Bio-psych quiz

action potential

the rapid, electrical discharge, or nerve impulse, that travels along the axon of a neuron to communicate with other neurons

Afferent Neuron

carries sensory information; sensory input

all-or-none response

principle stating that a nerve or muscle cell will either respond completely or not at all when stimulated

autonomic nervous system

controls internal organs and glands; involuntary bodily functions

agonist

a chemical substance that binds to a specific receptor and activates it

Central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

antagonist

a drug or chemical that blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter by binding to its receptor without stimulating it

efferent neuron

carries neural impulses away (output) from the central nervous system to muscles or glands, helping with motor

glial cells

non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that support and protect neurons

interneurons

a neuron which transmits impulses between other neurons

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that relay neural messages across the synapse

hormones

chemical messengers that are produced in one part of the body and travel to other parts

threshold

the minimum level of stimulation, intensity, or magnitude required for a stimulus to be detected by an organism

parasympathetic nervous system

relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger; calming

peripheral nervous system

the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord;

pituitary gland

master gland that produces hormones influencing the secretions of all other endocrine glands

refractory period

a period immediately following stimulation during which a nerve or muscle is unresponsive to further stimulation

reflex

an involuntary, automatic, and unconscious response to a stimulus that occurs without conscious thought

reuptake

neuron reabsorbs neurotransmitters after they have been released

somatic nervous system

sense organs and voluntary muscles

sympathetic nervous system

prepares the body for stressful or dangerous situations; arousing

synapse

the tiny junction in the nervous system where one neuron passes a signal to another

nerves

A bundle of fibers that receives and sends messages between the body and the brain

hereditary

nature

enviroment

nurture

dendrites

receive chemical and electrical signals from other neurons

cell body

the central part of a neuron that contains the nucleus

axon

transmits electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body to communicate with other neurons

axon terminal

ending of a neuron's axon that releases neurotransmitters

Myelin Sheath

a protective, fatty layer that insulates and surrounds axons; speeds up movement of current

excitatory

increases the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential,

inhibitory

a chemical messenger that decreases the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential

Dopamine

pleasure/reward, voluntary action/movement

Serotonin

mood

Norepinephrine

fight or flight; brain’s adrenaline

gluatamate

gut; main excitatory

GABA

main inhibitory

endorphins

painkiller

substance P

pain

acetylcholine

memory/alzheimers

Adrenaline

during stress, it increases blood circulation and breathing; adrenal glands

Leptin

regulate appetite; adipose tissue

Ghrelin

“hunger hormone”

Melatonin

sleep; production and release is connected to time of day

Oxytocin

social bonding, sexual reprodcution, childbirth; hypothalamus

dendrites

A

cell body

B

Axon

C

Myelin Sheath

D

Axon terminal

F

reflex arc

the neural pathway through which a reflex action occurs

sensory neuron

a nerve cell that detects physical and chemical stimuli; controls senses

motor neuron

a nerve cell that controls voluntary and involuntary movements