Unit 2a: Biological Psychology

Nervous system, brain, endocrine system, neurotransmitters

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory reseptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

myelin sheath

A lack of this is attributed to Multiple Sclerosis.

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to reseptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

endorphins

"morphine within" - natural . opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles.

autonomic nervous system

division of the peripheral nervous system that operates automatically, regulating involuntary functions like heartbeat and digestion.

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses/excites the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

pituitary gland (“master gland”)

Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

lesion

destruction of brain tissue, either naturally or experimentally

fMRI (functional MRI)

brain imaging technique that shows brain functions

electroencephalogram (EEG)

brain imaging technique that records the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface

brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular activating system

a nerve netowrk in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to the sensory cortex - all senses, but smell are processed here

cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement and balance

limbic system

part of the brain associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to raw emotions such as fear and anger

hypothalamus

helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

cerebral cortex

the body's ultimate control and information processing center; the wrinkly part of the brain

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

frontal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; received sensory input for touch and body postion

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head, includes areas that receive information from visual fields

temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

sensory cortex (somatosensory cortex)

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's Area (impairing speaking) or Wernicke's Area (impairing understanding)

Broca's area

an association area in the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

Wernicke's area

an association area in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression

plasticity

the brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

refractory period

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; neuron is not able to fire again

all-or-none principle

a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing at all

agonists

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action - it mimics the neurotransmitter

antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action

hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage (conscious) memories of facts and events

adoption study

A research design that investigates the relationships among genetic and environmental factors in the development of personality, behavior, or disorder by comparing the similarities of biological parent-child pairs with those of adoptive parent-child pairs.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.

adrenaline

A hormone whose major action is to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar, providing a surge of energy to power our fight-or-flight respose.

biological psychologists

Researchers who use advanced technologies to study the links between genetic, neural, and hormonal with psychological processes.

depolarization

a change in the electrical charge of a neuron that triggers the neuron to fire an action potential

dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

eugenics

A much-criticized 19th century movement that proposed measuring human traits and using the results to encourage only smart and fit people to reproduce

excitatory neurotransmitter

The function of a neurotransmitter which results in a greater likelihood of an action potential.

executive function

Higher level cognitive processes of planning, decision making, problem solving, action sequencing, task assignment and organization, effortful and persistent goal pursuit, inhibition of competing impulses, flexibility in goal selection, and goal-conflict resolution.

family study

Research conducted among siblings, parents, or children to assess evidence for genetic links for characteristics or outcomes, often related to health or disease.

GABA

Most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter; regulates daily sleep-wake cycles.

genetic predisposition

A tendency for certain traits to be inherited, including physical and mental conditions and disorders.

ghrelin

A hunger-arousing hormone.

glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory.

heredity

The transmission of traits from parents to their offspring.

inhibitory neurotransmitter

The function of a naturally occuring chemical which results in a reduced likelihood of an action potential.

higher-order thinking

Cognitive processes that involve critical thinking, problem-solving, analysis, evaluation, and creativity.

leptin

A hunger-suppressing hormone.

linguistic processing

understanding and producing language (perceiving speech sounds, comprehending word meanings, grammar, and conveying thoughts)

multiple sclerosis

A disease due to the degeneration of the myelin sheath in which communication to muscles and brain regions slow, resulting in diminished muscle control and sometimes impaired cognition.

melatonin

implicated in the initiation of sleep and in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle.

myasthenia gravis

A neuromuscular disease in which the muscles cannot contract, resulting in muscle weakness, difficulties with muscle control, or paralysis.

natural selection

traits that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to the succeeding generations.

neural transmission

The movement of the action potential down the length of the axon, releasing neurotransmitters across the synaptic space to a receiving neuron.

nature

the characteristics most often and traditionally associated with nature are temperament, body type, and personality.

norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter that helps control alterness and arousal. An undersupply can lead to a depressed mood.

oxytocin

The "bonding hormone" associated with birthing contractions, milk flow during nursing, orgasm, group cohesion, & social trust

nurture

The totality of environmental factors that influence the development and behavior of a person

reflex arc

A neural circuit that is involved in a self-regulated response between the central and peripheral nervous systems.

prefrontal cortex

Located at the very front of the brain, this part functions in attention, planning, working memory, and the expression of emotions and appropriate social behaviors

reuptake inhibitor

Substance that interferes with the transport of released neurotransmitter molecules back into the presynaptic terminal, boosting the effects of that neurotransmitter.

resting potential

The state of a neuron when it's not being stimulated or sending signals; neuron is "waiting" to fire

serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood.

somatosensory cortex

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

split brain

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.

Substance p

A neurotransmitter involved in pain perception and immune response.

threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

twin study

Characteristics of identical and fraternal twins and comparing twins of both types who have been reared together or reared apart.