Psych Poop

What is a neuron?

The basic unit of the nervous system.

What do dendrites do?

Receive incoming signals.

What is the function of the axon?

Carries signals away from the cell body.

What does the myelin sheath do?

Speeds neural transmission.

What is an action potential?

Electrical impulse that travels down an axon.

What is resting potential?

The neuron's inactive electrical state.

What is the refractory period?

Time after an action potential when another cannot occur.

What is a synapse?

The gap between neurons.

What is a neurotransmitter?

A chemical messenger between neurons.

What is acetylcholine responsible for?

Muscle movement, learning, and memory.

What disorder is linked to low acetylcholine?

Alzheimer's disease.

What is dopamine responsible for?

Reward, motivation, and movement.

What disorder results from too little dopamine?

Parkinson's disease.

What disorder is associated with excess dopamine activity?

Schizophrenia.

What is serotonin responsible for?

Mood, sleep, and appetite.

What disorder is linked to low serotonin?

Depression.

What is norepinephrine responsible for?

Alertness and arousal.

What is GABA?

The major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

What can result from low GABA?

Anxiety and seizures.

What is glutamate?

The major excitatory neurotransmitter.

What can result from excess glutamate?

Seizures and migraines.

What are endorphins?

Natural pain-reducing neurotransmitters.

What does CNS stand for?

Central nervous system.

What structures make up the CNS?

Brain and spinal cord.

What does PNS stand for?

Peripheral nervous system.

What is the somatic nervous system?

The division controlling voluntary movement.

What is the autonomic nervous system?

The division controlling involuntary functions.

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Produces fight-or-flight responses.

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Produces rest-and-digest responses.

What are hormones?

Chemical messengers released into the bloodstream.

What is the pituitary gland?

The master endocrine gland.

What does melatonin regulate?

Sleep.

What is oxytocin associated with?

Bonding and trust.

What does the medulla control?

Breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

What does the pons control?

Sleep and arousal.

What does the cerebellum control?

Balance and coordination.

What does the reticular formation control?

Alertness and attention.

What is the thalamus?

The brain's sensory relay station.

Which sense bypasses the thalamus?

Smell.

What does the hypothalamus regulate?

Hunger, thirst, body temperature, and homeostasis.

What does the amygdala control?

Emotion and fear.

What does the hippocampus do?

Forms new memories.

What do the basal ganglia control?

Movement and habits.

What is the cerebral cortex?

The outer layer responsible for higher thinking.

What does the occipital lobe control?

Vision.

What does the temporal lobe control?

Hearing, memory, and language.

What does the parietal lobe control?

Touch and spatial processing.

What does the frontal lobe control?

Decision making and voluntary movement.

What does the prefrontal cortex do?

Judgment and impulse control.

Who was Phineas Gage?

A man whose frontal lobe injury caused personality changes.