10758252570 | biological psychologists | the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. (some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists) | 0 | |
10758267056 | neurons | a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system. neurons communicate to express thoughts, actions, memories, and moods. | 1 | |
10758278447 | dendrite | are branching fibers from the cell body; they are neurons bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body. | 2 | |
10758295186 | axon | extend from the cell body; the neuron extensions that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscle or glands. (dendrites listen, axons speak) | 3 | |
10758307965 | myelin sheath | some axons are are encased; 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. | 4 | |
10758338968 | action potential | are neural impulses, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. | 5 | |
10758348277 | refractory period | a period of inactivity after a neuron has been fired | 6 | |
10758350219 | Action potential pt. 2 | 1. neuron stimulation causes a brief change in electrical charge. if strong enough, this produces depolarization and an action potential. 2. this depolarization produces another action potential a little farther along the axon. gates in this neighboring area now open, and charges sodium atoms rush in. A pump in the cell membrane (the sodium/potassium pump) transports the sodium ions back out of the cell. 3. as the action potential continues speedily down the axon, the first section has now completely recharged. direction of action potential: toward the axon terminals | 7 | |
10758400590 | threshold | the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse | 8 | |
10758404131 | all or none response | a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing | 9 | |
10758412367 | synapse | Sherrington called the synapse the meeting point between the two neurons. 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. | 10 | |
10758434468 | neurostransmitters | 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 recieving neuron will generate a neural impulse. | 11 | |
10758454991 | reuptake | a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron | 12 | |
10758466493 | How neurons communicate | 1. Electrical impulses (action potentials) travel down a neuron's axon until reaching a tiny junction known as a synapse. 2. When an action potential reaches an axon terminal, it stimulates the release of neurotransmitter molecules. These molecules cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron. This allows electrically charged atoms to enter the receiving neuron and excite or inhibit a new action potential. 3. The sending neuron normally reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules, a process called reuptake.` | 13 | |
10758477797 | Neurotransmitter pathways | each f the brains differing chemical messangers has designated pathways where it operates. | 14 | |
10758487019 | endorphins | "morphine within"--natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. | 15 | |
10758488958 | Acetylcholine (ACh) | enables muscle action, learning, and memory. with alzheimer's disease, ACh-producing neurons deteriorate | 16 | |
10758499469 | dopamine | Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion. oversupply linked to schizophrenia. Undersupply linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson's disease. | 17 | |
10758504694 | serotonin | affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal undersupply linked to depression. some antidepressant drugs raise serotonin levels | 18 | |
10758526168 | Norepinephrine | helps control alertness and arousal undersupply can depress mood | 19 | |
10758533126 | GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) | a major inhibitory neurotransmitter undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia | 20 | |
10758544370 | glutamate | A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures (which is why some people avoid MSG, monosodium glutamate, in food) | 21 | |
10758572996 | agonist | a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response | 22 | |
10758581443 | antagonist | a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response | 23 | |
10758602553 | nervous system | the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems | 24 | |
10758604779 | central nervous system (CNS) | brain and spinal cord; the body's decision makers | 25 | |
10758611611 | peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body. gathering information an transmitting CNS decision to other body parts | 26 | |
10758625255 | nerves | bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs. link the CNS with the body's sensory receptors, muscles, and glands. | 27 | |
10758680609 | sensory (afferent) neurons | neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord | 28 | |
10758689201 | motor (efferent) neurons | neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands | 29 | |
10758695454 | interneurons | neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs | 30 | |
10758697397 | Somatic Nervous System (SNS) | The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system (voluntary) | 31 | |
10758884484 | autonomic nervous system (ANS) | the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (the heart). its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms (involuntary: breathing, digestion) | 32 | |
10758903891 | sympathetic nervous system | the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations (accelerate heartbeat, raise blood pressure, slow digestion, raise blood sugar, and cool you with perspiration, making you alert and ready for action) | 33 | |
10758908985 | parasympathetic nervous system | the division of the autonomic system that calms the body, conserving its energy. (decreases heartbeat, lowering blood sugar) | 34 | |
10758934688 | sympathetic nervous system (arousing) pt. 2 | dilates pupils (eyes), accelerates heartbeat (heart), inhibits digestion (stomach&pancreas), stimulates glucose (liver), stimulates secretion of epinephrine or norepinephrine(kidneys& adrenal gland), relaxes bladder, and stimulates ejaculation in males | 35 | |
10758955222 | parasympathetic nervous (calming) system pt. 2 | contracts pupils (eyes), slows heartbeat (heart), stimulates digestion (stomach&pancreas), stimulates gallbladder, contracts bladder, and allows blood-flow to sex organs | 36 | |
10758969891 | reflexes | a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response A simple reflex: 1. in this simple pain reflex, information is carried from skin receptors along a sensory neuron to the spinal cord. from there it is passed via interneurons to motor neurons that lead to the muscles in the hand and arm 2. because this reflex involves only the spinal cord, the hand jerks away from the candle flame even before information about the event has reached the brain, causing the experience of pain. | 37 | |
10758996008 | endocrine system | the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormone into the bloodstream | 38 | |
10759007410 | hormones | chemical messengers that are manufactures by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues. | 39 | |
10759016754 | glands and their functions | hypothalamus: controls the pituitary gland thyroid gland: affects metabolism adrenal gland: trigger the flight or fight response testis: secretes male sex hormones pituitary gland: secretes many hormones, which can effect other glands parathyroids: regulate the level of calcium in the blood pancreas: regulates the level of sugar in the blood ovary: secretes female sex hormones | ![]() | 40 |
10759046570 | adrenal glands | a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine ad norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress | 41 | |
10759054701 | pituitary gland | the endocrine systems most influential gland. under the influene of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands | 42 | |
10759085292 | lesion | tissue destruction. a brain lesion is a naturally or experimental caused destruction of brain tissye | 43 | |
10759090280 | Electroencephalogram (EEG) | 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. | 44 | |
10759108024 | CT (computed tomography) scan | a series of x-ray photographs taken from different anfles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brains structure (also called a CAT scan) | 45 | |
10759116535 | 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 | 46 | |
10759124010 | MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) | a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy | 47 | |
10759418324 | brainstem | the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions. (pons and the medulla) | 48 | |
10759435459 | medulla | the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing | 49 | |
10759440588 | pons | connects hind brain, midbrain, and forebrain; breathing, sleep cycles and facial expression | 50 | |
10759455264 | thalamus | the brains sensory control center, located on the top of the brain stem, it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla | 51 | |
10759470067 | reticular formation | a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal | 52 | |
10759477962 | cerebellum | the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory | 53 | |
10759488967 | limbic system | neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives | 54 | |
10759498579 | amygdala | two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion (aggression and fear) | 55 | |
10759508027 | hypothalamus | a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward. | 56 | |
10759531767 | cerebral cortex | ultimate control and information-processing center | 57 | |
10759533978 | limbic system | amygdala: linked to emotion hippocampus: linked to memory hypothalamus: controls maintenance functions such as eating; helps govern endocrine system; linked to emotion and reward | 58 | |
10759542804 | brainstem | reticular formation: helps control arousal pons: helps coordinate movement medulla: controls heartbeat and breathing | 59 | |
10759549118 | other brain structures | corpus callosum: axon fibers connecting the two cerebral hemisphere thalamus: relays messages between lower brain centers and cerebral cortex pituitary: master endocrine gland spinal cord: pathway for neural fibers traveling to and from brain; controls simple reflexes cerebellum: coordinates voluntary movements and balance and supports learning and memories of such | 60 | |
10762497147 | cerebral cortex | the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center | 61 | |
10762505723 | glial cells (glia) | cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking | 62 | |
10762515398 | frontal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements | ![]() | 63 |
10762517328 | parietal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position | ![]() | 64 |
10762524754 | occipital lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas to receive information primarily from the opposite ear | ![]() | 65 |
10762528250 | temporal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear | ![]() | 66 |
10762533811 | motor cortex | an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements left hemisphere section controls the body's right side; left hemisphere section receives input from the body's right side same goes for the right | 67 | |
10762539244 | somatosensory cortex | area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations | 68 | |
10762543258 | 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 | 69 | |
10762546736 | plasticity | the brains ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience. | 70 | |
10762561351 | corpus callosum | the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them | 71 | |
10762564239 | split brain | a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them | 72 | |
10762568015 | Conciousness | our awareness of ourselves and our environment | 73 | |
10762568852 | cognitive neuroscience | the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language) | 74 | |
10762571849 | dual processing | the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks | 75 |
AP Psych Unit 2 Flashcards
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