Psychology in Your Life Chapter 2

Nervous System

network of billions of cells in the brain and the body

All aspects

The brain is responsible for what?

Receive input from the world
Process the information in the brain
Respond to information by acting

What are the 3 basic functions fo the nervous system?

The Brain and Spinal Cord

What does the central nervous system consist of?

Connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs, and glands

What is the Peripheral nervous system?

Basic unit of the nervous system; cells that receive, integrate, and transmit information in the nervous system

What are neurons?

Dendrites

Branchlike extensions of the neuron with receptors that detect information from other neurons

Cell body

The part of the neuron where information from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated

Axon

The long, narrown outgrowth of a neuron that enables it to transmit information to other neurons

Synapse

Site of communication between neurons through neurotransmitters

membrane

Parts of the neuron are covered with a?

resting state

The neuron begins in what state?

action potential

the neural impulse that travels along the axon and then causes the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse

Neurons pass signals to other neurons
Receive signals from neighboring neurons
Assess the incoming signals

In what ways does neurons communicate with other neurons?

all or nothing

To communicate a neuron fires action potential. A neuron cannot fire just a little bit, it must fire...

No, they communicate chemically at the synapse

Do neurons touch one another in the synapse?

Neurotransmitters

Chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another

Receptors

specialized sites that specifically respond to certain types of neurotransmitters

excitatory
inhibitory

What are the 2 types of postsnynaptic neurons

fire neurons

Excitatory means?

don't fire neurons

inhibitory means?

Agonists

Drugs that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters

Antagonists

Drugs that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters

Phrenogoly

Analysis of personality based on the location and size of skull bumps done by Franz Gall (1800s)

Broca's area

Small portion of the left frontal region of the brain: this area is crucial for producing speech (studied by Paul ——1861)

Electroencephalograph
fMRI's

Contemporary brain research 2 types

Electroencephalograph

Measurement useful to study different behavioral states and different EEG patterns

fMRI's

This technique measures changes in the blood's oxygen level

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Technique uses a very fast and powerful field to momentarily disrupt activity in a specific brain region

survival

The lower part of the brain contains structures that are essential for?

communication between the brain and the rest of the body

The spinal cord's allow what?

the cerebral cortex and the five subcortical structures

The forebrain includes what two main areas?

cerebral cortex

Outer layer of the forebrain is called the...

Cortex

divided into 2 halves; right and left hemisphere

lobes

Cerebral hemisphere has 4 areas called?

occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes

What are the 4 cerebral lobes called?

corpus callosum

Cerebral hemisphere is connected by a structure called?

massive bridge consisting of millions of axons

what is the corpus callosum?

Prefrontal Cortex

important for judgement, impulse control, and planning; 30% of the brain

Phineas Gage

Rod damaged his PFC

lobotomy

deliberate damage of the prefontal cortex

somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system

peripheral nervous system has what 2 primary components?

Somatic nervous system

transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system, the skin, muscles, and joints

Autonomic nervous system

This part transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and the body's glands and internal organs

sympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system

autonomic nervous system has what 2 divisons

Endocrine system

a communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts and actions

hormones

chemical substances released from edocrine glands

monozygotic twins

identical twins

dizygotic twins

fraternal twins

plasticity

property of the brain that causes it to change through experience, drugs, or injury

9 percent

boys brains are how much larger than female brains?

corpus callosum

what part of the brain is a bit larger in women?