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Biological psychology
a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors 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
Dendrite
the bushy, branching extensions of the neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses towards the cell body
Axon
the extension of a neuron, ending in branch terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Myelin sheath
a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next
Action potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron (tiny gap at this junction is synaptic gap)
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
Reuptake
a neurotransmitter’s absorption
Endorphins
“morphine within”- natural, opiatlike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Nervous system
the body’s speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Central nervous system
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
Nerves
bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Somatic nervous system
the divisions of the peripheral nervous systems that controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
Sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses 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
Endocrine system
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissue
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
Pituitary gland
the endocrine system’s most influential gland that regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
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