unit 2 Flashcards
(88 cards)
1
Q
receptor site
A
A receptor site is like a lock that can only be opened by a correct key (a neurotransmitter) that then “opens” the lock to allow the cell to fire
2
Q
dendrite
A
receives data or signals from another neuron
3
Q
axon
A
Carries electrical impulses that are the means of communication within the brain, between the brain, and the rest of the body.
4
Q
myelin sheath
A
protect axons and helps speed nerve transmissions
5
Q
axon terminals buttons/buds
A
Releases neurotransmitters that relay signals across a synapse
6
Q
synaptic gap
A
Provides space for chemical transmission of messages from the nervous system
7
Q
Acetylcholine (ACh)
A
Enables muscle action, learning, and memory
8
Q
dopamine
A
Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
9
Q
serotonin
A
affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
10
Q
norepinephrine
A
helps control alertness and arousal
11
Q
GABA
A
a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
12
Q
glutamate
A
A major excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory
13
Q
endorphins
A
Neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain or pleasure
14
Q
nerves
A
bundles of fibers that transmit signals between the central nervous system (CNS) and other parts of the body
15
Q
central nervous system
A
consists of the brain and the spinal cord
16
Q
functions of the central nervous system
A
processing information, integrating signals, and coordinating responses. The brain is responsible for cognitive functions, while the spinal cord facilitates communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
17
Q
peripheral nervous system
A
composed of nerves and ganglia outside of the CNS
18
Q
functions of the peripheral nervous system
A
connects the CNS to the limbs and organs, serving as a communication network
19
Q
what are the peripheral nervous system subcomponents?
A
somatic and autonomic nervous systems
20
Q
functions of the somatic nervous system
A
voluntary movements and sensory information
21
Q
somatic nervous system components
A
motor neurons to control skeletal muscles and sensory neurons
22
Q
Autonomic nervous system function
A
involuntary bodily functions
23
Q
autonomic nervous system components
A
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
24
Q
what are the two components of the autonomic nervous system?
A
sympathetic and parasympathetic nrvous systems
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sympathetic nervous system
activates fight or flight to combat stress and danger by increasing heart rate, dilating pupils, and increasing alertness
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parasympathetic nervous system
promotes "rest and digest" to foster relaxation and recovery leading to slow heart rate, constricted pupils, and enhanced digestion
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endocrine system
complex network of glands and organs that produce and release hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones act as chemical messengers, regulating various physiological processes and maintaining homeostasis in the body.
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medulla
Location: At the base of the brainstem.
Function: Regulates vital autonomic functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure.
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pons
Location: Above the medulla in the brainstem.
Function: Involved in regulating breathing and contains nuclei that relay signals from the forebrain to the cerebellum.
30
reticular formation
Location: Extending through the brainstem.
Function: Plays a crucial role in arousal and consciousness. It filters incoming stimuli and helps regulate sleep-wake cycles.
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thalamus
Location: At the top of the brainstem.
Function: Acts as a relay station for sensory information, directing it to the relevant areas of the cerebral cortex.
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cerebellum
Location: At the back of the brain, below the occipital lobe.
Function: Coordinates voluntary movements and balance. It is involved in procedural memory and motor learning.
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amygdala
Location: In the temporal lobe.
Function: Plays a key role in the processing of emotions, particularly fear and pleasure responses.
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hypothalamus
Location: Below the thalamus.
Function: Regulates many essential bodily functions, including hunger, thirst, body temperature, and the autonomic nervous system. Also, it is a key player in the endocrine system.
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hippocampus
Location: In the temporal lobe.
Function: Vital for the formation of new memories and is associated with learning and emotions.
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frontal lobe
Location: Front part of the brain.
Function: Involved in higher cognitive functions such as reasoning, planning, problem-solving, emotions, and voluntary movement.
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parietal lobe
Location: Top and rear part of the brain.
Function: Processes sensory information it receives from the outside world, mainly relating to spatial sense and navigation.
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occipital lobe
Location: At the back of the brain.
Function: Primarily responsible for processing visual information from the eyes.
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temporal lobe
Location: On the sides of the brain.
Function: Involved in auditory processing and is also important for the processing of semantics in both speech and vision.
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motor cortex
Location: In the frontal lobe, just in front of the central sulcus.
Function: Controls voluntary movements by sending signals to the muscles.
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association areas
Function: Integrates information from different brain regions, allowing us to make sense of it and form complex thoughts.
42
sensory cortex
Location: In the parietal lobe.
Function: Receives and processes sensory information from various parts of the body.
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Broca's area
Location: In the left frontal lobe.
Function: Essential for language production and speech formation.
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wernicke's area
Location: In the left temporal lobe.
Function: Involved in language comprehension and understanding.
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corpus callosum
Location: Connects the two hemispheres of the brain.
Function: Facilitates communication between the left and right hemispheres, allowing them to work together.
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heredity
the overall process of passing genetic information from one generation to the next
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heritability
a statistical measure used to estimate the proportion of trait variability within a population that can be attributed to genetic factors. does not tell us how much of a trait is determined by genes in an individual, and it doesn't imply that a trait is fixed or unchangeable. It simply quantifies the extent to which genetic factors contribute to the observed variation in a trait within a specific population.
48
stimulant effects
Increased alertness and energy.
Euphoria.
Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Improved concentration.
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stimulant examples
Cocaine
Amphetamines (e.g., Adderall, Ritalin)
Methamphetamine
Nicotine (in tobacco)
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stimulant dangers
High potential for addiction.
Cardiovascular issues (e.g., hypertension, heart attacks).
Anxiety and paranoia.
Insomnia.
Risk of overdose.
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hallucinogen effects
Altered perceptions of reality.
Hallucinations and vivid sensory experiences.
Altered sense of time and space.
Changes in mood.
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hallucinogen examples
LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)
Psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms)
MDMA (Ecstasy)
PCP (Phencyclidine)
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hallucinogen dangers
Unpredictable psychological reactions.
Flashbacks (especially with LSD).
Impaired judgment and coordination.
Risk of accidents or injury during altered states.
Potential for long-term psychological effects.
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depressant effects
Sedation and relaxation.
Slowed heart rate and breathing.
Reduced anxiety.
Impaired coordination and cognitive function.
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depressant examples
Alcohol
Benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium)
Barbiturates
Opioids (in high doses)
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depressant dangers
Risk of addiction and dependence.
Respiratory depression (especially with opioids).
Impaired judgment and coordination.
Overdose, which can be fatal, especially when combining with other depressants.
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This drug distorts sensations and perceptions, sometimes referred to as acid.
LSD, Hallucinogen
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This drug contains the active ingredient of THC and is typically smoked.
Marijuana, Depressant
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This drug is the active ingredient in coffee and energy drinks.
caffeine, stimulant
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Commonly abused drug that lowers inhibitions and dangerously affects coordination. Overdose can result in death.
alcohol, depressant
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Powerfully addictive legal drug that increases central nervous system activity and is commonly coupled with other toxic chemicals and additives.
nicotine, stimulant
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Common names are Xanax and Valium, which replaced barbiturates that had more significant negative side effects.
benzodiazepines, depressant
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This drug creates a high consisting of 15-to 30-minute rush of euphoria
followed by a crash of agitated depression.
cocaine, stimulant
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Incredibly addictive and illegal drug that has caused an epidemic in America. Often taken as a replacement for prescription painkillers.
heroin, opioid
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Awake and alert wave type
Beta waves - These are fast (15-30 Hz), low-amplitude waves associated with active, alert, and focused mental activity.
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awake and alert brain activity
active, engaged, and responsive
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awake and alert wave picture
short waves with a pattern
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Awake but relaxed & unfocused wave type
Alpha waves - These are relatively slower (8-13 Hz) waves associated with a relaxed, unfocused, or meditative state.
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Awake but relaxed & unfocused brain activity
physically awake but mentally unfocused or daydreaming
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Awake but relaxed & unfocused wave picture
tall and spiky and jumbled
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NREM-1 wave type
Theta waves - These are slower (4-7 Hz) waves with greater amplitude than alpha waves, often seen during the early stages of sleep.
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NREM-1 brain activity
transition from wakefulness to sleep, light sleep
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NREM-1 picture
short and spread
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NREM-2 wave type
Theta waves continue, with the addition of sleep spindles (bursts of fast, rhythmic brain activity) and K-complexes (sudden, sharp waveforms).
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NREM-2 brain activity
deeper sleep. the body starts to prepare for deeper sleep.
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NREM-2 wave picture
tall and spread with about three tall peaks
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NREM-3/4 wave type
Slow-wave sleep (SWS) characterized by delta waves - These are slow (0.5-4 Hz), high-amplitude waves.
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NREM-3/4 brain activity
deepest stage of sleep. important for physical restoration and growth
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NREM-3/4 wave picture
super tall with lots of peaks, each roughly the same height
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REM wave type
Similar to awake and alert state, characterized by beta and desynchronized waves. there is also a presence of muscle atonia (temporary paralysis).
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REM brain activity
dreaming occurs, rapid eye movements and temporary paralysis of voluntary muscles
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REM wave pitcure
short and consistent with some sort of pattern
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circadian rhythm
The circadian rhythm is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.
84
Psychodynamic or Freudian
Dreams are expressions of unconscious desires, thoughts, and motivations.
Dreams serve as a form of wish-fulfillment, allowing the individual to experience forbidden or unfulfilled desires in a safe, imaginary space.
Freud categorized dreams into manifest content (the literal content) and latent content (the hidden, symbolic meaning).
85
activation-synthesis theory
Dreams result from the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity that occurs during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.
The brain synthesizes these random signals into a coherent narrative, creating the dream experience.
Dreams are essentially the brain's attempt to interpret and make meaning out of the chaotic neural activity during sleep.
86
cognitive theory
Dreams are a natural part of cognitive processing and problem-solving.
Dreaming may help consolidate and organize memories, process emotions, and solve problems that the individual encountered during waking hours.
Dreams are a way for the brain to simulate and practice responses to real-life challenges.
87
neurobiological theory
Dreams are a result of the brain's ongoing neurobiological activity.
Specific brain regions and neurotransmitters play a role in the generation of dreams.
Dreams may serve as a byproduct of the brain's maintenance and organization processes during sleep.
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