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AP Psychology Biology Unit Flashcards

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10745989335Acetylcholine (ach)Abundant neurotransmitter that enables learning, memory and also triggers muscle contraction.0
10745989336Action 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
10745989337Adrenal 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
10745989338AgonistExcite neurons by mimicking natural neurotransmitters. (pretends to be something else); example: heroin3
10745989339Alzheimer's diseaseA progressive and irreversible brain disorder characterized by gradual deterioration of memory due to lack of acetylcholine4
10745989340AmygdalaTwo lima bean-sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion.5
10745989341AntagonistInhibit neural impulses by blocking receptor sites or diminishing their release; examples include Botox and curare6
10745989342AphasiaImpairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).7
10745989343Association 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
10745989344Autonomic 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
10745989345AxonThe extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons of to muscles or glands.10
10745989348BrainstemThe 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.11
10745989349Central nervous system (CNS)The brain and spinal cord.12
10745989350CerebellumThe "little brain" attached to the rear of the brain-stem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.13
10745989351Cerebral cortexThe intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that cover the cerebral hemispheres: the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.14
10745989352Corpus callosumThe large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.15
10745989353DendritesThe bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.16
10746078162DopamineA neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system; too much- schizophrenic hallucinations; too little- parkinson's disease17
10745989354Electroencephalogram (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.18
10745989355Endocrine systemThe body's 'slow" chemical communication system:set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.19
10745989356Endorphins"Morphine within"-natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to plain control and to pleasure.20
10745989357ForebrainThe largest and most complex region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including he thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.21
10745989358glial cellsCells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protects neurons; white matter of the brain22
10745989359HindbrainIncludes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brain-stem, the medulla and pons.23
10745989360HormonesChemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and effect another.24
10745989361HypothalamusA 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.25
10745989362InterneuronsCentral nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs; located in spinal cord and brain26
10745989363LesioningTissue destruction, a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.27
10745989364Limbic 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 drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus and dopamine-rich reward pathways for addiction.28
10745989365(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.29
10745989366MedullaThe base of the brain-stem: controls heartbeat and breathing.30
10745989367FMRI- 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.31
10745989369Myelin 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.32
10745989370DepolarizationThe process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive (Moves to +40 mV)33
10746059108RepolarizationReturn of the cell to resting state, caused by reentry of potassium into the cell while sodium exits the cell (Moves back towards -70 mV)34
10745989371Neural 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.35
10745989372NeuronA nerve cell: the basic building block of the nervous system36
10745989373NeurotransmittersChemical 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.37
10745989374Parasympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.38
10745989375Peripheral nervous system (PNS)The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.39
10745989376Pituitary glandThe endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Master gland40
10745989377Brain PlasticityThe 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.41
10745989378(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.42
10745989379Reflex ArcA simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus; Sensory-Afferent-Interneurons-Efferent-Effectors43
10745989380Resting potentialNeuron is in its normal, resting state. Ions within the cell give the axon a small negative charge, fluid outside is positive charged.44
10745989381Reticular FormationA nerve network in the brain-stem that plays an important role in controlling alertness and arousal.45
10746086103Reuptakeprocess by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles46
10745989382Somatic nervous systemThe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.47
10745989385SynapseThe gap at the junction of the axon terminal and the dendrite.48
10745989383sympathetic nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations; fight or flight49
10745989386Terminal buttonsEnlarged area at the end of the axon; contains the synaptic vesicle.50
10745989387ThalamusThe 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.51
10745989388ThresholdThe minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.52
10745989389motor neuronsa nerve cell forming part of a pathway along which impulses pass from the brain or spinal cord to a muscle or gland.53
10745989390Broca's Areapart of the brain that is responsible for speech production; located in the left frontal lobe54
10745989391Wernicke's areapart of the brain that is responsible for understanding spoken language; located in the left temporal lobe55
10745989392split brain patientscorpus collosum is severed due to epileptic seizures resulting in the two hemispheres of the brain not communicating as effectively56
10745989393afferent neuronscarries nerve impulses from sensory receptors or sense organs toward the central nervous system.57
10745989394efferent neuronsNeurons that send impulses from the central nervous system to your limbs and organs58
10745989395neuron firing orderdendrite--soma---axon--terminal button59
10745989396occipital lobeHelps to process vision60
10745989397temporal lobemainly revolves around hearing and selective listening and holding memories; right side reads facial expressions and recognizes faces.61
10745989398frontal lobeContains the prefrontal cortex (decisions making, planning) and the motor cortex (movement) while helping with thinking, problem-solving and emotional control.62
10745989399parietal lobeContains the somatosensory cortex and processes touch.63
10745989400refractory periodthe period immediately following the firing of a nerve fiber when it cannot be stimulated no matter how great a stimulus is applied64
10745989402all 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.65
10746087407VessiclesSmall, bubbly sacs located inside the terminal buttons that house the neurotransmitters and suck up excess neurotransmitters during the process of reuptake.66
10746112039Multiple Sclerosis (MS)Autoimmune disease that results in the destruction of the myelin sheath on neurons in the CNS67

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