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AP Psychology Biology of Psychology Flashcards

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6277513444Acetylcholine (ach)A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.0
6277513445Action 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
6277513446Adrenal 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
6277513447AgonistExcite neurons by mimicking natural neurotransmitters or blocking their reuptake to keep more of them in your system. (pretends to be something else)3
6277513448Alzheimer's diseaseA progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and finally, physical functioning.4
6277513449AmygdalaTwo lima bean-sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion.5
6277513450AntagonistInhibit neural impulses by blocking receptor sites or diminishing their release.6
6277513451AphasiaImpairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).7
6277513452Association 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
6277513453Autonomic 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
6277513454AxonThe extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons of to muscles or glands.10
6277513455Biopsychology (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
6277513456Behavioral geneticsThe study of the relative power and limits of genetic ad environmental influences on behavior.12
6277513457BrainstemThe 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
6277513458Central nervous system (CNS)The brain and spinal cord.14
6277513459CerebellumThe "little brain" attached to the rear of the brain-stem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.15
6277513460Cerebral cortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that cover the cerebral hemispheres: the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.16
6277513461Corpus callosumThe large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.17
6277513462DendritesThe bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.18
6277513463Electroencephalogram (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
6277513464Endocrine systemThe body's 'slow" chemical communication system:set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.20
6277513465Endorphins"Morphine within"-natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to plain control and to pleasure.21
6277513466ForebrainThe largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including he thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.22
6277513467Glial callCells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protects neurons.23
6277513468HindbrainIncludes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brain-stem, the medulla and pons.24
6277513469HormonesChemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and effect another.25
6277513470HypothalamusA 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
6277513471InterneuronsCentral nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.27
6277513472LesioningTissue destruction, a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.28
6277513473Limbic 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
6277513474(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
6277513475MedullaThe base of the brain-stem: controls heartbeat and breathing.31
6277513476FMRI) 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
6277513477MidbrainThe segment of the brain-stem that lies between the hindbrian and forebrain.33
6277513478Myelin 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
6277513479NervesNeural "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
6277513480Neural 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
6277513481NeuronA nerve cell: the basic building block of the nervous system37
6277513482NeurotransmittersChemical 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
6277513483Parasympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.39
6277513484Peripheral nervous system (PNS)The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.40
6277513485Pituitary glandThe endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Master gland41
6277513486PlasticityThe 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
6277513487(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
6277513488ReflexA simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.44
6277513489Resting potentialNeuron is in its normal, resting state. Ions within the cell give the axon a small negative charge, fluid outside is positive charged.45
6277513490Reticular FormationA nerve network in the brain-stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.46
6277513491Somatic nervous systemThe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.47
6277513492sympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.48
6277513493SynapseThe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.49
6277513494Synapse cleftThe gap at the junction of the synapse.50
6277513495Terminal buttonsEnlarged area at the end of the axon; contains the synaptic vesicle.51
6277513496ThalamusThe 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
6277513497ThresholdThe level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.53
6277513498motor neuronsa nerve cell forming part of a pathway along which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle or gland.54
6277513499Broca's Areapart of the brain that is responsible for speech production55
6277513500wernicke's areapart of the brain that is responsible for understanding spoken language56
6277513501split brain patientscorpus collosum is severed, two hemispheres of the brain don't communicate as effectively57
6277513502afferent neuronscarries nerve impulses from sensory receptors or sense organs toward the central nervous system.58
6277513503efferent neuronsNeurons that send impulses from the central nervous system to your limbs and organs59
6277513504neuron firing orderdendrite--soma---axon--terminal bulb60
6277513505occipital lobeThe occiptial lobe is important to being able to correctly understand what your eyes are seeing.61
6277513506temporal lobemainly revolves around hearing and selective listening.62
6277513507frontal lobedecision making63
6277513508parietal lobeprocesses sensory information64
6277513509absolute refractory periodthe period immediately following the firing of a nerve fiber when it cannot be stimulated no matter how great a stimulus is applied65
6277513510relative 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
6277513511all 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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