Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

psych 104 > chapters 3 > Flashcards

chapters 3 Flashcards

neuroscience (85 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other to perform info processing tasks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

cell body

A

component of the neuron that coordinates info processing tasks and keeps the cell alive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

dendrite

A

receives info from the other neurons and relays it to the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

axon

A

carries info to other neurons , muscles , or glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

myelin sheath

A

an insulating layer of fatty material that speeds up the movement of action potential along the axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

glial cells

A

support cells found in the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

synapse

A

the junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

sensory neurons

A

receive info from the external world and convey this info to the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

motor neurons

A

carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

interneurons

A

connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

nodes of ranvier

A

the breaks in the myelin sheath. the electric impulses jump from node to node, thereby speeding the conduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

resting potential

A

the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neurons cell membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

action potential

A

an electric signal that is conducted along the length of a neurons axon to a synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

refractory period

A

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

terminal buttons

A

knoblike structures that branch out from the axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemicals that transmit info across the synapse to a receiving neurons dendrites

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

receptors

A

parts of the cell membrane that receive the neurotransmitter and either initiate or prevent a new electric signal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

acetylcholine (ACh)

A

a neurotransmitter involved in a number of functions, including motor control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

glutamate

A

the major excitatory NT in the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

GABA ( gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

the primary inhibitory NT in the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

norepinephrine

A

involved in states of vigilance or heightened awareness of dangers in the environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

serotonin

A

involved in the regulation of sleep , wakefulness, eating, and aggressive behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

endorphins

A

chemicals that act with in the pain pathways and emotion centers of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
agonists
drugs that increase the action of a NT
26
antagonist
drugs that decrease the action of a NT
27
nervous system
an interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical info throughout the body
28
central nervous system
composed of brain and spinal cord
29
peripheral nervous system
connects CNS to organs and muscles
30
somatic nervous system
a set of nerves that conveys info between skeletal muscles and CNS
31
autonomic nervous system
a set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands
32
sympathetic nervous system
set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations. Fight or flight
33
parasympathetic nervous system
helps body return to a normal resting state. rest and digest
34
hindbrain
the area of the brain that coordinates info coming into and out of the spinal cord
35
medulla
an extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration
36
reticular formation
regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal
37
cerebellum
large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills
38
pons
brain structure that relays info from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
39
tectum
orients organism in the environment
40
tegmentum
involved in movement and arousal
41
cerebral cortex
the outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye. divided into 2 hemispheres
42
subcortical structures
areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the center of the brain
43
thalamus
relays and filters info from the senses and transmits the info to the cerebral cortex
44
hypothalamus
regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior
45
hippocampus
critical for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of cerebral cortex
46
amygdala
located at the top of each horn of the hippocampus, plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly formation of emotional memories
47
basal ganglia
a set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements and plays a role in reward processing
48
endocrine system
a network of glands that produce and secrete into the bloodstream chemical messages known as hormones which influence a wide variety of basic functions, including metabolism, growth, and sexual development
49
pituitary gland
the 'master gland' of the body's hormone producing system, which releases hormones that direct functions of many other glands
50
corpus callosum
connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of info across hemispheres
51
occipital lobe
processes visual info
52
parietal lobe
processes info about touch
53
frontal lobe
specialized area for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
54
temporal lobe
responsible for hearing and language
55
association areas
composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to info processed in the cortex
56
mirror neurons
neurons that are active when an animal performs a behavior that are activated when another animal observes that animals perform the same behavior
57
cultural neuroscience
the study of how culture and neurobiological processes influence one another
58
gene
the major unit of hereditary transmission
59
chromosomes
strands of dna wound around each other in a double helix configuration
60
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences that determine whether or not genes are expressed, or the degree to which they are expressed with out altering the basic dna sequences that constitute the gene themselves
61
epigenetic marks
chemical modifications to dna that can turn genes on or off
62
dna methylation
adding a methyl group to dna
63
histone modification
adding chemical modifications to proteins called histones that are involved in packaging dna
64
heritability
a measure of the variability of behavioral traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic factors
65
electroencephalograph (EEG)
a device used to record electrical activity in the brain
66
phrenology
detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium and indication of character and mental abilities
67
non functional brain scans
CT and MRI
68
functional brain scans
PET and fMRI
69
magnetic stimulation
TMS
70
neuroanatomical techniques
Golgi scans , Nissl stain, electron microscopy
71
Glial cells
Nonneural brain cells that provide structural, nutritional support to the brain
72
Synaptic vesicle
Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters
73
Synaptic cleft
A gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal
74
Resting potential
Difference in electrical charge (-70 millivolts) across the neural membrane when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited
75
Depolarization
The reduction of a membranes resting potential so that it becomes less negative
76
Repolarization
Na+ channels close, k+ channels open. K+ efflux down electro chemical gradient
77
Postsynaptic potential (PSP)
A voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane
78
Excitatory PSP
A positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials (because it gets closer to the -55mV threshold)
79
Inhibitory PSP
A negative voltage shift that decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials
80
Neural plasticity in early development
- growth if dendrites and axons - synaptogenesis (formation of new synapses) -pruning ( removal of extra synapses to increase the efficiency of. A neural network) -myelination
81
Neural plasticity and learning
-Long term potentiation of synapses (a long lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons that results from stimulating them synchronously) - atonal growth and dendritic branching
82
Neural plasticity following brain injury
Brain regions can sometimes take over functions previously performed by others,
83
Stem cell
A cell with the capacity to differentiate into a specialized cell
84
Neurogenesis
Creation if new neurons in adult brain
85
Meninges
Three protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord - dura matter -arachnoid matter -pia matter

psych 104 (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions