Bio Psychology Quiz - PSYCH 1

Quiz Monday 9/9

Acetylcholine (ACH)

Neurotransmitter involved in muscle function, learning & memory, and attention.

Glutamate

The brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, essential for learning and long-term memory.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter associated with mood, arousal, and emotion.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter that regulates hunger, sleep, and mood.

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter linked to arousal, alertness, and the fight or flight response.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that control pain, reduce stress, and promote positive emotions.

GABA

The brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter, which regulates sleep cycles.

Dendrite

Input sites on neurons where signals are received from other neurons.

Soma

The cell body of a neuron.

Axon

The major extension of the soma that transmits signals.

Terminal buttons

Structures that house neurotransmitters and send chemical messages.

Myelin sheath

Insulating layer around the axon that increases signal transmission speed.

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps in the myelin sheath that facilitate signal transmission.

Synaptic cleft

The space between two neurons where communication occurs.

Receptors

Proteins on the cell surface that bind to neurotransmitters.

Resting potential

The state of readiness of a neuron's membrane potential.

Threshold of excitation

The point at which a neuron becomes active and initiates an action potential.

Peak action potential

The maximum electrical signal that travels down the axon.

Repolarization

The process of returning electrical charges to their resting state.

Hyperpolarization

When the membrane potential becomes more negative after a signal is sent.

Reuptake

The process of reabsorbing excess neurotransmitters after signaling.

Frontal Lobe

Brain region involved in judgment, reasoning, and motor coordination.

Prefrontal cortex

Part of the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functions.

Motor cortex

Area of the frontal lobe that plans and coordinates movement.

Occipital lobe

Brain region responsible for interpreting visual information.

Parietal lobe

Brain region that processes sensory information such as touch and temperature.

Temporal lobe

Brain region involved in hearing, memory, and emotion processing.

Left Hemisphere

Controls the right side of the body and is associated with verbal and analytical skills.

Right Hemisphere

Controls the left side of the body and is linked to non-verbal language and spatial abilities.

Medulla oblongata

Brain structure that regulates autonomic functions like breathing and heart rate.

Cerebellum

Brain region that coordinates balance and motor skills.

Amygdala

Brain structure involved in emotion and memory association.

Hippocampus

Brain region critical for learning and memory.

Corpus callosum

Structure that connects the two brain hemispheres for communication.

Broca’s area

Brain region responsible for speech comprehension

Wernicke’s area

Brain region involved in language production

CT scan

Imaging technique used to detect tumors and brain atrophy through x-rays.

PET scan

Imaging method that uses a radioactive tracer to monitor brain activity.

MRI

Imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to create detailed brain images.

fMRI

Functional MRI that tracks changes in brain activity over time by monitoring blood flow.

EEG

Technique that tracks electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the head.

Glial cells

Support cells in the nervous system that assist with neuronal communication and nutrient transport.

Neurons

Interconnected information processors in the nervous system.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Comprises the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Connects the CNS to the rest of the body and includes efferent and afferent neurons.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls automatic functions of organs and glands.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements and sensory information.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Prepares the body for stress-related activities.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Returns the body to routine operations after stress.

Endocrine System

Releases hormones into the bloodstream, slower than neurotransmitters.

Pituitary gland

Master gland that regulates other glands and secretes key hormones.

Thyroid

Gland that regulates growth, metabolism, and appetite.

Adrenal glands

Glands that secrete hormones involved in the stress response.

Pancreas

Gland that regulates blood sugar levels through insulin and glucagon.

Gonads

Glands that secrete sexual hormones, which are important in reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior (includes ovaries and testes)