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psychology > ch. 3 > Flashcards

ch. 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

1 part of the nervous system of humans + other vertebrates. consists of the brain + spinal cord. plays a central role in coordinating + integrating all bodily functions

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2
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

portion of the nervous system that transmits messages to and from the central nervous system. consists of the somatic nervous system + the autonomic nervous system

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3
Q

draw a diagram of the nervous system

A

p. 7 of notebook

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4
Q

neuron

A

type of cell; the basic unit of the nervous system. typically consists of a cell body, dendrites, and an axon. neurons transmit messages to other neurons and to glands and muscles throughout the body

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5
Q

sensory (afferent) neuron

A

neuron that carries messages to the CNS from receptors in the skin, eyes, nose, ears, and other receptor organs

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6
Q

motor (efferent) neuron

A

the brain (and sometimes spinal cord) interprets messages from afferent/sensory neurons and sends appropriate responses through motor neurons, which lead to muscles + glands

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7
Q

interneuron

A

neuron of the CNS that functions as an intermediary b/w sensory + motor neurons

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8
Q

cell body / soma

A

the largest part of a neuron, containing the nucleus as well as structures that handle metabolic functions

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9
Q

dendrites

A

branch-like extensions from a neuron with the specialized function of receiving messages from surrounding neurons. signals received by the dendrites are passed on to the cell body, which passes them thru the axon

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10
Q

axon

A

a slender, extended fiber that transmits an impulse from the cell body to the terminal buttons on the tip of the axon

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11
Q

axon terminal fibers

A

Axon terminals contain synaptic vesicles that store the neurotransmitter for release at the synapse. This makes multiple synaptic connections with other neurons possible.

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12
Q

terminal buttons

A

swollen, bulb-like structure on the end of a neuron’s axon that releases chemical substances known as neurotransmitters

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13
Q

resting potential

A

state in which a neuron is not transmitting an impulse. a neuron in this state has a net negative charge relative to its outside environment, and this state of potential energy prepares it to be activated by an impulse from an adjacent neuron

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14
Q

graded potential

A

voltage charge in a neuron’s dendrites that is produced by receiving an impulse from another neuron or neurons

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15
Q

axon hillock

A

a specialized region of the cell body near the base of the axon

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16
Q

action potential

A

electrical signal that flows along the surface of the axon to the terminal buttons, initiating the release of neurotransmitters

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17
Q

all-or-none law

A

an action potential will be passed thru a neuron’s axon as long as the sum of graded potentials reaches a threshold. the strength of an action potential does not vary according to the degree of stimulation

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18
Q

glia cells

A

specialized cells that form insulating covers called myelin sheaths around the axons of some neurons, increasing conductivity

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19
Q

myelin sheath

A

insulating cover around some axons that increases a neuron’s ability to transmit impulses quickly. myelin sheaths are made of glia cells

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20
Q

node of Ranvier

A

small gap or exposed portion of the axon of a neuron b/w the glia cells that form the myelin sheath

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21
Q

synapse

A

The places where neurons connect and communicate with each other. includes the synaptic gap and a portion of the presynaptic + postsynaptic membranes that are involved in transmitting a signal b/w neurons

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22
Q

excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs)

A

effects that occur when excitatory neurotransmitters cause a graded potential to occur on the dendrite or cell body of a receiving neuron

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23
Q

inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs)

A

a transitory state of hyperpolarization that occurs when inhibitory neurotransmitters inhibit the postsynaptic membrane of a receiving neuron

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24
Q

name 7 neurotransmitters

A

Acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, endorphins, glutamate

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25
selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSSRIs)
a class of antidepressant medications that blocks the reuptake of serotoni. ex: Prozac
26
life cycle of a neurotransmitter
1. neurotransmitter is synthesized in cell body or in terminal 2. neurotransmitter is packaged into vesicles 3. neurotransmitter is released when vesicles fuse 4. neurotransmitter binds to + activates postsynaptic receptors 5. neurotransmitter diffuses away and is metabolized and/or transported back into terminal
27
cerebral cortex
thin outer layer of the brain's cerebrum (sometimes called the gray matter) that is responsible for movement, perception, thinking, and memory * it's gray bc of the lack of the whitish myelinated coating that insulates the neural fibers on the inner part of the brain
28
white matter
the inner core of the brain; has 3 types of myelinated neural fibers 1. commissural fibers: pass from one hemisphere to another 2. projection fibers: convey impulses to+from the cortex 3. association fibers: connect various parts of the cortex w/in one hemisphere
29
sensory cortex
region of the cerebral cortex involved in receiving sensory messages
30
motor cortex
transmits messages to muscles. controls virtually all intentional body movement
31
association cortex
75% of the cerebral cortex; involved in integrating sensory + motor messages as well as processing higher functions such as thinking, interpreting, and remembering
32
frontal lobe
largest, foremost lobe in the cerebral cortex; an important region for movement, emotion, and memory
33
contralateral
the opposite side of the body
34
Broca's area
region of the left frontal lobe that is the primary brain center for controlling speech * very close to the motor cortex -> mouth moves
35
motor/expressive aphasia
people who have been injured in their Broca's area have trouble articulating the right words to describe things, even though their comprehension of what they hear/read is unaffected
36
parietal lobe
region of the cerebral cortex located just behind the central fissure + above the lateral fissure. contains the somatosensory cortex + association areas that process sensory info received by the somatosensory cortex
37
somatosensory cortex
area of the parietal lobe, directly across from the motor cortex in the frontal lobe. receives sensory info ab touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position
38
occipital lobe
region at the rear of the cerebral cortex that consists primarily of the visual cortex
39
visual cortex
portion of the occipital lobe that integrates sensory info received from the eyes into electrical patterns that the brain translates into vision
40
temporal lobe
region of the cerebral cortex located below the lateral fissure that contains the auditory cortex
41
auditory cortex
region of the temporal lobe located just below the lateral fissure. involved in responding to auditory signals, particularly the sound of human speech
42
Wernicke's area
area of the left temporal lobe that is the brain's primary area for understanding speech
43
agnosia
an inability to know/recognize objects through the senses, usually caused by brain injury or disease
44
visual agnosia
the failure to recognize/identify objects visually even though they can be seen
45
prosopagnosia
an inability to visually recognize particular faces. patients can see a face but may not be able to recognize it as familiar
46
lateralization of function
degree to which a particular function, such as the understanding of speech, is controlled by one rather than both hemispheres
47
corpus callosum
broad band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres and allows them to communicate
48
lesion production
technique for studying the brain that involves surgical damage to a precise region of the brain
49
brain stimulation
technique for studying the brain that involves stimulating precise regions w/ a weak electric current or specific chemicals that activate neurons
50
electrical recording
technique for studying the brain in which tiny wires implanted in the brain are used to record neural electrical activity
51
electroencephalography (EEG)
technique used to measure + record electrical activity of the cortex (non-invasive)
52
computerized axial tomography (CAT)
a procedure used to locate brain abnormalities that involves rotating an x-ray scanner around the skull to produce an accurate image of a living brain
53
positron emission tomography (PET)
technique for studying the brain that involves injecting a subject w/ a glucose-like sugar tagged w/ a radioactive isotope that accumulates in brain cells in direct proportion to their activity level
54
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
procedure for studying the brain that uses radio waves to excite hydrogen protons in the brain tissue, creating a magnetic field change
55
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
a method of magnetic resonance imaging that measures energy released by brain cells that are active during a specific task
56
name the brain mapping techniques
lesions, stimulation, and recording CAT/CT scan PET scan MRI and fMRI EEG
57
what is the cerebellum and where is it located?
cerebellum is the "old brain", located at the back of the head, below the temporal and occipital lobes and above the brainstem
58
what are the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex?
frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
59
what is each lobe of the cerebral cortex responsible for?
frontal lobe -> movement parietal -> feeling, body sensation temporal -> hearing occipital -> vision
60
Broca's area vs Wernicke's area
Broca's area -> speech production Wernicke's area -> language comprehension
61
primary visual cortex (PVC) vs visual association cortex (VAC)
PVC -> literal seeing occurs VAC -> where u recognize things
62
brain plasticity
the brain is flexible enough that adjacent areas can take over function of injured parts
63
central fissure
separates frontal and parietal lobes; the motor + sensory regions
64
what is each hemisphere of the brain good at?
left = analysis, verbal activity right = synthesis
65
Roger Sperry
did split-brain studies. patients had epilepsy caused by birth trauma and damage was done on one side of the lobe. he cut the corpus callosum to stop the feedback loop and thus stop their seizures
66
Label the lobes of the brain
Google

psychology (13 decks)

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