Psychology Midterm (Ch. 3 definitions, terms, people, etc.)

Question 1

Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information

Answer 1

Neurons

Question 2

Cell body that contains the nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells

Answer 2

Soma

Question 3

Receive information

Answer 3

Dendrites

Question 4

Long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Answer 4

Axon

Question 5

Insulating material that encases some axons and functions to speed up transmission of signals moving along the axon

Answer 5

Myelin sheath

Question 6

Cluster of small knobs where the axon ends and secretes neuotransmitters

Answer 6

Terminal buttons

Question 7

Junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another

Points at which neurons interconnect

Answer 7

Synapses

Question 8

Smal cells found throughout nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons

Nourish and remove waste from neurons, provide insulation around many axons

May also send and receive chemical signals

Answer 8

Glia

Question 9

Stable negative charge of a neuron when the cell is inactive (-70 millivolts)

Answer 9

Resting potential

Question 10

Very brief shift in neuron’s electrical charge that travels along an axon

Answer 10

Action potential

Question 11

Minimum amount of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin

Answer 11

Absolute refractory period

Question 12

A neuron either fires or it doesn’t, and action potentials are all the same size

Information about the strength of a stimulus may be convey by varying the rate of firing action potentials

Answer 12

All-or-none Law

Question 13

Microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron

Answer 13

Synaptic cleft

Question 14

Chemicals that transmit information from neuron to another

Answer 14

Neurotransmitters

Question 15

Sites that are specifically “tuned” to recognize and respond to some neurotransmitters but not to others

Answer 15

Receptor sites

Question 16

Voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane

Graded, vary in size, and increase or decrease probability of a neural impulse in the receiving cell (in proportion to the amount of voltage change)

Answer 16

Postsynaptic potential (PSP)

Question 17

Positive volt shift that increases likelihood that postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials

Answer 17

Excitatory PSP

Question 18

Negative volt shift that decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials

Answer 18

Inhibitory PSP

Question 19

Process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by presynaptic membrane

Allows recycling of materials

Answer 19

Reuptake

Question 20

Transmitter involved with discover that cells communicate by releasing chemicals

Contribute to arousal, memory, and attention

Answer 20

Acetylcholine

Question 21

The three transmitters of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are included in this group

Answer 21

Monamines

Question 22

Group of transmitters that consists of amino acids

Only seems to produce inhibitory PSP

Regulation of anxiety, modulation of sleep

Answer 22

GABA

Question 23

Internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects

Answer 23

Endorphins

Question 24

System of all nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord

Answer 24

Peripheral nervous system

Question 25

Bundles of fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system

Answer 25

Nerves

Question 26

System made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors

Answer 26

Somatic nervous system

Question 27

Axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body

Answer 27

Afferent nerve fibers

Question 28

Axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body

Answer 28

Efferent

Question 29

System made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands

Answer 29

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Question 30

Branch of autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources of emergencies Creates fight-or-flight response

Answer 30

Sympathetic division

Question 31

Branch of autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources

Answer 31

Parasympathetic division

Question 32

Portion of nervous system that consists of brain and spinal cord

Answer 32

Central nervous system (CNS)

Question 33

Computer-enhanced x ray of brain structure that uses multiple angles of x ray shots

Answer 33

CT scan (computerized tomography)

Question 34

Scan that uses magnetic fields, radio waves, and computerized enhancements to map out brain structure

Answer 34

MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging)

Question 35

Scan that uses radio-active markers to map chemical activity in the brain over time

Answer 35

PET scan (positron emission tomography)

Question 36

Scan that maps brain activity over time but is more precise that PET scans

Answer 36

fMRI scan (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

Question 37

Part of brain that includes cerebellum, medulla, and pons

Answer 37

Hindbrain

Question 38

Attached to spinal cord and controls unconscious but essential functions

Answer 38

Medulla

Question 39

Bridge of fibers that connects brainstem with cerebellum Involved with sleep and arousal

Answer 39

Pons

Question 40

Relatively large and deeply folded structure adjacent to back surface of brain stem "Little brain" Involved in coordination of movement and critical to sense of equilibrium

Answer 40

Cerebellum

Question 41

Segment of brainstem that lies between hindbrain and forebrain Concerns integrating sensory processes

Answer 41

Midbrain

Question 42

Largest and most complex region of the brain Consists of thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum

Answer 42

Forebrain

Question 43

Structure in forebrain that all sensory information must pass to get to the cerebral cortex

Answer 43

Thalamus

Question 44

Structure near base of forebrain that regulates basic biological needs (the four "f's")

Answer 44

Hypothalamus

Question 45

Loosely connected network of structures located roughy along the border of cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas Contains memory processes and "pleasure centers"

Answer 45

Limbic system

Question 46

Largest and most complex part of the human brain Contains areas responsible for most complex mental activities (learning, thinking, remembering, consciousness)

Answer 46

Cerebrum

Question 47

Outer layer of cerebum

Answer 47

Cerebral cortex

Question 48

Major structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres

Answer 48

Corpus callosum

Question 49

Lobe that includes cortical area where most visual signals are sent and visual processing is done

Answer 49

Occipital lobe (primary visual cortex)

Question 50

Lobe that registers sense of touch

Answer 50

Partietal lobe (primary somatosensory cortex)

Question 51

Lobe devoted to auditory processing

Answer 51

Temporal lobe (primary auditory cortex)

Question 52

Largest lobe in human brain Contains principal areas that control movement of muscles

Answer 52

Frontal lobe (primary motor cortex)

Question 53

Neurons activated by performing an action or by seeing another person perform the same action

Answer 53

Mirror neurons

Question 54

Surgery where the bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres is cut to reduce severity of epileptic seizures

Answer 54

Split-brain surgery

Question 55

System that consists of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream to help control bodily functioning

Answer 55

Endocrine system

Question 56

Chemical substances released by endocrine glands

Answer 56

Hormones

Question 57

Pattern of hormone release that is several times per day in brief bursts for only a few minutes

Answer 57

Pulsatile

Question 58

Gland that releases large variety of hormones that fan out within the body, stimulating actions in the other endocrine glands "Master gland"

Answer 58

Pituitary gland

Question 59

This part of the nervous system mostly controls the endocrine system

Answer 59

Hypothalamus