, which contains the most sophisticated brain centers.
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Cerebral hemispheres
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The nearly symmetrical left and right halves of the cerebral cortex.
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Corpus callosum
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A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and acts as a communication link between them.
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Temporal lobe
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An area of each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information.
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Occipital lobe
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An area at the back of each cerebral hemisphere that is the primary receiving area for visual information.
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Parietal lobe
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An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex located above the temporal lobe that processes somatic sensations.
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Frontal lobe
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The largest lobe of each cerebral hemisphere; processes voluntary muscle movements and is involved in thinking, planning, and emotional control.
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Limbic system
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A group of forebrain structures that form a border around the brainstem and are involved in emotion, motivation, learning, and memory.
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Hippocampus
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A curved forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and is involved in learning and forming new memories.
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Thalamus
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A forebrain structure that processes sensory information for all senses, except smell, and relays it to the cerebral cortex.
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Hypothalamus
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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.
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Amygdala
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An almond-shaped forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and is involved in emotion and memory.
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Cortal localization
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The notion that different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain.
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Lateralization of function
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The notion that specific psychological or cognitive functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain.
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Aphasia
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The partial or complete inability to articulate ideas or understand spoken or written language because of brain injury or damage.
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Functional plasticity
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The brain's ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas.
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Structural plasticity
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The brain's ability to change its physical structure in response to learning, active practice, or environmental influences.
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Pierre Paul Broca
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1824-1880 French surgeon and neuroanatomist who in 1861 discovered an area on the lower left frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex that, when damaged, produces speech disturbances but no loss of comprehension.
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Roger Sperry
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1913-1994 American psychologist who received the Nobel prize in 1981 for his pioneering research on brain specialization in split-brain patients.
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Karl Wernicke
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1848-1905 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.
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