Biopsychology Exam 2 Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the Biopsychology Exam Study Guide covering key concepts in psychopharmacology, neuroscience research methods, and visual processing.

Agonists

Substances that enhance the action of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonists

Substances that inhibit the action of a neurotransmitter.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle activation and memory; affected by botulinum toxin and neostigmine.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with reward and motor control; affected by L-dopa and cocaine.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood and behavior; affected by fluoxetine and MDMA.

Glutamate

A neurotransmitter that plays a key role in synaptic plasticity; affected by NMDA and AP5.

GABA

A neurotransmitter that inhibits neural activity; affected by muscimol and benzodiazepines.

Experimental Ablation

A method used to study brain function by removing specific brain areas.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging; a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that provides detailed images of brain structure.

fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging; measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

EEG

Electroencephalogram; measures electrical activity of the brain using sensors placed on the scalp.

Photoreceptors

Specialized cells in the retina that respond to light, including rods and cones.

Magnocellular system

Part of the visual system responsible for processing motion and depth.

Parvocellular system

Part of the visual system responsible for processing color and fine detail.

Visual Pathway

The route of visual information processing from the retina to the visual cortex and beyond.

Dorsal Stream

The 'where' pathway involved in spatial awareness and movement.

Ventral Stream

The 'what' pathway involved in object perception and recognition.

Balint's Syndrome

A visual processing disorder characterized by inability to perceive multiple objects.

Prosopagnosia

A form of visual agnosia characterized by impairment in recognizing faces.