Unit 2 Flashcards
(130 cards)
1
Q
localization of function
A
the idea that various brain regions have particular functions
2
Q
neuron
A
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
3
Q
cell body
A
the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life-support center
4
Q
dendrites
A
a neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body
5
Q
axon
A
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches o other neurons or to muscles or glands
6
Q
myelin sheath
A
a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next
7
Q
glial cells(glia)
A
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory
8
Q
action potential
A
a neural impulses; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
9
Q
threshold
A
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
10
Q
refractory period
A
in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron had fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state
11
Q
all-or-none response
A
a neuron’s reaction of either firing(with a full-strength response) or not firing
12
Q
synapse
A
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
13
Q
neurotransmitters
A
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. when released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
14
Q
reuptake
A
a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron
15
Q
endorphins
A
“morphine within”- nature;, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
16
Q
agonist
A
a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action
17
Q
antagonist
A
a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action
18
Q
reflex arc
A
signal is sent from a sensory organ to the spinal cord, which processes the information instead of passing it on to the brain
19
Q
nervous system
A
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
20
Q
central nervous system(CNS)
A
the brain and spinal cord
21
Q
peripheral nervous system(PNS)
A
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
22
Q
nerves
A
bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
23
Q
sensory(afferent) neurons
A
neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
24
Q
motor(efferent) neurons
A
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
25
interneurons
neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
26
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles
27
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
28
sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy
29
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
30
reflex
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
31
endocrine system
the body's "slow" chemical communication system
32
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
33
adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress
34
pituitary gland
the endocrine system's most influential gold. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
35
lesion
tissue destruction; a brain lesion is naturally or experimentally caused destruction of tissue
36
EEG(electroencephalogram)
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface, these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
37
MEG(magnetoencephalography)
a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity
38
CT(computed tomography) scan
a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure; also called a CAT scan
39
PET(positron emission tomography) scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
40
MRI(magnetic resonance imaging)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy)
41
fMRI(functional MRI)
a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; shows brain function
42
limbic system
neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
43
amygdala
linked to emotion
44
hippocampus
linked to conscious memory
45
corpus callosum
large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
46
thalamus
relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex
47
hypthalamus
controls maintenance functions such as eating; helps govern endocrine system; linked to emotion and reward
48
pituitary gland
master endocrine gland
49
reticular formation
helps control arousal
50
pons
helps coordinate movement and control sleep
51
medulla
controls heartbeat and breathing
52
spinal cord
pathway for neural fibers traveling to and from brain; controls simple reflexes
53
cerebellum
coordinates voluntary movement and balance and supports learning and memories of such
54
cerebral cortex
ultimate control and information-processing center; the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres
55
brain stem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
56
scans that show anatomy
CT & MRI
57
scans that show function
EEG, MEG, PET, fMRI
58
frontal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
59
parietal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head & toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
60
somatosensory cortex
an area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
61
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking
62
plasticity
the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
63
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
64
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers(mainly those of the corpus callous) connecting them
65
consciousness
our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment
66
cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition(including perception, thinking, memory, and language)
67
dual processing
the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
68
blindsight
a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it
69
parallel processing
processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; generally used to process well-learned information or to solve easy problems
70
sequential processing
processing one aspect of a problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems
71
behavior genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
72
hereditary
the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to their offspring
73
environment
every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
74
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
75
DNA(deoxyribonucleic acid)
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
76
genes
the biochemical units of hereditary that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
77
identical(monozygotic) twins
develop from a singe fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms
78
fraternal(dizygotic) twins
develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment
79
heritability
the proportion of variation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.
80
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor(such as environment) depends on another factor(such as hereditary)
81
molecular genetics
the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes
82
molecular behavior genetics
the study of how the structure and function of genes interact with out environment to influence behavior
83
epigenetics
"above" or "in addition to" (epi) genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
84
genotype
set of genes we're born with
85
phenotype
set of traits that are expressed
86
increased heritability=
decreased environmental variability
87
decreased heritability=
increased environmental variability
88
evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
89
natural selection
the principles that inherited traits that netter enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
90
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
91
social script
a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations
92
sleep
a periodic, natural loss of consciousness- as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation
93
circadian rhythm
our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle
94
REM sleep
rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also know as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed but other systems are active
95
alpha waves
the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
96
NREM sleep
non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep
97
hallucinations
false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus
98
hypnagogic sensations
bizarre experiences such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep
99
delta waves
the large, slow brain waves associated with the deep sleep of NREM-3
100
suprachiasmatic nucleus(SCN)
a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin productions, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness
101
insomnia
recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
102
narcolepsy
a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times
103
sleep apnea
a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
104
night terrors
a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered
105
dream
a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind
106
manifest content
according to Freud, the symbolic, remembered story line of a dream(as distinct from its latent, or hidden content)
107
latent content
according to freud, the underlying meaning of a dream(as distinct from its manifest content)
108
REM rebound
the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation
109
psychoactive drug
a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods
110
substance abuse disorder
a disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk
111
tolerance
the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing he drug's effect
112
withdrawl
the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior
113
depressants
drugs(such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
114
alcohol use disorder
alcoholism; alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use
115
barbiturates
drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement
116
opiates
opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
117
stimulants
drugs(such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up brain functions
118
nicotine
a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco
119
cocaine
a powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria
120
amphetamines
drugs, such as methamphetamine, that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes
121
methampetamine
a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels
122
ecstasy(MDMA)
a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen, but with short-term health risks and longer term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition
123
hallucinogens
psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
124
near-death experience
an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; ofter similar to drug-induced hallucinations
125
LSD
a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid
126
THC
the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations
127
consciousness
our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment
128
hypnosis
a social interaction in which one person suggests to another that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur
129
post hypnotic suggestion
a suggestion, made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized; used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviors
130
dissociation
a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others
