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Psy > Chapter 3 Biopsychology > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

action potential

A

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

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2
Q

agonist

A

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

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3
Q

all-or-none

A

phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation

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4
Q

amygdala

A

structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories

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5
Q

antagonist

A

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

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6
Q

auditory cortex

A

strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information

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7
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls our internal organs and glands

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8
Q

axon

A

major extension of the soma

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9
Q

Broca’s area

A

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

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10
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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11
Q

cerebellum

A

hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

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12
Q

cerebral cortex

A

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities
chromosome long strand of genetic information

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13
Q

computerized tomography (CT) scan

A

imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates
multiple x-rays of a given area

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14
Q

corpus callosum

A

thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres

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15
Q

dendrite

A

branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons

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16
Q

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A

helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

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17
Q

electroencephalography (EEG)

A

recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp

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18
Q

forebrain

A

largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system,
among other structures

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19
Q

fraternal twins

A

twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic
material varies the same as in non-twin siblings

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20
Q

frontal lobe

A

part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex

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21
Q

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time
gene sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics

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22
Q

genetic environmental correlation

A

view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our
environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes

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23
Q

genotype

A

genetic makeup of an individual

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24
Q

glial cell

A

nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport

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25
gyrus
(plural: gyri) bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex
26
heterozygous
consisting of two different alleles
27
hindbrain
division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
28
hippocampus
structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory
29
hypothalamus
forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and behavior and a number of homeostatic processes; serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system
30
lateralization
concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions
31
limbic system
collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory
32
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged
33
medulla
hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate
34
membrane potential
difference in charge across the neuronal membrane
35
midbrain
division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular formation
36
motor cortex
strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement
37
myelin sheath
fatty substance that insulates axons
38
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger of the nervous system
39
Nodes of Ranvier
open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon
40
occipital lobe
part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex
41
parasympathetic nervous system
associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body
42
parietal lobe
part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex
43
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses in the periphery of the body
44
pituitary gland
secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system
45
polygenic
multiple genes affecting a given trait
46
pons
hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep
47
positron emission tomography (PET) scan
involves injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain
48
prefrontal cortex
area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
49
psychotropic medication
drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance
50
range of reaction
asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall
51
receptor
protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach
52
resting potential
the state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals
53
reticular formation
midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity
54
reuptake
neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it
55
somatic nervous system
relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
56
somatosensory cortex
essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain
57
substantia nigra
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement
58
sympathetic nervous system
involved in stress-related activities and functions
59
temporal lobe
part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language; contains primary auditory cortex
60
thalamus
sensory relay for the brain
61
thyroid
secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite
62
ventral tegmental area (VTA)
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addiction
63
Wernicke’s area
important for speech comprehension
64
just noticeable difference
the minimum level of stimulation that a person can detect 50% of the time
65
Absolute threshold
In neuroscience and psychophysics, an absolute threshold was originally defined as the lowest level of a stimulus – light, sound, touch, etc. – that an organism could detect.
66
Cataplexy
This sudden loss of muscle tone while a person is awake leads to weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control

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