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Introductory Psychology > Chapter 3 (module 2) > Flashcards

Chapter 3 (module 2) Flashcards

(91 cards)

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1
Q

action potential

A

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

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2
Q

adrenal gland

A

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

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3
Q

agonist

A

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

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4
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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5
Q

allele

A

specific version of a gene

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6
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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7
Q

antagonist

A

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

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8
Q

auditory cortex

A

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

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9
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls our internal organs and glands

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10
Q

axon

A

major extension of the soma

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11
Q

biological perspective

A

view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are
associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems

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12
Q

Broca’s area

A

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

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13
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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14
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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15
Q

cerebral cortex

A

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

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16
Q

chromosome

A

long strand of genetic information

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17
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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18
Q

corpus callosum

A

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

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19
Q

dendrite

A

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

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20
Q

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A

helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

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21
Q

diabetes

A

disease related to insufficient insulin production

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22
Q

dominant allele

A

allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

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23
Q

electroencephalography (EEG)

A

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

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24
Q

endocrine system

A

series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

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25
epigenetics
study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes
26
fight or flight response
activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety
27
forebrain
largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures
28
fraternal twins
twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic material varies the same as in non-twin siblings
29
frontal lobe
part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex
30
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time
31
gene
sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics
32
genetic environmental correlation
view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes
33
genotype
genetic makeup of an individual
34
glial cell
nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport
35
gonad
secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior
36
gyrus (plural: gyri)
bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex
37
hemisphere
left or right half of the brain
38
heterozygous
consisting of two different alleles
39
hindbrain
division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory
40
homeostasis
state of equilibrium—biological conditions, such as body temperature, are maintained at optimal levels
41
homozygous
consisting of two identical alleles
42
hormone
chemical messenger released by endocrine glands
43
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
44
identical twins
twins that develop from the same sperm and egg
45
lateralization
concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions
46
limbic system
collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory
47
longitudinal fissure
deep groove in the brain’s cortex
48
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged
49
medulla
hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate
50
membrane potential
difference in charge across the neuronal membrane
51
midbrain
division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular formation
52
motor cortex
strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement
53
mutation
sudden, permanent change in a gene
54
myelin sheath
fatty substance that insulates axons
55
neuron
cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system
56
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger of the nervous system
57
occipital lobe
part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex
58
pancreas
secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar
59
parasympathetic nervous system
associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body
60
parietal lobe
part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex
61
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses in the periphery of the body
62
phenotype
individual’s inheritable physical characteristics
63
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
64
polygenic
multiple genes affecting a given trait
65
pons
hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep
66
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
67
prefrontal cortex
area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
68
psychotropic medication
drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance
69
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
70
receptor
protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach
71
recessive allele
allele whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that allele
72
resting potential
the state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals
73
reticular formation
midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity
74
reuptake
neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it
75
semipermeable membrane
cell membrane that allows smaller molecules or molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules
76
soma
cell body
77
somatic nervous system
relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
78
somatosensory cortex
essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain
79
substantia nigra
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement
80
sulcus (plural: sulci)
depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex
81
sympathetic nervous system
involved in stress-related activities and functions
82
synapse
small gap between two neurons where communication occurs
83
synaptic vesicle
storage site for neurotransmitters
84
temporal lobe
part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language; contains primary auditory cortex
85
terminal button
axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles
86
thalamus
sensory relay for the brain
87
theory of evolution by natural selection
states that organisms that are better suited for their environments will survive and reproduce compared to those that are poorly suited for their environments
88
threshold of excitation
level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active
89
thyroid
secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite
90
ventral tegmental area (VTA)
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addiction
91
Wernicke’s area
important for speech comprehension

Introductory Psychology (8 decks)

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