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PSYC 101 > Chapter 3 Biological Psych > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Biological Psych Flashcards

(101 cards)

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1
Q

Neuron

A

Nerve cell specialized for communication

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2
Q

Cell body (soma)

A

Central region, manufactures cell components

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3
Q

Dendrite

A

Portion of neuron that receives signal

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4
Q

Axon

A

Portion of neuron that sends signal

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5
Q

Synaptic vesicle

A

Spherical sac containing neurotrasmitters

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6
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical messengers specialized for communication from neuron to neuron

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7
Q

Synapse

A

Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically

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8
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

Gap which neurotransmitters are released from axon terminal

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9
Q

Glial cell

A

Cells in nervous system that play role in formation of myelin/blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, enhances learning/memory

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10
Q

Myelin sheath

A

Glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of neuron’s signal

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11
Q

Resting potential

A

Electrical charge differences (-60 mv) across neuronal membrane when neuron not being stimulated/inhibited

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12
Q

Threshold

A

Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

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13
Q

Action potential

A

Electrical impulse that travels down axon triggering release of neurotrasmitters

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14
Q

Absolute refractory period

A

Time during which another action potential is impossible; limits max firing rate

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15
Q

Graded potential

A

Postsynaptic potentials that can be excitatory/inhibitory depending whether positively/negatively charged participles flow across neuronal membrane/which direction they flow

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16
Q

Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

A

Graded potential in dendrite caused by excitatory synaptic transmission

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17
Q

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

A

Graded potential in dendrite caused by inhibitory synaptic transmission

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18
Q

Receptor site

A

Location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter

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19
Q

Reuptake

A

Means of recycling neurotransmitters

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20
Q

Endorphins

A

Chemical in the brain that plays a specialized role in pain reduction

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21
Q

Psychoactive drugs

A

Drugs that interact with neurotransmitters

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22
Q

Agonists

A

Increase receptor site activity

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23
Q

Antagonists

A

Decrease receptor site activity

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24
Q

Plasticity

A

Ability of nervous system to change

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25
Neuron changes (four)
1. Growth of dendrites/axons 2. Synaptogensis - formation of new synapses 3. Pruning - death of no longer useful STUFFZ 4. Myelination - insulation of axons with sheath
26
Stem cells
Cell often originating in embryos having capacity to differentiate into more specialized cell
27
Neurogenesis
Creation of new neurons in adult brain
28
Central nervous system
Part of nervous system containing brain/spinal cord that controls mind/behaviour
29
Peripheral nervous system
Nerves in body that extend outside CNS
30
Cerebral ventricles
Pockets in brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, which provide brain with nutrients/cushioning against injury
31
Forebrain
forward part of brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities
32
Cerebral hemispheres
Two halves of cerebral cortex, each serving distinct highly integrated fxns
33
Corpus callosum
Large band of fibres connecting two cerebral hemispheres
34
Cerebral cortex
Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing/higher brain fxns
35
Frontal lobe
Foreward part of cerebral cortex responsible for motor fxn, language, memory, planning
36
Motor cortex
Part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement
37
Prefrontal lobe
Part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, language
38
Broca's area
Language area in prefrontal cortex that helps control speech production
39
Parietal lobe
Upper middle part of cerebral cortex behind frontal lobe, specialized for touch/perception
40
Temporal lobe
Prime site, lower part of cerebral cortex that plays role in hearing, understanding language, memory
41
Wernicke's area
Part of temporal lobe involved in understanding speech (comprehension)
42
Occipital lobe
Back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision
43
Primary sensory cortex
Regions of cerebral cortex that initially process info from senses
44
Association cortex
Regions of cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex fxns
45
Basal ganglia
Structures in forebrain that help control movement
46
Limbic system
Emotional centre of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, memory
47
Thalamus
Gateway from sense organs to primary sensory cortex
48
Hypothalamus
Responsible for maintaing constant internal state (homeostasis)
49
Amygdala
Plays role in fear, excitement arousal
50
Hippocampus
Plays role in spatial memory
51
Brain stem
Between spinal cord/cerebral cortex that contains midbrain, pon, medulla
52
Midbrain
Part of brain stem, contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, reflexes triggered by sound
53
Reticular activating system
Brain area that plays key role in arousal
54
Hindbrain
Region below midbrain that contains cerebellum, pons, medulla
55
Cerebellum
Responsible for sense of balance
56
Pons
Connects cortex with cerebellum
57
Medulla
Involves basic fxns like heartbeat/breathing
58
Spinal cord
Thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between brain/body
59
Interneuron
Neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby
60
Reflex
Automatic motor response to sensory stimulus
61
Somatic nervous system
Conveys info between CNS/body, controlling/coordinating voluntary movement
62
Autonomic nervous system
Controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs/glads, participates in emotion regulation
63
Sympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic, engaged during crises/after actions requiring fight/flight
64
Parasympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic, controls rest/digestion
65
Endocrine system
System of glands/hormones that control secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers
66
Hormone
Chemical released into bloodstream that influences particular organs/glands
67
Pituitary gland
Master gland under control of hypothalamus, directs other glands of body
68
Adrenal gland
Located on top of kidneys, releases adrenalin/cortisol during emotional arousal
69
Phrenology
First attempt to map mind onto brain (Gall)
70
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Uses magnetic fields to visualize brain structure
71
fMRI
Measures changes in blood oxygen levels in brain
72
Localization of function
Areas of brain active during specific psychological task over/above baseline rate of activity
73
Lateralization
Cognitive fxn that relies on one side of brain more than other
74
Split brain surgery
Involves severing corpus callosum to reduce spread of epileptic seizures
75
Genotype
Genetic makeup
76
Phenotype
Observable traits
77
Recessive gene
Gene expressed in absence of dominant gene
78
Fitness
Organism's capacity to pass on their genes
79
Heritability
Percentage of variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes
80
Family study
Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families
81
Twin study
Analysis of how traits differ in identical/fraternal twins
82
Adoption study
Analysis of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from biological relatives
83
Neurotransmitter: Glutamate
Most common excitatory; learning, development, deactivated by alcohol
84
Neurotransmitter: GABA
Most common inhibitory; alcohol increases sensitivity
85
Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine
Movement, memory, REM sleep
86
Neurotransmitter: Norepinephrine
Low level on mood disorders, increases attention to environment
87
Neurotransmitter: Dopamine
Movement, attention, learning, reinforcement; low levels --> Parkinson's, high levels --> schizophrenia
88
Neurotransmitter: Seratonin
Low levels in mood disorders, regulation: mood, eating, sleep, arousal, pain
89
Three Rs of drugs affecting synaptic transmitters
1. Stimulate/inhibit RELEASE of neurotransmitters 2. Stimulate/bock postsynaptic RECEPTORS 3. Inhibit REUPTAKE
90
Five fxnl regions of cerebral cortex
``` 1. Primary motor cortex --> Action Primary sensory cortex --> Sensation 2. Somatosensory cortex 3. Visual cortex 4. Auditory cortex 5. Association cortex --> between sensation/action ```
91
Michael Gazzaniga
Mind is constructed of independent/semi-independent agents
92
Left hemisphere functions
Analysis - break down info | Serial behaviours - verbal, language, speech
93
Right hemisphere functions
Synthesis - put info together | Drawing, read maps, building, images, patterns
94
Phineas Gage
Damage to prefrontal cortex; major personality change to slow thoughts, loss of self awareness, emotion runs changed; intelligence/memory maintained
95
Broca's area characteristics
Broken speech, labored but retains meaning, extensive damage --> agrammatism or comprehension problem possible
96
Wernicke's area characteristics
Language comprehension trouble, world salad, problems recognizing spoken words/comprehension of word meaning
97
Pure word deafness
Only damage in Wernicke's, can read/write, comprehension ok, can't recognize speech sounds as speech
98
Isolation aphasia
Damage to angular gyrus, word salad, can repeat words but don't understand, can't read/write
99
Pure word deafness + isolation aphasia = ?
Wernick's aphasia
100
Evolutionary psychology
How an organism's evolutionary history contributes to the development of behavior patterns/cognitive strategies related to reproduction/survival during its lifetime
101
Heredity
All of traits/tendencies inherited from biological ancestors

PSYC 101 (6 decks)

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