AP Psychology Module 9 Flashcards

5346349298	biological psychology	the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes	0
5346349299	neuron	a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system	1
5346349300	dendrites	a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body	2
5346349301	axon	the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands	3
5346349302	myelin sheath	a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons	4
5346349303	action potential	a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon	5
5346349304	refractory period	a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired	6
5346349305	synapse	the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron	7
5346349306	neurotransmitters	chemical messages that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons	8
5346349307	reuptake	a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron	9
5346349308	endorphins	"morphine within" - natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to please	10
5346349309	agonist	a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response	11
5346349310	antagonist	a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response	12
5346349311	nervous system	the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system	13
5346349312	central nervous system	the brain and spinal cord	14
5346349313	peripheral nervous system	the sensory and motor neutrons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body	15
5346349314	nerves	bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs	16
5346349315	sensory (afferent) neurons	neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord	17
5346349316	motor (efferent) neurons	neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cold to the muscles and glands	18
5346349317	interneurons	neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs	19
5346349318	somatic nervous system	the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muslces	20
5346349319	automatic nervous system	the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs	21
5346349320	sympathetic nervous system	the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations	22
5346349321	parasympathetic nervous system	the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy	23
5346349322	reflex	a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response	24
5346349323	endocrine system	a body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream	25
5346349324	hormones	chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues	26
5346349325	adrenal glands	a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress	27
5346349326	pituitary gland	the endocrine system's most influential gland; under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands	28
5346349327	lesion	tissue destraction	29
5346349328	electroencephalogram (EEG)	an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface	30
5346349329	computed tomography (CT) scan	a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure	31
5346349330	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	32
5346349331	magnetic resonance imaging	a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated image of soft tissue, brain anatomy	33
5346349332	fMRI (functional MRI)	a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans, brain function	34
5346349333	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	35
5346349334	medulla	the base of the brainstem; controls heart beat and breathing	36
5346349335	thalamus	the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla	37
5346349336	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	38
5346349337	limbic system	neural system located below the cerebral hemisphere; associated with emotions and drives	39
5346349338	amygdala	two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked with emotion	40
5346349339	hypothalamus	a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward	41
5346349340	cerebral cortex	the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemisphere; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center	42
5346349341	glial cells (glia)	cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking	43
5346349342	frontal lobes	portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscles movements and in making plans and judgements	44
5346349343	parietal lobes	portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and towards the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position	45
5346349344	occipital lobes	portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields	46
5346349345	temporal lobes	portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the authority areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear	47
5346349346	motor cortex	an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements	48
5346349347	somatosensory cortex	area of the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations	49
5346349348	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	50
5346349349	plasicity	the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience	51
5346349350	neurogenesis	the formation of new neurons	52
5346349351	behavior genetics	the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior	53
5346349352	environment	every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things arounds us	54
5346349353	chromosomes	threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes	55
5346349354	DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)	a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes	56
5346349355	genes	the biochemical unites of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins	57
5346349356	genome	the complete instructions of making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes	58
5346349357	molecular genetics	that subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes	59
5346349358	heritability	the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes	60
5346349359	interaction	the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another (environment, heredity)	61
5346349360	epigenetics	the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change	62