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Brain And Behaviour > Chapter 3 - Biological Psychology definitions > Flashcards

Chapter 3 - Biological Psychology definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Define neurons

A

Nerve cells specialised for communication.

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2
Q

Define dendrites

A

Portions of neurons that receive signals

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3
Q

Define axons

A

Portions of neurons that send signals

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4
Q

Define synaptic vesicles

A

Spherical sacs containing neurotransmitters

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5
Q

Define neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messages specialised for communication and released at the synapse.

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6
Q

Define synapse

A

Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted.

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7
Q

Define synaptic cleft

A

Space between two connecting neurons where neurotransmitters are released.

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8
Q

Define glial cells

A

Support cells in the nervous system that play a role in the formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, respond to injury and remove debris.

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9
Q

Define myelin sheath

A

Glial cell-wrappers around axons that act as insulators of the neurons signal

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10
Q

Define resting potential

A

Electrical charge difference (-60 millivolts) across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited

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11
Q

Define threshold

A

Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential

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12
Q

Define action potential

A

Electrical impulses that travel down the axon and allow neurons to communicate

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13
Q

Define absolute refractory period

A

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

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14
Q

Define receptor sites

A

Locations that uniquely recognise a neurotransmitter.

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15
Q

Define repuptake

A

Means of recycling neurotransmitters.

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16
Q

Define endorphins

A

Chemicals in the brain that play a specialised role in pain reduction.

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17
Q

Define plasticity

A

Ability of the nervous system to change

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18
Q

Define neurogenesis

A

Creation of new neurons in the adult brain.

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19
Q

Define stem cells

A

Unspecialised cells that retain the ability to become a wide variety of specialised cells.

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20
Q

Define the central nervous system (CNS)

A

The part of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord that controls mind and behaviour.

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21
Q

Define peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

Nerves in the body that extend outside the CNS.

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22
Q

Define cerebral cortex

A

Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analysing sensory processing and higher brain functions.

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23
Q

Define forebrain

A

Forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities; also known as the cerebrum.

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24
Q

Define cerebral hemispheres

A

Two halves of the cerebral cortex, which serve different yet highly integrated cognition functions.

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25
Q

Define corpus callosum

A

Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.

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26
Q

Define frontal lobe

A

Forward part of the cerebral cortex, containing the motor cortex and the prefrontal cortex; responsible for motor function, language and memory.

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27
Q

Define motor cortex

A

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for body movement.

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28
Q

Define prefrontal cortex

A

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for coordination of thinking, planning and language.

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29
Q

Define Broca’s area

A

Language area in the left prefrontal cortex that helps control speech production.

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30
Q

Define parietal lobe

A

Upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe, specialised for touch and perception.

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31
Q

Define temporal lobe

A

Lower part of the cerebral cortex below the temples, which plays a role in hearing, understanding language and memory.

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32
Q

Define Wernicke’s area

A

Part of the left temporal lobe involved in understanding speech.

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33
Q

Define occipital lobe

A

Back part of the cerebral cortex specialised for vision.

34
Q

Define sensory cortex

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex devoted to vision, touch, hearing, balance, taste and smell.

35
Q

Define association cortex

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions.

36
Q

Define basal ganglia

A

Structured in the forebrain that help control movement

37
Q

Define limbic system

A

Emotional centre of brain that also plays a role in smell, motivation and memory.

38
Q

Define thalamus

A

Serves as a gateway for sensory inputs to the cerebral cortex and as a hub for interactions between cortical regions.

39
Q

Define hypothalamus

A

Part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state.

40
Q

Define amygdala

A

Part of the limbic system that okays a key role in fear, excitement and arousal.

41
Q

Define hippocampus

A

Part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory.

42
Q

Define cerebellum

A

Small cerebrum in the hindbrain, responsible for our sense of balance.

43
Q

Define brain stem

A

Part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons and medulla.

44
Q

Define midbrain

A

Part of the brain stem that lies between the forebrain and hindbrain; it helps to control head and neck reflexes and modulate motor activity.

45
Q

Define reticular activating system (RAS)

A

Group of neurons projecting from the brain stem that play a key role in arousal.

46
Q

Define hindbrain

A

Part of the brain between the spinal cord and midbrain, consisting of the pons, cerebellum and medulla

47
Q

Define pons

A

Part of the hindbrain that connects the cerebral cortex with cerebellum.

48
Q

Define medulla

A

Part of the brain stem involved in vital functions, such as heartbeat and breathing.

49
Q

Define interneurons

A

Neurons that send messages to other neurons nearby

50
Q

Define reflex

A

Automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus like muscle stretch.

51
Q

Define somatic nervous system

A

Part of the peripheral nervous system carrying messages from the CNS through the body to control movement.

52
Q

Define the autonomic nervous system

A

Part of the peripheral nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which (along with the limbic system) participates in emotion.

53
Q

Define sympathetic division

A

Part of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis, or after actions requiring fight or flight.

54
Q

Define parasympathetic division

A

Part of the autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion.

55
Q

Define endocrine system

A

System of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood- borne chemical messengers.

56
Q

Define hormones

A

Blood - borne chemicals that influence target tissues and glands.

57
Q

Define pituitary gland

A

Master gland that, under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body.

58
Q

Define adrenal glands

A

Tissues located on top of the kidneys that release adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotional arousal.

59
Q

Define lesion

A

Area of damage due to surgery, injury or disease

60
Q

Define electroencephalography (EEG)

A

Recording of the brains electrical activity at the surface of the scalp.

61
Q

Define computed tomography (CT)

A

A scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct three- dimensional images.

62
Q

Define magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualise brain structure.

63
Q

Define positron emission tomography (PET)

A

Imaging technique that measured uptake of radioactive glucose molecules, yielding a picture of regional metabolic activity in different brain regions.

64
Q

Define functional MRI (fMRI)

A

Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualise changes in blood oxygen levels due to brain activity.

65
Q

Define transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A

Technique involving a coil that generates a magnetic field that can temporarily block or stimulate neural transmissions within a small brain area

66
Q

Define magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A

Measure of brain activity using magnetometers, which sense tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain.

67
Q

Define lateralisation

A

Cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other

68
Q

Define split- brain surgery

A

Procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures

69
Q

Define chromosomes

A

Slender threads inside a cells nucleus that carry genes

70
Q

Genes

A

Genetic material, composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

71
Q

Define genotype

A

Our genetic make up

72
Q

Define phenotype

A

Our observable traits

73
Q

Define dominant genes

A

Genes that mask other genes effects

74
Q

Define recessive genes

A

Genes that are expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene

75
Q

Define natural selection

A

Principle that organisms possess adaptations survive and reproduce at a higher rate than other organisms.

76
Q

Define fitness

A

Organisms capacity to pass on their genes

77
Q

Define heritability

A

Percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes

78
Q

Define family studies

A

Analyses of how traits run in families

79
Q

Define adoption studies

A

Analyses how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives

80
Q

Define twin studies

A

Analyses of how traits differ in identical twins versus fraternal twins

Brain And Behaviour (14 decks)

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