AP Psych- Unit 3 notes and flash cards

Pancreas

: regulates the level of sugar in the blood.

PET

scan: a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

Reticular formation

: a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.

Cerebellum

: coordinates our voluntary movements, processes sensory input, balance, nonverbal learning, and memory, and is located at the back of the brain.

Amygdala

: two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Pons

: help to coordinate movements, located just above the medulla in the brainstem.

MRI

: a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer- generated images of soft tissue.

Electroencephalogram

: an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface.

Interneurons

: neurons in the brain and spinal cord that process information, and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Ovary

: secretes female sex hormones.

Thalamus

: the brains sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

Hypothalamus

: the region of your brain that controls the pituitary gland, a neural structure located below the thalamus; it directs several matinence activities such as eating, drinking, and body temp. is linked with emotion and reward.

Parathyroids

: help regulate the level of calcium in the blood.

Cerebral hemispheres

': two halves of the brain.

Medulla

: the base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing.

Hippocampus

: processes conscious memories.

FMRI

: a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

CT scan

: a series of x- ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brains structure.

Limbic system

: neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus)

reflex

a simple automatic response to sensory stimulus, (such as a knee- jerk response)

Hormones

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

Endocrine system

: the bodys "slow "chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

FMRI scans

show brain function as well as brain structure.

Brainstem

: the oldest part and the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for the automatic survival functions.

MRI

scans show brain anatomy.

nervous system

the bodys speedy, electrochemical communication network, it consists of all nerve cells from the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord (the bodys decision maker)

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous systems to the rest of the body(responsible for gathering information and transporting it to different parts of the body)

nerves

bundles of axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord for processing

motor neurons

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

interneurons

neurons in the brain and spinal cord that process information, and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

one part of the peripheral nervous system, that controls the bodys skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

one part of the peripheral nervous system, controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs and has two divisions

sympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses and expends energy, specifically in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserves energy

examples of the sympathetic nervous system

pupils dilate, heartbeat accelerates, it inhibits digestion, stimulates glucose release by the liver, stimulates the secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, and stimulates ejaculation in males

examples of the parasympathetic nervous system

contracts pupils, slow heartbeat, stimulates digestion, stimulates gall bladder, contracts bladder, allows blood flow to sex organs

reflex

a simple automatic response to sensory stimulus, (such as a knee-jerk response)

endocrine system

the bodys "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

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

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands located just above the kidney and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

pituitary gland

endocrines systems most influential gland, under the influence of the hypothalamus the pituitary gland regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

Hypothalamus

the region of your brain that controls the pituitary gland, a neural structure located below the thalamus; it directs several matinence activities such as eating, drinking, and body temp. is linked with emotion and reward

Thyroid gland

affects metabolism

Adrenal glands

the inner part of this gland helps to trigger the "fight or flight" response

testis

secretes male sex hormones

ovary

secretes female sex hormones

pancreas

regulates the level of sugar in the blood

parathyroids

help regulate the level of calcium in the blood

parts of the endocrine system

hypothalamus, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, testis, ovary, pancreas, parathyroid, and pituitary gland

lesion

tissue destruction used by scientists to experimentally deconstruct brain tissue to learn about different parts of the brain

electroencephalogram

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface

CT scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brains structure

PET scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue

fMRI

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans

brainstem

the oldest part and the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for the automatic survival functions

medulla

the base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the brains sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

pons

help to coordinate movements, located just above the medulla in the brainstem

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

coordinates our voluntary movements, processes sensory input, balance, nonverbal learning, and memory, and is located at the back of the brain

cerebral hemispheres'

two halves of the brain

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus)

hippocampus

processes conscious memories

amygdala

two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion