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From Flashcardlet > Unit 3 Pyschology > Flashcards

Unit 3 Pyschology Flashcards

(73 cards)

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0
Q

Dual processing

A

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

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1
Q

Chromosomes

A

Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

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2
Q

Identical twins

A

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

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3
Q

Genes

A

The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins

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4
Q

DNA

A

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

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5
Q

Cognitive neuroscience

A

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

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6
Q

Corpus callosum

A

A large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

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7
Q

Behavior genetics

A

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

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8
Q

Genome

A

The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes

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9
Q

Consciousness

A

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment

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10
Q

Interaction

A

The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (environment) depends on another factor (heredity)

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11
Q

Heritability

A

The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied

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12
Q

Molecular genetics

A

The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

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13
Q

Fraternal twins

A

Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment

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14
Q

Environment

A

Every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

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15
Q

Split brain

A

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

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16
Q

Epigenetics

A

The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

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17
Q

Parietal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear, receives sensory input for touch and body position

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18
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

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19
Q

Motor cortex

A

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

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20
Q

Frontal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead, involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

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21
Q

Association areas

A

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor and sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

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22
Q

Temporal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears, includes the auditory areas each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

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23
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The formation of new neurons

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24
Cerebral cortex
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres, the body's ultimate control and information processing center
25
Plasticity
The brains's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
26
Occipital lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head, includes areas that receive information from visual fields
27
Glial cells
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, they may also play a role in learning and thinking
28
Lesion
Tissue destruction
29
Limbic system
Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres. Associated with emotions and drives
30
Medulla
The base of the brainstem. Controls heartbeat and breathing
31
Reticular formation
A nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal
32
Brainstem
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
33
Thalamus
The brain'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
34
fMRI (functional MRI)
A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function as well as structure
35
PET (prositron 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
36
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Show brain anatomy
37
Amygdala
Two Lima bean sized neural clusters in the lambic system. Linked to emotion
38
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
A amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. Measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
39
CT (computed tomography) scan
A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brains structure
40
Cerebellum
The little brain at the rear of the brainstem. Processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, and enables nonverbal learning and memory
41
Hypothalamus
A neural structure lying below the thalamus. Directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
42
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
43
Nervous system
The body's speedy electrochemical communication network consisting of all nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
44
Sympathetic nervous system
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
45
Parasympathetic nervous system
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
46
Autonomic nervous system
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls that glands and muscles of the internal organs. Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms
47
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
48
Endocrine system
The body's slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
49
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
50
Peripheral nervous system
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
51
Pituitary gland
The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
52
Central nervous system
The brain and the spinal cord
53
Motor neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
54
Somatic nervous system
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles
55
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
56
Sensory neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
57
Reflex
A simple, automatic response to sensory stimulus, such as the knee jerk response
58
Axon
The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or to glands
59
Neurotransmitters
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
60
Refractory period
A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired
61
Endorphins
"Morphine within" natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
62
Synapse
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. Synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
63
Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
64
Biological psychologists
The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes
65
Myelin sheath
A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons, enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage like node to the next
66
Action potential
A neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
67
Dendrites
A neuron's bushy branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses towards the cell body
68
All or none response
A neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing
69
Agonist
A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response
70
Reuptake
A neurotransmitter's reabsorption by sending the neuron
71
Antagonist
A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response
72
Neuron
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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