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AP Psychology Biology Flashcards

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7538180103Acetylcholine (ach)A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.0
7538180104Action potentialA neural impulse: a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon, The action potential is generated by the movement of positively changed atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane.1
7538180105Adrenal glandsA pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. The adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress.2
7538180106AgonistExcite neurons by mimicking natural neurotransmitters or blocking their reuptake to keep more of them in your system. (pretends to be something else)3
7538180107Alzheimer's diseaseA progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and finally, physical functioning.4
7538180108AmygdalaTwo lima bean-sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion.5
7538180109AntagonistInhibit neural impulses by blocking receptor sites or diminishing their release.6
7538180110AphasiaImpairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).7
7538180111Association areasAreas 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.8
7538180112Autonomic nervous systemThe part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses: its parasympathetic division calms.9
7538180113AxonThe extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons of to muscles or glands.10
7538180114Biopsychology (biological psychology)A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior. (some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior genetics, physiological psychologists, or bio-psychologists.)11
7538180115Behavioral geneticsThe study of the relative power and limits of genetic ad environmental influences on behavior.12
7538180116BrainstemThe oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull: the brain-stem is responsible for automatic survival functions.13
7538180117Central nervous system (CNS)The brain and spinal cord.14
7538180118CerebellumThe "little brain" attached to the rear of the brain-stem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.15
7538180119Cerebral cortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that cover the cerebral hemispheres: the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.16
7538180120Corpus callosumThe large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.17
7538180121DendritesThe bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.18
7538180122Electroencephalogram (EEG)An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.19
7538180123Endocrine systemThe body's 'slow" chemical communication system:set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.20
7538180124Endorphins"Morphine within"-natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to plain control and to pleasure.21
7538180125ForebrainThe largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including he thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.22
7538180126Glial callCells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protects neurons.23
7538180127HindbrainIncludes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brain-stem, the medulla and pons.24
7538180128HormonesChemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and effect another.25
7538180129HypothalamusA neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus: is directs several maintenance activities (eating,drinking,body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion.26
7538180130InterneuronsCentral nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.27
7538180131LesioningTissue destruction, a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.28
7538180132Limbic systemA doughnut-shaped system of neuronal structures at the border of the brain-stem and cerebral hemispheres: associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and dives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.29
7538180133(MRI) Magnetic resonance imagingA technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissues: allows us to see structures within the brain.30
7538180134MedullaThe base of the brain-stem: controls heartbeat and breathing.31
7538180135FMRI) Functional MRIA technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain actity by comparing successive MRI scans. MRI scans show brain anatomy: FMRI scans show brain function.32
7538180136MidbrainThe segment of the brain-stem that lies between the hindbrian and forebrain.33
7538180137Myelin sheathA layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers pf many neurons: enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.34
7538180138NervesNeural "cables' containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.35
7538180139Neural networksInterconnected neural cells. With experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. Computer stimulation's or neural networks show analogous learning.36
7538180140NeuronA nerve cell: the basic building block of the nervous system37
7538180141NeurotransmittersChemical messengers that traverse 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 weather that neuron will generate a neural impulse.38
7538180142Parasympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.39
7538180143Peripheral nervous system (PNS)The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.40
7538180144Pituitary glandThe endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Master gland41
7538180145PlasticityThe brain's capacity for modification, s evidence in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experiments on brain development.42
7538180146(PET) Positron emission tomographyA visual display of the brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.43
7538180147ReflexA simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.44
7538180148Resting potentialNeuron is in its normal, resting state. Ions within the cell give the axon a small negative charge, fluid outside is positive charged.45
7538180149Reticular FormationA nerve network in the brain-stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.46
7538180150Somatic nervous systemThe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.47
7538180151sympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.48
7538180152SynapseThe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.49
7538180153Synapse cleftThe gap at the junction of the synapse.50
7538180154Terminal buttonsEnlarged area at the end of the axon; contains the synaptic vesicle.51
7538180155ThalamusThe brains sensory switchboard, 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.52
7538180156ThresholdThe level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.53
7538180157motor neuronsa nerve cell forming part of a pathway along which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle or gland.54
7538180158Broca's Areapart of the brain that is responsible for speech production55
7538180159wernicke's areapart of the brain that is responsible for understanding spoken language56
7538180160split brain patientscorpus collosum is severed, two hemispheres of the brain don't communicate as effectively57
7538180161afferent neuronscarries nerve impulses from sensory receptors or sense organs toward the central nervous system.58
7538180162efferent neuronsNeurons that send impulses from the central nervous system to your limbs and organs59
7538180163neuron firing orderdendrite--soma---axon--terminal bulb60
7538180164occipital lobeThe occiptial lobe is important to being able to correctly understand what your eyes are seeing.61
7538180165temporal lobemainly revolves around hearing and selective listening.62
7538180166frontal lobedecision making63
7538180167parietal lobeprocesses sensory information64
7538180168absolute refractory periodthe period immediately following the firing of a nerve fiber when it cannot be stimulated no matter how great a stimulus is applied65
7538180169relative refractory periodthe period shortly after the firing of a nerve fiber when partial repolarization has occurred and a greater than normal stimulus can stimulate a second response66
7538180170all or none principlestates that the strength of a response of a neuron or muscle fiber is not dependent upon the strength of the stimulus. If a stimulus is above a certain threshold, a neuron or muscle fiber will fire.67

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