Chapter 3: Biopsychology (copy)

Substantia nigra

________ and the ventral tegmental area (VTA): involved in and crucial for movement, mood, reward, and addiction.

Nerves

________ branch out from the spine at each vertebra, and messages travel to and from the brain at every segment.

Amygdala

________: involved in experience of emotion and connecting emotional meaning to memories.

Reticular formation

________: involved in the regulation of the sleep /wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity.

Pancreas

________: an internal organ that secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar levels: insulin and glucagon.

Autonomic nervous system

________: controls our internal organs and glands and is outside the realm of voluntary control.

Agonist

________ and antagonist drugs are prescribed to correct the specific neurotransmitter imbalances underlying a persons condition.

Limbic system

________: involved in processing both emotion and memory.

Myelin sheath

________: coats the axon and acts as an insulator, increasing the speed the signal travels.

Corpus callosum

________: a thick band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres.

Thyroid gland

________: secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite.

Hypothalamus

________: regulates many homeostatic processes (ie body temperature, appetite, and blood pressure), and acts as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system and in the regulation of sexual motivation and behavior.

Heterozygous

________: when an individual has a different alleles for a given gene.

genetic information

Each parent contributes half the ________ carried by the offspring.

Forebrain

________: the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex and the largest part of the brain.

Positron emission tomography

________ (PET) scan: creates pictures of the living, active brain; shows brain activity.

Antagonist

________: blocks the normal activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor.

Medulla

________: controls the automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Midbrain

________: located between the forebrain and the hindbrain.

electrical signal

Action potential: the ________ that moves from the cell body, down the axon, and to the axon terminals.

Reuptake inhibitors

________: prevent unused neurotransmitters from being transported back to the neuron.

Hormones

________: chemical messengers that must bind to a receptor in order to send their signal.

Temporal lobe

________: involved in hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language.

Theyre

________ located in the midbrain and contain cell bodies that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine.

MRI

________ and fMRI are often used to compare the brains of healthy individuals to the brains of individuals diagnosed with psychological disorders.

Pons

________: connects the brain and spinal cord, and regulates brain activity during sleep.

Hindbrain

________: located at the back of the head.

PET

It provides more detailed images of the brains structure and better accuracy in time in comparison to ________ scans.

Ions

________ cause the electrical charge of the fluids and the semipermeable membrane causes a greater concentration of a(n) ________ in one of the fluids.

Hippocampus

________: an essential structure for learning and memory.

Reuptake

________: neurotransmitters are pumped back into the neuron that released it in order to clear the synapse.

Na+

The negative charge inside the cell helps attract ________ into the cell.

K+

The cell repolarizes as ________ ions leave the cell.

Cerebellum

________: receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in the ear to control balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills.

Cerebral cortex

________: the surface of the brain.

Psychotropic medications

________: drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance.

Glucagon

________ raises blood glucose levels.

Receptors

________: proteins on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach,

Homeostasis

________: a state of equilibrium, in which biological conditions are maintained at optimal levels.

Synapse

________: a small space between two neurons and a site where communication between neurons occurs.

Genetic variation

the genetic difference between individuals

Chromosomes

long strings of DNA

DNA

a helix-shaped molecule made up of nucleotide base pairs

Allele

a specific version of a gene

Genotype

an individuals genetic makeup

Phenotype

an individuals inherited physical characteristics

Homozygous

when an individual has two copies of the same allele

Heterozygous

when an individual has a different alleles for a given gene

Mutation

a sudden, permanent change in a gene

Range of reaction

states that genes set definite limits on potential, and the environment determines how much of that potential is achieved by an individual

Genetic environmental correlation

states that genes influence environment, and the environment influences gene expression

Epigenetics

studies how the same genotype can lead to different phenotypes

Neurons

the central building blocks of the nervous system

Receptors

proteins on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach,

Membrane potential

difference in charge across the membrane

Resting potential

when the membranes potential is held in a state of readiness

Action potential

the electrical signal that moves from the cell body, down the axon, and to the axon terminals

Peak action potential

when many pores open, causing a massive influx of Na+ ions and a huge positive spike in the membrane potential

Reuptake

neurotransmitters are pumped back into the neuron that released it in order to clear the synapse

Psychotropic medications

drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

Agonists

chemicals that mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site and strengthen its effects

Antagonist

blocks the normal activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor

Reuptake inhibitors

prevent unused neurotransmitters from being transported back to the neuron

The nervous system can be divided into two major subdivisions

the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system

The PNS has two major subdivisions

Somatic nervous system

involved with conscious or voluntary activities; the relay of sensory and motor information to and from the CNS

Motor neurons

carry instructions from the CNS to the muscles, and are efferent fibers

Sensory neurons

carry sensory information to the CNS and are afferent fibers

Autonomic nervous system

 controls our internal organs and glands and is outside the realm of voluntary control

Sympathetic nervous system

involved in preparing the body for stress-related activities

Parasympathetic nervous system

associated with returning the body to routine, day-to-day operations

Homeostasis

a state of equilibrium, in which biological conditions are maintained at optimal levels

Spinal cord

allows the brain to act, relays messages to and from the brain, and has its own reflexes

Cerebral cortex

the surface of the brain

The most prominent sulcus, the longitudinal fissure, is the deep groove that separates the brain into two hemispheres

the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere

Corpus callosum

a thick band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres

Forebrain

the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex and the largest part of the brain

It contains the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures

thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the limbic system

Each cerebral hemisphere can be subdivided into four lobes

the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes

Frontal lobe

involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language

Parietal lobe

involved in processing information from the bodys senses

Temporal lobe

 involved in hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language

Occipital lobe

 its located at the back of the brain and contains the primary visual cortex, which is responsible for interpreting incoming visual information

Thalamus

a sensory relay for the brain

Limbic system

involved in processing both emotion and memory

Hippocampus

an essential structure for learning and memory

Amygdala

involved in experience of emotion and connecting emotional meaning to memories

Hypothalamus

 regulates many homeostatic processes (ie body temperature, appetite, and blood pressure), and acts as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system and in the regulation of sexual motivation and behavior

Midbrain

located between the forebrain and the hindbrain

Reticular formation

involved in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity

Substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area (VTA)

involved in and crucial for movement, mood, reward, and addiction

Hindbrain

located at the back of the head

Medulla

 controls the automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

Pons

 connects the brain and spinal cord, and regulates brain activity during sleep

Computerized tomography (CT) scan

takes x-rays of a particular section of a persons body or brain

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

creates pictures of the living, active brain; shows brain activity

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

shows brain activity by generating a strong magnetic field

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

shows changes in brain activity over time by tracking blood flow and oxygen levels

Electroencephalography (EEG)

measures the brains electrical activity

Endocrine system

consists of a series of glands that produce hormones