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psych stufsfsf > unit 1 part 1 vocab > Flashcards

unit 1 part 1 vocab Flashcards

(94 cards)

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1
Q

sensory (afferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

motor (efferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

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3
Q

interneurons

A

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

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4
Q

somatic nervous system

A

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. (also called the skeletal nervous system)

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5
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. the sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms

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6
Q

depressants

A

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

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7
Q

barbiturates

A

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

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8
Q

opioids

A

opium and its derivatives; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

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9
Q

agonist

A

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

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10
Q

antagonist

A

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

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11
Q

endocrine system

A

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands and fat tissue that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

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12
Q

psychoactive drug

A

a chemical substance that alters the brain, causing changes in perceptions and moods.

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13
Q

limbic system

A

neural system located mostly in the forebrain — below the cerebral hemispheres (includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, thalamus, and pituitary gland) associated with emotions and drives.

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14
Q

amygdala

A

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

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15
Q

hypothalamus

A

a limbic system neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward

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16
Q

hippocampus

A

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit (conscious) memories — of facts and events — for storage

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17
Q

cerebral cortex

A

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain’s cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

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18
Q

frontal lobes

A

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead. They enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and judgments).

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19
Q

stimulants

A

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

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20
Q

hallucinogens

A

psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

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21
Q

resting potential (polarization)

A

the electrical charge of a neuron when it is not actively sending signals

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22
Q

myasthenia gravis

A

autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness of voluntary muscles

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23
Q

neuroplasticity

A

the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

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24
Q

lesion

A

tissue destruction. brain lesions may occur naturally (from disease or trauma), during surgery, or experimentally (using electrodes to destroy brain cells)

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25
EEG
(electroencephalogram) an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface
26
dopamine
neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
27
serotonin
neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
28
MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging) a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy
29
fMRI
(functional MRI) a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; shows brain function as well as structure
30
hindbrain
consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions, such as breathing, sleeping, and wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance
31
midbrain
found atop the brainstem; connects the hindbrain with the forebrain, controls some motor movement, and transmits auditory and visual information
32
forebrain
consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus; manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities
33
brainstem
the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
34
medulla
the hindbrain structure that is the brainstem's base; controls heartbeat and breathing
35
thalamus
the forebrain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
36
reticular formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; it filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal
37
cerebellum
the hindbrain's "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
38
parietal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; it receives sensory input for touch and body position
39
occipital lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
40
temporal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each of which receives information primarily from the opposite ear. they also enable language processing
41
motor cortex
a cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
42
multiple sclerosis
myelin sheath destruction. disease where communication to muscles and brain regions slows. diminished muscle control and sometimes impaired cognition
43
somatosensory cortex
a cerebral cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
44
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions, but rather are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
45
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
46
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
47
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that separates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them (mainly those of the corpus callosum)
48
norepinephrine
neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal. undersupply can depress mood
49
blindsight
a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it
50
parallel processing
processing multiple aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously
51
sequential processing
processing one aspect of a stimulus or problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems
52
sleep
a periodic, natural loss of consciousness — as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation
53
circadian rhythm
our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle
54
REM sleep
rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active
55
alpha waves
the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
56
NREM sleep
non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep
57
hallucinations
false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.
58
hypnagogic sensations
bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep
59
delta waves
the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
60
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN adjusts melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness
61
insomnia
recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
62
narcolepsy
a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The affected person may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times
63
sleep apnea
a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations (stoping) of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
64
REM behavior disorder
a sleep disorder in which normal REM paralysis does not occur; instead, twitching, talking, or even kicking or punching may occur, often acting out one's dream
65
dream analysis
the analyst's noting of supposed dream meanings, resistances, and other significant behaviors and events in an effort to promote insight.
66
Sigmund Freud
Austrian neurologist known for his work on the unconscious mind. Father of psychoanalysis
67
REM rebound
the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation
68
sensation
the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
69
sensory receptors
sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli
70
perception
the process by which our brain organizes and interprets sensory information, enabling us to recognize objects and events as meaningful
71
bottom up processing
information processing that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information
72
top down processing
information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations
73
transduction
conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of physical energy, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses the brain can interpret
74
glutamate
a major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory. Oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures
75
absolute threshold
the minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time
76
signal detection theory
a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness
77
hue
the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth
78
intensity
the amount of energy in a light wave or sound wave, which influences what we perceive as brightness or loudness. determined by the wave's amplitude (height)
79
cornea
the eye's clear, protective outer layer, covering the pupil and iris
80
pupil
the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters
81
iris
a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening
82
lens
the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina
83
retina
the light-sensitive back inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information
84
accommodation
(1) in sensation and perception, the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus images of near or far objects on the retina. (2) in developmental psychology, adapting our current schemas (understandings) to incorporate new information
85
rods
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray, and are sensitive to movement; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond
86
cones
retinal receptors that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations
87
optic nerve
the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
88
blind spot
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there
89
fovea
the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster
90
trichromatic theory
the theory that the retina contains three different types of color receptors — one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue — which, when stimulated in combination, can produce the perception of any color
91
opponent process theory
the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, blue-yellow, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green
92
feature detectors
nerve cells in the brain's visual cortex that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement
93
audition
the sense or act of hearing
94
frequency
the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time (for example, per second)

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