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AP Psychology > Biological Psychology > Flashcards

Biological Psychology Flashcards

(66 cards)

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1
Q

dendrites

A

receive messages from other cells and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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2
Q

cell body

A

the cell’s life support center

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3
Q

axon

A

the extension of a neuron through which messages are sent to other neurons or to muscle glands

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4
Q

myelin sheath

A

a layer of fatty cells covering the axon, helps speed up neural impulses

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5
Q

terminal branches of axon

A

form junctions with other cells

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6
Q

neuropsychology

A

concerned with the links between biology and behavior (also called Biological Psychology)

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7
Q

neuron

A

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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8
Q

resting potential

A

slightly negative charge; dormant

*reach threshold when enough neurotransmitters reach dendrites

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9
Q

threshold

A

level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse; excitatory signals minus inhibitory signals must equal a minimum intensity

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10
Q

action potential

A

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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11
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gap between neurons

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12
Q

agonist

A

mimic neurotransmitters

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13
Q

antagonist

A

block neurotransmitters

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14
Q

acetylcholine

A

involved with learning and memory (Ach)

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15
Q

dopamine

A

deals with motor movements and alertness
lack of linked to parkinson’s disease
too much linked to schizophrenia

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16
Q

serotonin

A

involved in mood control

lack of linked to clinical depression

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17
Q

endorphins

A

natural neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
endorphin release in a runner’s high

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18
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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19
Q

neural networks

A

interconnected neural cells; more connections made as experience gained

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20
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

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21
Q

somatic nervous system

A

controls voluntary muscle movement by utilizing motor neurons

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22
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls the automatic functions of the body; divided into the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems

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23
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

arouses the body, Flight or Fight response

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24
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

calms the body

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25
sensory neurons (Afferent neurons)
sends incoming information to CNS (AT the brain) | few million
26
interneurons
CNS internal communication neurons; intervene b/w sensory and motor billions
27
motor neurons (Efferent neurons)
sends outgoing information from CNS to muscle and glands (exit the brain) few million
28
reflex
automatic response to sensory stimulus; interneuron reacts to sensory neuron w/o going to brain
29
left brain functions
language
30
right brain functions
art and music
31
corpus callosum
connects the two hemispheres and allows them to communticate
32
brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the brain *responsible for automatic survival functions
33
medulla
base of brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing
34
pons
connects different brain regions together, involved in facial expressions
35
reticular formation
nerve network that plays an important role in controlling arousal (consciousness)
36
thalamus
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brainstem **it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
37
cerebellum
"little brain" attached to the rear of brainstem, coordinates voluntary movement and balance, formulates implicit memories
38
limbic system
associated with emotions and drives
39
amygdala
linked to emotion, especially aggression and fear
40
hippocampus
linked to explicit memory
41
pituitary gland
mast endocrine gland, linked to growth
42
cerebral cortex
intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemisphere
43
frontal lobes
involved in speaking, muscle movements, and in making plans and judgement ***motor cortex
44
motor cortex
are at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
45
parietal lobes
involved in sensations, pressure, and pain | ***sensory cortex
46
sensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensation
47
occipital lobes
include the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field ***contains visual cortex
48
temporal lobes
include the auditory areas | **contains the auditory cortex
49
association areas
"uncommitted" areas that are not involved in primary functions but play a role in learning, remembering, and thinking
50
accidents
damage to brain regions can tell us about their functions
51
lesions
tissue destruction
52
electroencaphalogram (EEG)
electrodes placed on the scalp create an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface **this is how we measure brain waves during sleep
53
computed tomography (CAT) scan
a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles combined by a computer into a composite presentation of a slice through the body
54
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
a visual display of brain activity the detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
55
magnitude resonance imaging (MRI)
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain
56
plasticity
the ability for our brains to form new connections after the neurons are damaged **the younger you are the more plastic your brain is
57
neural networks
connected neurons; increase speed and efficiency of communication
58
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
59
aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage to Broca's area (impaired speaking) or to Wernicke' area (impaired understanding)
60
broca's area
directs the muscle movements involved in speech * *broken speech * *left frontal lobe
61
wernicke's area
involved in language comprehension and expression * *meaningless words * left temporal lobe
62
endocrine system
set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream | **snail mail (ES) vs. Email (NS)
63
angular gyrus
receives visual information and recodes it into auditory form
64
pituitary gland
ES's most influential gland; regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands **under the influence of the hypothalamus
65
hormones
chemical messengers that are produced in one tissue and affect another **can influence our interest in sex, food, and aggression
66
adrenal glands
secrete adrenaline to arouse body in time of stress

AP Psychology (14 decks)

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