Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
202 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
the body's electrochemical communication circutry
|
nervous system
|
|
the brains special capacity for change
|
plasticity
|
|
a nerve cell
|
neuron
|
|
also called sensory nerves; nerves that carry information about the external environment to the brain and spinal cord via sensory receptors
|
afferent nerves
|
|
also called motor nerves; nerves that carry information out of the brain and spinal cord to other areas of the body
|
efferent nerves
|
|
the brain and spinal cord
|
central nervous system (CNS)
|
|
the network of nerves that connects the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body
|
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
|
|
the body system consisting of the sensory nerves, whose function is to convey information from the skin and muscles to the CNS about conditions such as pain and temperature, and the motor nerves, whose function is to tell muscles what to do.
|
somatic nerves system
|
|
the body's system that takes messages to and from the body's internal organs, monitoring such processes as breathing, heart rate, and digestion
|
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
|
|
the part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body
|
sympathetic nervous system
|
|
the part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body
|
parasympathetic nervous system
|
|
the second of two types of cells in the nervous system; they provide support, nutritional benefits, and other functions and keep neurons running smoothly
|
glial cells
|
|
one of two types of cells in the nervous system; are the nerve cells that handle the information-processing function
|
neurons
|
|
the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus which directs the manufacture of substances that the neuron needs for growth and maintenance
|
cell body
|
|
treelike fibers projecting from a neuron, which receive information and orient it toward the neurons cell body
|
dendrites
|
|
the part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body toward other cells
|
axon
|
|
a layer of fat cells that encases and insulates most axons
|
myelin sheath
|
|
in an inactive neuron, the voltage between the inside and outside of the axon wall (-60 - -70 mV)
|
resting potential
|
|
the brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon (goes from -70 to 40 mV)
|
action potential
|
|
the principle that once the electrical impulse reaches a certain level of intensity (its threshold), it fires and moves all the way down the axon without losing any intensity
|
all-or-nothing principle
|
|
extensive wrinkled outer layer of the forebrain; governs higher brain functions, such as thinking, learning and consciousness
|
cerebral cortex
|
|
relays information between lower and higher brain centers
|
thalamus
|
|
governs eating, drinking, and sex; plays a role in emotion and stress
|
hypothalamus
|
|
diffuse collection of neurons involved in arousal and sterotyped patterns such as walking
|
reticular formation
|
|
involved in fear and discrimination of objects necessary for survival
|
amygdala
|
|
when the __ is severed, visual information from the left or right visual field is restricted to one side of the brain
|
corpus callosum
|
|
tiny spaces between neurons; the gaps between neurons are referred to as synaptic gaps
|
synapes
|
|
chemical substances that are sotred in very tiny sacs within teh terminal buttons and involved in transmitting information across a synaptic gap to the next neuron
|
neurotransmitters
|
|
neurotransmitter that stimulates the firing of neurons and ins involved in muscle action, learning, and memory
|
acetylcholiine (ACh)
|
|
neurotransmitter that has a key role in exciting many neurons ot fire and is especially involved in learning and memory. too much leads to migraines and seizures.
|
glutamate
|
|
neurotransmitter that plays a key function in the brain inhibiting many neurons form firing. low levels linked with anxiety
|
GABA
|
|
neurotransmitter that inhibits the firing of neurons in the central nervous system but excites the heart muscle, intestines, and urogenital tract. too little is associated with depression. too much triggers agitated states
|
norepinephrine
|
|
neurotransmitter that helps control voluntary movement and affects sleep, mood, attention, learning, and the ability to regonize opportuniteis for rewarding experiences in teh environment. low levels associated with parkinsons. high levels associated with schizophrenia
|
dopamine
|
|
neurotransmitter involved in regulation of sleep, mood, attention and learning. low levels associated with depression.
|
seratonin
|
|
neurotransmitter that are natural opiates. they shield the body from pain and elevate feelings of pleasure
|
endorphins
|
|
neurotransmitter and hormone that plays an important role in teh experience of love and social bonding.
|
oxytocin
|
|
networks of nerve cells that integrate sensory input and motor output
|
neural networks
|
|
an abnormal disruption in the tissue of the brain resulting from injury or disease
|
brain lesioning
|
|
records the brains electrical activity
|
electroencephalograph (EEG)
|
|
the recorded chart of an EEG
|
electroecephalogram
|
|
a brain imaging technique that produces a three dimensional image obtained from X rays of the head that are assembled into a composite image by a computer, provides valuable info about the location and extent o damage involving stroke, language disorder, or loss of memory
|
CAT scan
|
|
a brain imaging technique that is based on metabolic changes in teh brain related to activity, measures the amount of glucose in various areas of the brain
|
PET scan
|
|
a brain imaging technique that involves creating a magnetic field around a persons body and using radio waves to construct images of the persons tissues and biochemical activities
|
MRI
|
|
a brain imaging technique that monitors oxygenated blood levels in teh brain to show brain function
|
fMRI
|
|
located at skulls rear, the lowest portion of teh brain, consisting of the medulla, cerebellum, and pons
|
hind brain
|
|
-begins where teh spinal enters the skull
-controls breating and heart rate and regulates reflexs |
medulla
|
|
the stemlike brain area that includes much of teh hindbain (not cerebellum) and teh midbrain; it connects with teh spinal cord at its lower end and tehn extends upward to encase the reticular formation in the midbrain
|
brain stem
|
|
rounded structure involved in motor coordination
|
cerebellum
|
|
located between teh hindbrain and forebrain, an area in which many nerve-fiber systems ascend and descend to connect the higher and lower potions of teh brain; in particular, this relays info between the brain and the eyes and ears
|
midbrain
|
|
a system in the midbrain comprising of a diffuse collection of neurons involved in sterotyped patterns of behavior such as walking, sleeping, and turing t attend to a sudden noise
|
reticular formation
|
|
governs sleep and arousal
|
pons
|
|
involved in fear and the discrimination of objects necessary for organisms survival
|
amygdala
|
|
__ damages a section near the bottom of the midbrain called the substatia nigra
|
parkinson disease
|
|
the brains largest division and its most forward part
|
forebrain
|
|
a loosely connected network of structures under the cerebral cortex, imortant in both memory and emtion. its two principal structures are the amygdala and teh hippocampus
|
limbic system
|
|
an almond shaped structure within the base of the temporal lobe that is involved in the discrimination of objects that are necessary for teh organisms survival such as appropriate food, mates, and social rivals
|
amygdala
|
|
the structure in teh limbic system that ahs a special role in the storage of memories
|
hippocampus
|
|
large neuron clusters located above the thalamus and under the cerebral cortex that work with teh cerebellum and the cerebral cortext to control and coordinate voluntary movements
|
basal ganglia
|
|
a small forebrain structure located just below the thalamus that monitors three pleasurable activiteis eating, drinking, and sex as well as emotion stress and reward
|
hypothalamus
|
|
part of the forebrain the outer layer of teh brain resonsible for the most complex mental functions such as thinking and planning
|
cerebral cortex
|
|
the outermost part of teh cerebral cortex, making up 80 percent of teh cortex in teh human brain
|
neocortex
|
|
sturctures located at the back of eth head that resond to visual stimuli
|
occipital lobes
|
|
sturctures in teh cerebral cortex that are located just above the ears and are involved in hearing language processing and memory
|
temporal loves
|
|
the portion of teh cerebral cortex behind the forehead, involved in personality intelligence, and teh control of voluntary muscles
|
frontal lobes
|
|
structures at teh top oand toward teh rear of teh head that are involved in registering spatial location, attention, and motor control
|
parietal lobes
|
|
a region in the cerebral cortex that processes information about body sensations, located at teh front of the parietal lobes
|
somatosensory cortex
|
|
a region in teh cerebral cortex that processes information about voluntary movement, located just behind the frontal lobes
|
motor cortex
|
|
sometimes called association areas, the region of teh cerebral cotex that is the site of teh highest intellectual funtions such as thinking and problem solving
|
association cortex
|
|
the large bundle of axons that conects the brains two hemispheres responsible for relaying information between teh two sides
|
corpus callosum
|
|
when a person is logical and rational they are __ brained
|
left
|
|
when a person is creative or artistic they are __ brained
|
right
|
|
the body system consiting of a set of glands taht regulate tthe activites of certain organs by releaing their chemicals products into the bloodstream
|
endocrine system
|
|
organs or tissues in teh body that create chemicals that control many of our bodily functions
|
glands
|
|
chemical messengers that are produced by teh endocrine glands and carried by the bloodstream to all parts of teh body
|
hormones
|
|
a pea sized gland just beneath the hypothalamus that controls growth and regulates other glands
|
pituitary gland
|
|
glands at the top of each kidney that are resonsible for regulating moods, energy level, and teh ability to cope with stress
|
adrenal glands
|
|
a dual process gland under the stomach that performs both digestive and endocrine functions
|
pancrease
|
|
sex-related endocrine glands in teh uterus that produce hormones related to womens sexual development and reproduction
|
ovaries
|
|
sex-related endocrine glands in the scrotum that produce hormones related to mens sexual development and reporduction
|
testes
|
|
the brains ability to repair itself
|
placisity
|
|
the process by which axons of some healthy neurons adjacent to damaged cells grow new branches
|
collateral sprouting
|
|
the process by which the damaged region's fuction is taken over by another areas of the brain
|
substitution of function
|
|
the process by which new neurons are generated
|
neurogenesis
|
|
implants of healthy tissue into damaged brains
|
brain grafts
|
|
unique primitive cells that have the capacity to develop into most types of human cells
|
stem cells
|
|
in teh human cell, threadlike structures that come in 23 pais, one member of each pair originating from each parent, and that contain teh remakable substance DNA
|
chromosomes
|
|
a complex molecule in the cell's chromosomes that carries genetic information
|
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
|
|
the units of hereditary information consisting of short segments of chromosomes composed of DNA
|
genes
|
|
the priciple that if one gene of a pair is dominant and one is recessive, the dominant gene overrides the recessive gene. a recessive gene exerts its infulence only if both genes of a pair are recessive
|
dominant-recessive genes provide
|
|
a genetic meathod in which organisms are chosen for reproduction based on how much of a particular trait they display
|
selective breeding
|
|
the study of teh degree and nature of heredity's influence on behavior
|
behavior genetics
|
|
an individuals genetic heritage; his or her actual genetic material
|
genotype
|
|
an individuals obeservable characteristics
|
phenotype
|
|
the reponses of individuals to environmental stressors
|
stress
|
|
circumstances and events that threaten individuals that tax their coping abilities and that cause physiological changes to ready teh body to handle the assault of stress
|
stressors
|
|
stress that occurs in resonse to an immediate perceived threat
|
acute stress
|
|
stress that goes on continuously
|
chronic stress
|
|
the process of receiving stimulus energies from teh external environment and transforming those energies into neural energy
|
sensation
|
|
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information so that it has meaning
|
perception
|
|
the operation in sensation and perception in which sensory receptors register information about the external environment and send it up to the brain for interpretation
|
bottom-up processing
|
|
the operation in sensation and perception, launched by cognitive processing at teh brains higher levels, that allows teh organism to sense what is happening and to apply that fraework to information fromt eh world
|
top-down processing
|
|
detection of light, perceived as sight
|
photoreception
|
|
detection of pressure, vibration and movement, perceived as touch, hearing, and equillibrium
|
mechanoreceptino
|
|
detection of chemical stimuli; perceived as smell and taste
|
chemoreception
|
|
specialized cells that detect stimulus information and transmit it to sensory (afferent) nerves and the brain
|
sensory receptors
|
|
an experience in which onse sense induces an experience in another sense
|
synaethesia
|
|
condition where in amputees, the limb that contains teh sensory receptors is gone byt the areas of teh nervous system that received information from thos receptors are still there causing confusion
|
phantom limb pain
|
|
the minimum amount of stimulus energy that a person can detect
|
absolute threshold
|
|
irrelevant and competing stimuli-not only soudns but also any distracting stimuli for our senses
|
noise
|
|
the degree of difference that must exist between two stimuli before the difference is detected
|
difference threshold
|
|
the principle that two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount) to be percieved as different
|
weber's law
|
|
the detection of information below the level of conscious awareness
|
subliminal perception
|
|
a theory of perception that focuses on decision making about stimuli in the presensce of uncertainty
|
signal detection theory
|
|
the process of focusing awareness on a narrowed aspect of the environment
|
attention
|
|
the process of focusing on a specific aspect of experience while ignoring others
|
selective attention
|
|
attention is selective but also is __
|
shiftable
|
|
the fact that when we encounter an emotionally charged stimulus, we often fail to recognize a stimulus that is presented immediatly after it
|
emotion-induced blindness
|
|
the failure to detect unexpected events when our attention is engaged by a task
|
inattentional blindness
|
|
a predisposition or readiness to perceive something in a particular way
|
perceptual set
|
|
a change in teh responsiveness of teh sensory system based on the average level of surrounding stimulation
|
sensory adaptation
|
|
a form of electromagnetic energy that can be described in terms of wavelengths
|
light
|
|
the distance form teh peak of one wave to teh peak of teh next
|
wavelength
|
|
the wavelength of light that is reflected from a stimulus determines it __ or color
|
hue
|
|
the brightness of light
|
amplitude
|
|
whether the waves are all the same or a mix of waves
|
purity
|
|
the white outer part of teh eye that helps to maintain the shape of teh eye and to protect it from injuy
|
sclera
|
|
the colored part of teh eye which might be light blue in one individual and dark brown in another
|
iris
|
|
the opening in teh center of teh iris
|
pupil
|
|
a clear membrane just in front of teh eye
|
cornea
|
|
a transparent and somewhat flexible disk-shaped structure filled with a gelatin like material
|
lens
|
|
the multilayered light-sensitive surface in the eye that records electromagnetic energy and converts it to neuralimpulses fro processing in teh brain
|
retina
|
|
the receptor cells in the retina that are senstivie to light but not very useful for color vision
|
rods
|
|
the receptor cells in teh retina that allow for color perception
|
cones
|
|
the most important part of the retina
|
fovea
|
|
the structure at the back of teh eye, made up of axons of the ganglion cells, that carries visual information to teh brain for further processing
|
optic nerve
|
|
neurons in teh brains visual system that respond to particular features of a stimulus
|
feature detectors
|
|
the simultaneous distribution of information across different neural pathways
|
parallel processing
|
|
in the sense of vision, the bringing together and integration of what is processed by different neural pathways or cells
|
binding
|
|
theory stating that color perception is produced by three types of cone receptors in teh retina that are particular sensitive to different, but overlaping ranges of wavelenths
|
trichromatic theory
|
|
theory stating that cells in teh visual system respond to complementary pairs of red-green and blue-yellow colors; a given cell might be excited by red and inhibited by green, whereas another cell might be excited by yellow and inhibited by blue
|
opponent-process theory
|
|
teh principle by which we organize the perceptual field into stimuli that stand out (figure) and those that are left over (ground)
|
figure -ground relationship
|
|
a school of thought interested in how people naturally organize their perceptions according to certain patterns
|
gestalt psychology
|
|
the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally
|
depth perception
|
|
depth cues that depend on the combination of the images in teh left and right eyes and on teh way the two eyes work together
|
binocular cues
|
|
a binocular cue to depth and distance in which teh muscle ovments in out two eyes provide information about how deep and or far away somehting is
|
convergence
|
|
powerful depth cues availible form the image in one eye, either the right or the left
|
monocular cues
|
|
all other things being equal objects positioned higher in a picture are seen as farther away
|
height in the field of view
|
|
objects that are farther away take up less space on the retina so things that appear smaller are perceived to be farther away
|
linear perspective
|
|
we percieve an object that partially conceals or overlaps another object as closer
|
overlap
|
|
the cue involves changes in perception due to the position of the light and the position of the viewer
|
shading
|
|
texure becomes denser and finer the farther away it is from the viewer
|
texture gradient
|
|
the perception that a stationary object is moving
|
apparent movement
|
|
the recognition that objects are constant and nchanging even though sensory input about them is changing
|
perceptual constancy
|
|
the recognition that an object remains the same size even though teh retinal image of teh object changes
|
size constancy
|
|
the recognition that an object remains the same shape even though its orientation to you changes
|
shape constancy
|
|
the recognition that an object remains the same color even though different amounts of light fall on it
|
color constancy
|
|
the number of cycles (full wavelengths) that pass through a point in a given time interval
|
frequency
|
|
the perceptual interpretaion of teh frequency of a sound
|
pitch
|
|
the amount of pressure the sound wave porduces relative to a standard
|
aplitude
|
|
teh perception of a cound waves amplitude
|
loudness
|
|
the outermost part of the ear, consisting of the pinna and external auditory canal
|
outer ear
|
|
the part of teh ear taht chennels sound through the eardrum, hammer, anvil, and stirrup to the inner ear
|
middle ear
|
|
the part of teh ear that includes the oval window chochlea, and basilar membrane and whose function is to convert sound waves into neural impluses and sned them to the brain
|
inner ear
|
|
transmits sound waves to teh choclea
|
oval window
|
|
a tubular fluid-filled structure that is coiled up like a snail
|
cochlea
|
|
lines the inner wall of teh cochlea and runs its entire length
|
basilar membrane
|
|
a jellylike flap above the cilia that generates impulses that teh brain interprets as sound
|
techtorial membrane
|
|
theory on how the inner ear registers the frequency of sound, stating that each frequency produces vibrations at a particular spot on the basilar membrane
|
place theory
|
|
theory on how the inner ear registers the frequency of sound, stating that teh preceptino of a sounds frequency depends on how often the auditory nerve fires
|
frequency theory
|
|
modification of frequency theory stating that a cluster of nerve cells can fire neural impulses in rapid succession producing a volley of impulses
|
volley principle
|
|
the nerve structure hat receives information about sound from the hair cells of teh inner ear and carries these neural impulses to the brains auditory areas
|
auditory nerve
|
|
sensory nerve endings uder the skin that respond to changes in temperature at or near the skin and provide input to keep the body's temperature at 98.6 degrees fahrenheit
|
thermorecpetors
|
|
the sensation that warns us of damage to our bodies
|
pain
|
|
sore torn muscles produce __ which stimulate teh receptors and cuase the experience of pain
|
prostaglandins
|
|
in the __, fibers connect directly with the thalamus and then to the motor and sensory areas of teh cerebral cortex
|
fast pathway
|
|
in the __, pain information travels through the limbic system, that delyays the arival information at the cerebral cortex by seconds
|
slow pathway
|
|
rounded bumps above the tongues surface that contain the tast buds teh receptors for taste
|
papillae
|
|
the taste of L-gluatamte (found in asain foods)
|
umami
|
|
the lining of the roof of the nasal cavity, containing a sheet of receptor cells for smell
|
olfactory epithelium
|
|
mates with differing sest of genes that produce healthier offspiring with the broadest immune systems
|
major histocmpatibility compolex
|
|
senses that provide information about movement posture, and orientation
|
kinesthetic senses
|
|
sense that provides information about balance and movment
|
vestibular sense
|
|
three fluid filled circular tubes in teh inner ear containing the sensory receptors that detect head motin caused when we tilt or move our head and or body
|
semicircular canals
|
|
informatino about the position of our limbs and body parts in relation to to other parts
|
proprioceptive feedback
|
|
located in the brains left hemisphere and is involved in the contol of speech, individuals with damage to this area have problems saying words
|
brocas area
|
|
the portion of the left hemisphere in understanding language. individuals with damage to his area cannot comprehend words
|
wernicke's area
|
|
a drug that mimics or increases a neurotransmitter's effects.
|
agonist
|
|
A drug that blocks a neurotransmitter's effects
|
antagonist
|
|
he spinal column contains a neural gate that can be open (allowing the perception of pain) or closed (blocking the perception of pain)
|
gate-control theory of pain
|
|
The process of transforming physical energy into electrochemical energy.
|
transduction
|
|
A discrepancy between reality and the perceptual representation of it.
|
visual illusion
|
|
the way that automatically reading a color name can make it difficult to name the color in which the word is printed
|
stroop effect
|
|
We are able to determine from where a sound is coming because of __
|
timing and intensity.
|
|
The back of the tongue is most sensitive to __
|
bitterness
|
|
Smells can often bring up emotional memories because the neural pathways for smell go through the __
|
limbic system
|
|
In order to determine your _____, you might slowly turn up the volume on the stereo one decibel at a time until you could just hear it
|
absolute threshold
|
|
_____ is to bottom-up processing as _____ is to top-down processing.
|
Sensation, perception
|
|
The absolute threshold is the level at which someone can detect a stimulus ____ percent of the time.
|
50
|
|
The visible spectrum of light is __
|
between 400 and 700 nm.
|
|
Pastel colors have __ purity than primary colors.
|
less
|
|
the __ are responsible for perceiving that your head is moving up or down, left or right, and forwards or backwards
|
semicircular canals
|
|
Cells that transmit information from outside stimulus to the brain are called.
|
sensory receptors
|