Studied by 7 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
Neuroplasticity
The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
Biopsychosocial Approach
an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social
Electroencephalogram (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.
Useful for studying brainswave patterns with sleep, attention, cognition. It is noninvasive, but lacks spatial precision
Computed Tomography (CT Scan)
x-rays which have detailed images of the brain structures. It helps identify tumors but cannot show brain activity in real-time.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
a method of brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream. Study brain metabolism.
(Magnetic resonance imaging) MRI
technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to indirectly visualize brain structure. Safer use.
(functional MRI) fMRI
Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level. Very good spatial.
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. Crossover part where nerves on opposite sides connect to opposite sides of the body.
Medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Thalamus
the brain's sensory switchboard, 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
Reticular Formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal
Cerebellum
the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating voluntary movement, output, and balance. Also helps with nonverbal learning and memory, along with judging time, modulating emotion, sounds, and textures.
Limbic System
neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
Amygdala
two lima beans, known for aggression and fear. Helps percieve emotions.
Hypothalamus
A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
Hippocampus
a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage
Cerebral Cortex
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information
Frontal Lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
Parietal Lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Occiptal Lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
Temporal Lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which revieves aditory info primarily from the opposite end.
Motor Cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
Somatosensory Cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Corpus Callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Split Brain
A conditioning resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them.
Consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
Dissociation
a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others
Cognitive Neuroscience
Combines psych and neuroscience to explore how cognitive functions are mapped in specific brain regions.
Dual Processing
the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
Blindsight
A condition in which a blind person has some spared visual capacities in the absence of any visual awareness.
Parallel Processing
the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step
Sequental Processing
processing one aspect of a problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems
Sleep
periodic, natural loss of consciousness
Circadian Rhythm
the biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24
REM Sleep
ARapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.
Alpha Waves
the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
NREM Sleep
nonREM sleep . NREM 1 is known for hypnagogic sensations, while NREM3 is known for deep sleep.
Hypnagogic Sensation
As you are falling asleep, you may have a sensation of falling (where your body may suddenly jerk) or floating weightlessly.
Delta Waves
the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness
Insomnia
recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.
Sleep apnea
a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
Dreams
a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind
Sleep Theories
Sleep protects
Sleep helps us recuperate
Sleep helps restore and rebuild our fading memories of the day's experiences
Sleep feeds creative thinking
Sleep supports growth
REM Rebound
the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep)
Sensation
the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
Sensory Receptors
Specialized cells unique to each sense organ that respond to a particular form of sensory stimulation.
Perception
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
Bottom Up Processing
Starts at sensory receptors and works up to higher levels of processing.
Top Down Processing
Constructs preceptions from the sensory input drawing on our experience and expectations.
Transduction
conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brains can interpret.
Psychophysics
the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them
Absolute Threshold
the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time
Signal Detection Theory
a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness.
Difference Threshold
the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time
Weber's Law
the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount)
Sensory Adaptation
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
Wavelength
the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next. Determines hue
Hue
the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth
Intensity
the amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness, as determined by the wave's amplitude
Cornea
the transparent layer forming the front of the eye. Helps focus light onto the retina.
Pupil
the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters
Iris
a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening
Lens
the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina
Retina
the light-sensitive inner surface eye containing receptor rods and cones and a layer of neurons that process visual info.
Accomadation
the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina
Rods
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond
Cones
retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well
Optic Nerve
the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
Blind Spot
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there
Fovea
the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster
Young Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory
Implies that the retina contains three color receptors, and when stimulated in a certain combination can produce conception of colors.
Opponent Process Theory
the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green,white-black,yellow-blue) enable color vision. Some neurons that are turned on by red are turned off by green.
Feature Detectors
nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement
Parallel Processing
the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step processing
Audition
the sense or act of hearing
frequency
Determines pitch of sounds
amplitude
determines how loud a sound is
pitch
a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency
Cochlea
a coiled, bony, fluid-filled snailed shaped tube in inner ear. Vibrations cause cochlea’s membrane to vibrate, jostling fluid in the tube.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness. Not reversable
Conduction Hearing Loss
hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea, may be healable
Cochlear Implant
a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea
Place Theory
in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated
Frequency Theory
in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch
Touch
Communicates pressure, warmth, pain, caring. Helps social interactions
Pain
an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Allows us to know something is wrong
Gate-Control Theory
Spinal cord contains neurological gate that blocks pain signals and allows them through on the brain. Pain —→ gate is closed to reduce the sensation of pain.
Pain Circuit
sensory receptors (nociceptors) respond to potentially damaging stimuli by sending an impulse to the spinal cord, which passes the message to the brain, which interprets the signal as pain
Taste
the sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a substance.
Main types: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, umami
Smell
Olfactory. Back of nasal cavaty has a layer of receptor cells. Send signals to brain from different olfactory receptor neurotransmitters. Replaced regularly.
Kinesthesia
the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
Vestibular Sense
the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance
Note 
Flashcard (40)