biopsychology definitions

Adrenaline

A hormone released by the adrenal medulla that prepares the body for fight or flight by increasing heart rate and pupil dilation.

Auditory Area

The part of the brain responsible for analysing and processing acoustic information.

Autonomic Nervous System

A component of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions and consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Biological Rhythms

Cyclical patterns within biological systems that have evolved in response to environmental influences, governed by endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers.

Broca's Area

A region in the left frontal lobe involved in language production.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for conscious awareness and psychological processes.

Circadian Rhythm

A 24-hour biological rhythm, often referred to as the 'body clock', which is reset by levels of light.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A technique that measures electrical activity in the brain through electrodes attached to the scalp.

Endocrine System

A network of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream, working alongside the nervous system.

Endogenous Pacemakers

Internal mechanisms, such as the suprachiasmatic nucleus, that govern biological rhythms including the circadian sleep/wake cycle.

Event-Related Potentials (ERP)

Measurements of brain activity in response to specific stimuli, using electrodes placed on the scalp.

Excitation

The process by which excitatory neurotransmitters increase the likelihood of a postsynaptic neuron firing.

Exogenous Zeitgebers

Environmental events that reset biological clocks, with light being the most significant.

Fight or Flight

The body's physiological response to a perceived threat, activated by the amygdala.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A brain-scanning technique that measures blood flow to determine areas of active neural processing during tasks.

Functional Recovery

The reorganization of brain functions following injury, often involving compensation through unmasked neuronal connections.

Glands

Organs in the endocrine system that produce and secrete hormones, influencing bodily functions.

Hemispheric Lateralisation

The specialization of functions in each hemisphere of the brain, such as language dominance in the left hemisphere.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system that stimulate specific body functions.

Infradian Rhythm

Biological rhythms that last longer than 24 hours, such as the menstrual cycle.

Inhibition

The process by which inhibitory neurotransmitters decrease the likelihood of a postsynaptic neuron firing.

Localisation of Function

The concept that specific functions are associated with particular areas of the brain.

Motor Area

The brain region responsible for the control of voluntary movements.

Motor Neuron

Neurons that transmit signals from the CNS to muscles, facilitating movement.

Nervous System

The network of nerve cells that transmits signals between different parts of the body.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical substances that transmit nerve impulses across the synaptic gap during synaptic transmission.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that promotes relaxation and normal bodily functions after stress.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The division of the nervous system that relays messages between the CNS and the rest of the body.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to adapt and change as a result of experience or environmental influence.

Post-Mortem Examination

A method of studying the brain of deceased individuals to understand behavior and brain function.

Relay Neuron

Neurons that connect sensory input neurons to motor output neurons within the CNS.

Sensory Neuron

Neurons that carry sensory information from receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the peripheral nervous system that manages voluntary control of body movements.

Somatosensory Area

The brain region responsible for processing sensory information from the skin.

Split Brain Research

A study of individuals with severed corpus callosum to examine lateralization of brain function.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for fight or flight responses.

Synaptic Transmission

The process of communication between neurons involving the release and reception of neurotransmitters.

Ultradian Rhythm

Biological rhythms that last less than 24 hours, such as the stages of sleep.

Visual Area

Brain regions that process visual information, handling aspects like color, shape, and motion.

Wernicke's Area

A part of the left temporal lobe associated with language comprehension.