psychology quiz 6

Substance Use Disorder

a disorder characterized by continued substance use despite resulting life disruption

Depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Tolerance

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect

Addiction

an everyday term for compulsive substance use (and sometimes for dysfunctional behavior patterns, such as out

Withdrawal

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior

Barbiturates

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Opioids

opium and its derivatives; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Stimulants

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions

Hallucinogens

psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

Near-death experience

 an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug-induced hallucinations

Biological Psychology

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Biopsychosocial Approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social

Levels of Analysis

the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social

Neuroplasticity

the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Lesion

tissue destruction

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

a brain-imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

Computed Tomography Scan (CT)

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

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

a technique for detecting brain activity that displays where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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

Functional MRI (fMRI)

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; shows brain function as well as structure

Hindbrain

consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions, such as breathing, sleeping, and wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance