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64 Cards in this Set
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Biological Psychology
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branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
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neuron
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nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system
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dendrites
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neuron extensions that receive messages and conduct them toward the body cell
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axon
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neuron extension that sends messages to other neuron cells
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action potential
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a nerve impulse
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glial cells
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cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons ; they may also play a role in learning, thinking and memory
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synapse
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junction between the axon tip of a sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron
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threshold
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level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
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all-or-none response
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a neurons reaction of either firing or not firing
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neurotransmitters
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neuron-produced chemicals that cross the synapses to carry messages to other neurons or cells
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opiate
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chemical, such as opium, morphine, or heroin, that depresses neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
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endorphins
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"morphine within"--natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
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nervous system
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body's speedy, electro-chemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems
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central nervous system
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the brain and spinal cord
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nerves
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bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
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sensory neuron
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neuron that carries incoming information from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system
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motor neuron
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neuron that carries outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands
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internueron
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neurons within the brain and spinal cord; communicate internally and process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs
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somatic nervous system
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peripheral nervous system division controlling the body's skeletal muscles
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autonomic nervous system
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peripheral nervous system division controlling the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
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sympathetic nervous system
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autonomic nervous system subdivision that calms the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
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parasympathetic nervous system
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autonomic nervous system subdivision that calms the body, conserving its energy
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reflex
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simple, autonomic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
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endocrine system
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body's "slow" chemical communication system ; a set of glands that secrete hormones that help arouse? the body in times of stress
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hormones
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chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
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adrenal glands
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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 gland
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most influential endocrine gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls the other endocrine glands
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brainstem
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oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull ; responsible for autonomic survival
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medulla
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base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
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thalamus
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area at the top of the brainstem ; directs sensory messages to the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
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reticular formation
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nerve network running through the brainstem and thalamus ; plays an import role in controlling arousal
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cerebellum
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the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
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limbic system
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neural system located below the cerebal hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
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amygdala
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two lima-bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system ; linked to emotions
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hypothalamus
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a neural structure lying below the thalamus ; directs 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
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thin layer of interconnected neurons covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information- processing center
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frontal lobes
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portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
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parietal lobe
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portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
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occipital lobe
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portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head ; includes areas that receive info from the visual fields
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temporal lobe
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portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes areas that receive info from the ears
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motor cortex
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cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes; controls voluntarily movement
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somatosensory cortex
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cerebal cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes; registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
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hallucination
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false sensory experience, such as hearing something in the absence of an external auditory stimulus
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association areas
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cerebral cortex areas involved in higher mental functions, such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
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plasticity
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brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways base on experience
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neurogenesis
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formation of new neurons
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corpus callosum
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large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
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split brain
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condition in which the brain's two hemispheres are isolated by cutting the fibers
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consciousness
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our awareness of ourselves and our environment
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selective attention
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focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
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inattentional blindness
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failure to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
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change blindness
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failure to notice changes in the environment
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cicardian rhythm
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internal biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24 hour cycle
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REM (rapid eye movement) sleep
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recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur
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alpha waves
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relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
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sleep
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periodic, natural loss of consciousness as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma , general anesthesia, or hibernation
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delta waves
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the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
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insomnia
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recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
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narcolepsy
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sleep disorder in which a person has uncontrollable sleep attacks
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sleep apnea
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sleep disorder in which a sleeping person repeatedly stops breathing until blood oxygen is so low it awakens a person just long enough to draw a breath
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dream
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sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind
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manifest content
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according to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream
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latent content
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according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream
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REM rebound
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the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation
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