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Psychology > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

Neuroscience

A

the study of how the brain and nervous system affect our mental processes and our behavior.

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2
Q

Neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that transmit information

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3
Q

Glia Cells

A

brain cells that provide important support functions for the neurons and are involved in the formation of myelin

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4
Q

Myelin

A

a fatty, waxy substance that insulates portions of some neurons in the nervous system

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5
Q

Cell Body

A

the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus and DNA

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6
Q

DNA

A

the chemical found in the nuclei of cells that contains the genetic blueprint that guides development in the organism

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7
Q

Dendrites

A

branchlike structures on the head of the neuron that receive incoming signals from other neurons in the nervous system

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8
Q

Axon

A

a long tail-like structure growing out of the cell body of a neuron that carries action potentials that convey information from the cell body to the synapse

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9
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

the discontinuous segments of myelin that cover the outside of some axons in the nervous system

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10
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that carry neural signals across the synapse

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11
Q

Synapse

A

the connection formed between two neurons when the axon bulb of one neuron comes into close proximity with the dendrite of another neuron

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12
Q

Pre-synaptic Neuron

A

the neuron that is sending the signal at a synapse in the nervous system

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13
Q

Post-synaptic Neuron

A

the neuron that is receiving the signal at a synapse in the nervous system

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14
Q

Ions

A

charged particles that play an important role in the firing of action potentials in the nervous system

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15
Q

Resting Potential

A

the potential difference that exists in the neuron when it is resting (approximately 270 mv in mammals)

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16
Q

Threshold of Excitation

A

the potential difference at which a neuron will fire an action potential (255 mv in mammals)

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17
Q

Action Potential

A

a neural impulse fired by a neuron when it reaches 255 mv

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18
Q

All-or-none Law

A

all action potentials are equal in strength; once a neuron begins to fire an action potential, it fires all the way down the axon

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19
Q

Refractory Period

A

a brief period of time after a neuron has fired an action potential during which the neuron is inhibited and unlikely to fire another action potential

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20
Q

Excitation

A

when a neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic cell more positive inside, it becomes more likely to fire an action potential

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21
Q

Inhibition

A

when a neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic cell more negative inside, it becomes less likely to fire an action potential

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22
Q

Reuptake

A

the process through which neurotransmitters are recycled back into the presynaptic neuron

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23
Q

Neuromodulators

A

chemicals in the nervous system that affect neural signaling without directly changing the resting potential of the postsynaptic cell

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24
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

a neurotransmitter related to muscle movement and perhaps consciousness, learning, and memory

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25
Dopamine [l,r,a,m,m)
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in reward, movement, motivation, learning, and attention
26
Serotonin [p,e,s,a,m]
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in many different behaviors, including sleep, arousal, mood, eating, and pain perception
27
Norepinephrine (NOR) [s,a,m]
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating sleep, arousal, and mood
28
Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA)
the body’s chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, which plays a role in regulating arousal and pain
29
Glutamate
the chief excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, found at more than 50% of the synapses in the brain
30
Endorphins
neuromodulators that act as natural painkillers
31
Nervous System
an electrochemical system of communication within the body that uses cells called neurons to convey information
32
Central Nervous System (CNS)
the brain and the spinal cord
33
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
all of the nervous system except the brain and the spinal cord
34
Sensory Neurons
neurons that transmit information from the sense organs to the central nervous system
35
Motor Neurons
neurons that transmit commands from the brain to the muscles of the body
36
Somatic Nervous System
the branch of the peripheral nervous system that governs sensory and voluntary motor action in the body
37
Autonomic Nervous System
the branch of the peripheral nervous system that primarily governs involuntary organ functioning and actions in the body
38
Parasympathetic Nervous System
the branch of the autonomic nervous system most active during times of normal functioning
39
Sympathetic Nervous System
the branch of the autonomic nervous system most active during times of danger or stress
40
Hindbrain
a primitive part of the brain that comprises the medulla oblongata, pons, and cerebellum
41
Forebrain
the brain structures, including the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus, and cortex, that govern higher-order mental processes
42
Midbrain
the brain structure that connects the hindbrain with the forebrain
43
Medulla Oblongata
a part of the hindbrain that controls basic, life-sustaining functions such as respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure
44
Pons
a hindbrain structure that plays a role in respiration, consciousness, sleep, dreaming, facial movement, sensory processes, and the transmission of neural signals from one part of the brain to another
45
Cerebellum
a hindbrain structure that plays a role in balance, muscle tone, and coordination of motor movements
46
Reticular Formation
a part of the midbrain that regulates arousal and plays an important role in attention, sleep, and consciousness
47
Hippocampus
a part of the brain that plays a role in the transfer of information from short- to long-term memory
48
Amygdala
a part of the limbic system that plays a role in the emotions of fear and aggression
49
Cerebral Hemispheres
the right and left sides of the brain that to some degree govern different functions in the body
50
Cerebral Cortex
the thin, wrinkled outer covering of the brain in which high-level processes such as thinking, planning, language, interpretation of sensory data, and coordination of sensory and motor information take place
51
Limbic System
a system of structures, including the amygdala and hippocampus, that govern certain aspects of emotion, motivation, and memory
52
Neuroplasticity
the nervous system’s ability to rewire its structures as a result of experience
53
Thalamus
a part of the forebrain that functions as a sensory relay station
54
Hypothalamus [hts-hts]
a part of the forebrain that plays a role in maintaining homeostasis in the body, involving sleep, body temperature, sexual behavior, thirst, and hunger; also the point where the nervous system intersects with the endocrine system
55
Homeostasis
an internal state of equilibrium in the body
56
Frontal Lobe
the cortical area directly behind the forehead that plays a role in thinking, planning, decision-making, language, and motor movement
57
Parietal Lobe
the cortical area on the top sides of the brain that play a role in touch and certain cognitive processes
58
Occipital Lobe
the cortical area at the back of the brain that plays a role in visual processing
59
Temporal Lobe
the cortical area directly below the ears that plays a role in auditory processing and language
60
Broca’s Area
a region in the left frontal lobe that plays a role in the production of speech
61
Broca’s Aphasia
a condition resulting from damage to Broca’s area of the brain that leaves the person unable to produce speech
62
Wernicke’s Area
a region of the left temporal lobe that plays a role in the comprehension of speech
63
Wernicke’s Aphasia
a condition resulting from damage to Wernicke’s area of the brain that leaves a person unable to comprehend speech
64
Corpus Callosum
a thick band of neurons that connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain
65
Split Brain
a brain with its corpus callosum severed; sometimes done to control the effects of epilepsy in people who do not respond to other therapies
66
Association Cortex
areas of the cortex involved in the association or integration of information from the motor–sensory areas of the cortex
67
Primary Motor Area (Frontal Lobe)
a strip of cortex at the back of the frontal lobe that governs the execution of motor movement in the body
68
Primary Somatosensory Area (Parietal Lobe)
a strip of cortex at the front of the parietal lobe that governs the sense of TOUCH
69
Primary Visual Area (Occipital Lobe)
a region of cortex found at the back of the occipital lobe that processes VISUAL information in the brain
70
Auditory Cortex (Temporal Lobe)
a region of cortex found in the temporal lobe that governs the processing of AUDITORY information in the brain
71
Endocrine System
a chemical system of communication in the body that uses chemical messengers, called hormones, to affect organ function and behavior
72
Endocrine Glands
the organs of the endocrine system that produce and release hormones into the blood
73
Hormones
the chemical messengers of the endocrine system
74
Pituitary Gland
the master gland of the endocrine system that controls the action of all other glands in the body
75
Gonads
endocrine glands that directly affect sexual reproduction by producing sperm (testes) or eggs (ovaries)
76
Estrogens
a class of female sex hormones that regulate many aspects of sexuality and are found in both males and females
77
Androgens
a class of male hormones that regulate many aspects of sexuality and are found in both males and females
78
Adrenal Medulla
the center part of the adrenal gland that plays a crucial role in the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system
79
Adrenal Cortex
the outside part of the adrenal gland that plays a role in the manufacture and release of androgens, and therefore influences sexual characteristic

Psychology (8 decks)

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