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Psychology > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

(60 cards)

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1
Q

biological psychology

A

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

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2
Q

neuron

A

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

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3
Q

dendrites

A

a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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4
Q

axon

A

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

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6
Q

glial cells (glia)

A

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

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7
Q

action potential

A

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

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8
Q

threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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9
Q

synapse

A

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neurons. AKA synaptic gap

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10
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

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11
Q

endorphins

A

“morphine within”- natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

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12
Q

nervous system

A

the body’s speedy electrochemical network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system

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13
Q

central nervous system(CNS)

A

brain and spinal chord

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14
Q

peripheral nervous system(PNS)

A

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

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15
Q

nerves

A

bundled axons that form neural ““cables” connecting the CNS to with muscles, glands, and sense organs

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16
Q

sensory (afferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord

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17
Q

motor (efferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles and glands

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18
Q

interneurons

A

neurons within the brain and spinal chord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs

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19
Q

somatic nervous system

A

the division of the pheripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

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20
Q

autonomic nervous system(ANS)

A

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

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21
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

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22
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy

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23
Q

reflex

A

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus such as the knee jerk response

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24
Q

endocrine system

A

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; set of glands the secrete hormones into the blood stream

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25
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
26
adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands that sits just above the kidneys and secrete hormones(epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress
27
pituitary glands
the endocrine's system most influential gland-regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
28
lesion
tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
29
brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal chord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for the autonomic survival functions
30
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
31
thalamus
the brain's sensory router, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages tot eh sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
32
reticular formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and plays an important role in controlling arousal
33
cerebellum
the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory output and balance ,and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
34
limbic system
neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
35
amygdala
2 lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
36
hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating,drinking,body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
37
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center
38
frontal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
39
parietal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
40
occipital lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
41
temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
42
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
43
sensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
44
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking,and speaking
45
plasticity
the brain's ability to change especially during childhood, by reorganizing after or by building new pathways based on experience
46
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
47
corpus callosum
the large brand of neural fibers connecting the 2 brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
48
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates that brain's 2 hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them
49
environment
every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
50
behavior genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
51
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
52
DNA
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
53
genes
the biochemical units of heredity that makes up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
54
identical twins
twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that spits in two, creating 2 genetically identical organisms
55
fraternal twins
twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs
56
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on the other
57
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
58
evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
59
natural selection
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
60
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

Psychology (3 decks)

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