psych chapter 3 even more terms

everything psychological is

biological

neuron

nerve cell in the brain

neural networks

interconnected neural cells

dendrites

a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that RECIEVE and combine messages from other neurons

neurons grow new ______________ to form connections with other neurons

dendrites

where do dendrites pass messages from other neurons to?

the cell body

axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

what part of the neuron conducts action potentials?

axons

myelin sheath

fatty tissue, covers/protects the axon + speeds electrical impulses

axon terminals (terminal buttons)

tip of the axon; stores neurotransmitters that release and attach to other neurons to send messages

glial cells (glia)

form myelin sheath and provide support/nutritional benefits/protection for neurons

multiple sclerosis

- disrupts the flow of information in the brain and from the brain to the body
- results in loss of muscle control

what is multiple sclerosis caused by?

degeneration of the myelin sheath which makes it difficult/impossible for neurons to transmit messages

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

spinal cord

a tube of nerves that connects the brain to the restaurant of the body

all messages to and from the brain run through the

spinal cord

sensory neurons (afferent neurons)

neurons that carry incoming information FROM the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

body --> spinal cord --> brain

sensory neurons (afferent neurons)

motor neurons (efferent neurons)

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

brain --> spinal cord --> muscles/glands

motor neurons

interneurons

middle man; allow efferent neurons and afferent neurons and the interneurons to communicate with one another

mirror neurons

neuron that fires both when someone performs a movement and when someone observes the same movement performed by someone else

how do mirror neurons help us?

by observing others

how do neurons communicate with one another?

electrical impulses

resting potential

the IMBALANCE OF ELECTRICAL CHARGE that exists between the inside and outside of the neuron when it ISNT BEING USED

in the resting potential, the neuron is...

- inside is NEGATIVELY charges (mostly potassium ions)
- outside is POSITIVELY charged (mostly sodium ions)

ion channels

gates in the axon that allow ions to Flow in and out of the cell and CHANGE THE CHARGE OF THE CELL

are ion channels open or closed during the resting potential?

closed

when dendrites receive signals from neighboring neurons, they relay the message rot the cell body via

electrical impulses

electrical impulses cause

ion channels to open and positively charged ions to flow inside the axon

depolarization

when the inside of the cell becomes more positively charged ; happens when ion channels open and sodium/potassium ions rush in and out of the cell

threshold

specific charge that must be reached inside of the axon before the neuron can fire an action potential

how is the threshold reached?

due to sodium and potassium ions flowing in and out of the axon through the ion channels; DEPOLARIZATION

action potential

the firing of the neuron; brief electrical impulse that travels down the axon

all or nothing principle

action potential either happens or it doesn't; no such thing as weak/strong

a strong stimulus

can cause more neurons to fire and more often; DOES NOT AFFECT THE ACTION POTENTIALS STRENGTH

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired; recovery period after an action potential

the neuron cannot fire again until what period is over?

refractory period

neurotransmitter

chemical messengers that send/cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

neurotransmitters have their own ________ in the brain

neural pathways

vesicles

sacs in the axons terminal buttons; neurotransmitters are stored here

when a neuron fires, neurotransmitters are released from the axons terminal buttons into the

synapse

synapse/synaptic gap

small gap between axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another

receptor

area on dendrite where neurotransmitters attach and transmit their message

reuptake

when the terminal buttons of the sending neuron reabsorb leftover neurotransmitters after they are finished transmitting their message; a neurotransmitter's reabsorption into the axon by the sending neuron

presynaptic neuron

the neuron that sends its neurotransmitters across the synapse to transmit a message; before the synapse

postsynaptic neuron

the neuron that receives the neurotransmitters and their message; after the synapse

acetylcholine (movement and memory)

movement - activates skeletal muscles and carries out voluntary movements
memory - involved in memory formation and learning

how can acetylcholine transmission be blocked?

anesthesia or certain poisons (black widow bite) and result in paralysis

what can disruption of Ash supply to brain's memory centers cause?

difficulty forming new memories or learning new facts

Acetylcholine deficit

Alzheimer's disease, paralysis or limited mobility

Acetylcholine surplus

violent muscle contractions/spasms

serotonin

regulates mood, involved in sleep/wake cycle, regulates appetite

serotonin deficit

depression, increased anxiety, OCD

dopamine

reward and motivation and muscle control

when is dopamine released?

when we experience/anticipate something pleasurable

dopamine deficit

Parkinson's disease (tremors and muscular rigidity)

dopamine surplus

schizophrenia (hallucinations and psychotic episodes); most likely due to an overabundance of dopamine receptors in certain parts of the brain

Norepinephrine

involved in arousal/fight or flight response
increases:
- alertness
- blood pressure
- heart rate
allows you to respond quickly in stressful situations

endorphins

- regulates pain perception
- released during aerobic exercise
- linked to positive emotions (runner high)

what is the body natural opiate?

endorphins

Exciatory Neurotransmitters

EXCITE the next cell and tell it to FIRE

inhibitory neurotransmitters

inhibit the next cell from firing

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter

glutamate

excitatory neurotransmitter

agonist

a substance that activates the receptors for certain neurotransmitters and mimics or strengthens the effect of that neurotransmitter

antagonist

a substance that attaches to the receptors for certain neurotransmitters and blocks them from having an effect

the two parts of the nervous system

central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

consists of sensory receptors, muscles, glands

what connects the brain to the peripheral nervous system?

spinal cord

neural network

clusters of neurons that work (fire) together; helps move messages even faster than normal

How does learning occur?

when we strengthen specific pathways by using them more

reflexes

automatic reactions that don't reach the brain

meninges

sheathes that protect the central nervous system

Parts of the PNS

sensory and motor neurons

somatic nervous system

voluntary acts, enables control of skeletal muscles
- running/throwing

automatic nervous system

controls involuntary actions; automatic; controls glands and muscles of internal organs
- heart beating

what two ways can the ANS activate?

sympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations, activates

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

the endocrine system

secretes chemicals into your blood stream that help control bodily functions (HORMONES)

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

hormones impact interest in

sex, food, and aggression

hormones move slower than

neurotransmitters

hormones last longer than

neurotransmitters

what is the difference between hormones and neurotransmitters?

where the are manufactured (neuron vs glands)

pituitary gland

master/king gland; sends signals to other glands when to operate and grow

what does the pituitary gland release?

growth hormone, oxytocin

chain reaction of hormone

brain --> pituitary gland --> other glands --> hormones --> brain

what part of the brain is the pituitary gland controlled by?

hypothalamus

adrenal glands

release epinephrine and norepinephrine; get us ready for fight or flight

thyroid gland

releases thyroxine which is important in metabolism, growth, and maturation

hyperthyroidism

excessive activity of the thyroid gland (graves disease)
- weight gain, tiredness, baldness

the pancreas

secretes insulin which is vital in regulating blood sugar

blood sugar too high

damages your organs over time

blood sugar too low

may pass out

the pineal gland

secretes melatonin - regulates sleep patterns

research methods to see into the brain

EEG, lesion, neuro-imaging

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

a device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp; brainwaves

lesion

piece of brain is destroyed and then the organism is observed to see the effect (exclusively done on animals)