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AP Psychology Biology of Psychology Flashcards

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5235365258Acetylcholine (ach)A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.0
5235365259Action 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
5235365260Adrenal 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
5235365261AgonistExcite neurons by mimicking natural neurotransmitters or blocking their reuptake to keep more of them in your system. (pretends to be something else)3
5235365262Alzheimer's diseaseA progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning, language, and finally, physical functioning.4
5235365263AmygdalaTwo lima bean-sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion.5
5235365264AntagonistInhibit neural impulses by blocking receptor sites or diminishing their release.6
5235365265AphasiaImpairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).7
5235365266Association 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
5235365267Autonomic 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
5235365268AxonThe extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons of to muscles or glands.10
5235365269Biopsychology (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
5235365270Behavioral geneticsThe study of the relative power and limits of genetic ad environmental influences on behavior.12
5235365271BrainstemThe 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
5235365272Central nervous system (CNS)The brain and spinal cord.14
5235365273CerebellumThe "little brain" attached to the rear of the brain-stem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.15
5235365274Cerebral cortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that cover the cerebral hemispheres: the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.16
5235365275Corpus callosumThe large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.17
5235365276DendritesThe bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.18
5235365277Electroencephalogram (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
5235365278Endocrine systemThe body's 'slow" chemical communication system:set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.20
5235365279Endorphins"Morphine within"-natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to plain control and to pleasure.21
5235365280ForebrainThe largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including he thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.22
5235365281Glial callCells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protects neurons.23
5235365282HindbrainIncludes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brain-stem, the medulla and pons.24
5235365283HormonesChemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and effect another.25
5235365284HypothalamusA 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
5235365285InterneuronsCentral nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.27
5235365286LesioningTissue destruction, a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.28
5235365287Limbic 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
5235365288(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
5235365289MedullaThe base of the brain-stem: controls heartbeat and breathing.31
5235365290FMRI) 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
5235365291MidbrainThe segment of the brain-stem that lies between the hindbrian and forebrain.33
5235365292Myelin 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
5235365293NervesNeural "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
5235365294Neural 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
5235365295NeuronA nerve cell: the basic building block of the nervous system37
5235365297NeurotransmittersChemical 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
5235365298Parasympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.39
5235365299Peripheral nervous system (PNS)The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.40
5235365300Pituitary glandThe endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Master gland41
5235365301PlasticityThe 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
5235365302(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
5235365303ReflexA simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.44
5235365304Resting potentialNeuron is in its normal, resting state. Ions within the cell give the axon a small negative charge, fluid outside is positive charged.45
5235365305Reticular FormationA nerve network in the brain-stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.46
5235365306Somatic nervous systemThe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.47
5235365307sympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.48
5235365308SynapseThe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.49
5235365309Synapse cleftThe gap at the junction of the synapse.50
5235365310Terminal buttonsEnlarged area at the end of the axon; contains the synaptic vesicle.51
5235365311ThalamusThe 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
5235365312ThresholdThe level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.53
5235373890motor neuronsa nerve cell forming part of a pathway along which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle or gland.54
5235377223Broca's Areapart of the brain that is responsible for speech production55
5235383532wernicke's areapart of the brain that is responsible for understanding spoken language56
5235477677split brain patientscorpus collosum is severed, two hemispheres of the brain don't communicate as effectively57
5235497220afferent neuronscarries nerve impulses from sensory receptors or sense organs toward the central nervous system.58
5235499645efferent neuronsNeurons that send impulses from the central nervous system to your limbs and organs59
5235508173neuron firing orderdendrite--soma---axon--terminal bulb60
5235512643occipital lobeThe occiptial lobe is important to being able to correctly understand what your eyes are seeing.61
5235525331temporal lobemainly revolves around hearing and selective listening.62
5235527610frontal lobedecision making63
5235529510parietal lobeprocesses sensory information64
5235544692absolute refractory periodthe period immediately following the firing of a nerve fiber when it cannot be stimulated no matter how great a stimulus is applied65
5235551867relative 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
5235563779all 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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