Key terms Biopsychology Flashcards
(34 cards)
Nervous System
Consists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system
Central Nervous system
Consists of the brain and the spinal cord, controls complex demands and decisions
Peripheral nervous system
Sends information to the central nervous system from the outside world, transmits message from the CNS to the muscles and glands in the body
Autonomic nervous system
Transmits information to and from internal bodily organs. It is ‘autonomic’ as the system operates involuntarily. It has two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Endocrine system
One of the body’s major information systems that instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones are carried towards target organs in the body.
Hormones
Chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream and only affect target organs. They are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly. Their effect are very powerful.
Fight or flight response
The way an animal responds when stressed. The body becomes physiologically aroused in readiness to fight an aggressor or, in some cases, flee.
Adrenaline
A hormone produced by the adrenaline glands which is part of the human body’s immediate stress response system. Adrenaline has a strong effect on the cells of the cardiovascular system - stimulating the heart rate, contracting blood vessels and dilating air vessels and dilating air passages.
Neuron
The basic building blocks of the nervous system, neutrons are nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals.
Sensory neurons
These carry messages from the peripheral nervous system to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons.
Relay neurons
These connect the sensory neutrons to the motor or other relay neutrons. They have short dendrites and short axons.
Motor neurons
These connect the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands. They have short dendrites and long axons
Synaptic transmission
The process by which neighbouring neutrons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the gap (the synoptic cleft) that separates them
Neurotransmitter
Brain Chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another. Neurotransmitters can be broadly divided into those that perform an excitatory function and those that perform an inhibitory function
Excitation
When a neurotransmitter, such as adrenaline, increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron. This increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical pulse
Inhibition
When a neurotransmitter, such as adrenaline, increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron more negative. This decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire and pass on the electrical impulse
Localisation of function
The theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities.
Motor areas
A region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement
Somatosensory area
An area of the parietal lobe that receives and processes visual information
Visual area
A part of the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information
Auditory area
Located in the temporal lobe and concerned with the analysis of speech-based information
Broca’s area
An area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production
Wernicke’s area
An area of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere responsible for language comprehension
Plasticity
This describes the brain’s tendency to change and adapt (functionally and physically) as a result of experience and new learning
