Chapter 2

Descriptive stats

using numbers to describe data

Inferential stats

using numbers to answer our research

Population

everyone you want to know about

Sample

a subset of the population you are studying

Convenience sample

who you have access to

Representative sample

sample of population is selected to reflect the characteristics of the population of interest

Neuroscience/Neurobiology

the study of how the nervous system works

Nervous system

an interacting network of cells that conveys electrochemical information throughout the brain and body

Central Nervous System

brain and spinal cord, processes, interprets, stores info

Peripheral Nervous System

somatic and autonomic

Somatic

nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and sensory receptors

Autonomic

connect to non-voluntary muscles and organs; sympathetic, parasympathetic

Sympathetic

activate body’s resources for emergencies

Parasympathetic

conserve bodily resources

Neurons

nerve cells specialized for communication, communicate via chemical and electrical signals

Afferent neurons

carry messages from sense to CNS

Efferent neurons

carry messages from CNS to muscles and glands

Interneurons

collect, organize, and integrate messages between neurons

Four Stages of Communication in a Neuron

Conduction, Transmission, Reception, Integration

Conduction

info travels inside a single neuron (Axon)

Transmission

info passes from one neuron to another (Terminal Branches)

Reception

receiving info from another neuron (Dendrites)

Integration

assess/integrate signals and info (cell body)

Refactory period

temporarily the neurons is test responsive to incoming stimulation

Agnoists

bind to the receptor and mimics the effect of a neurotransmitter

Antagonsists

binds to the receptor and blocks the effect

Enzyme degradation

enzymes destroy the extra neurotransmitters

Autorecpetors

neurotransmitters bind to receptor site on presynaptic neuron

Reuptake

reabsorbed by the terminal buttons

Phrenology

assumption that bumps in skull are associated with brain enlargements related to specific psychological capacities

EEG: electroencephalogram

electrodes on scalp record electrical activity in brain

fMRI

detects changes in oxygenated blood flow in the brain

TMS: Transcranial magnetic stimulation

applies strong and quick changing magnetic fields to the skull to enhance or impair brain functioning in a specific region

The Hindbrain

controls essential body functions and survival

Medulla

unconscious, essential functions

Cerebellum

balance and coordination

Pons

coordinates movement

Midbrain

located above the pons and involved in reflexive and initiating voluntary movements

Substancia nigra

initiation of voluntary motor activity

Amygdala

processes emotions and threats, especially fear

Hypothalamus

regulates eating, drinking, and body temp

Hippocampus

formation of new memories and spatial navigation

Thalamus

relays info from sense to cerebral cortex

Endocrine system

communication system that uses hormones to influence aspects. of the body, mental activity, and behavior

Hormones

chemical substances, released from endocrine glands, that travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues

Occipital

vision

Parietal

touch, spacial abilities

Temporal

hearing, recognizing objects and face, memories/emotion

Frontal

complex rational thought, planning, movement focused attention

Wernicke’s area

a language area that processes spoken or written language

Prefrontal cortex

rational thought and sense of self

Broca’s area

speech production

Corpus callosum

Connects celebral cortex hempispheres