AP Psychology Unit 8: Brain Biology

EEG (electroencephalography)

machine that measures electrical activity in the brain, used in sleep studies

CT (CAT) Scan

computerized axial tomography, denote structural issues

MRI scan

looks similar to CT scan, machine that generates 3D imagery using magnets. can look at tissues, tendons, ligaments

PET scan

positive emission tomography, used to find function, uses radioactive glucose tracer into your brain through IV. Could be used to determine how aggressive a brain tumor is

FMRI scan

functional MRI, they have you do activities while inside MRI, areas of brain responsible for activity will light up when it's working

Medulla

located at the base of the brain, forms the lowest part of the brainstem, where all the unconscious forces happen (ex: smooth muscles or breathing

Pons

located in the brainstem above medulla works with the medulla, regulates breathing, involved in control of sleep cycles, relays sensory info to cerebellum, connects forebrain to hindbrain

Cerebellum

located in the hindbrain(underneath occipital lobe and behind brainstem), this is the largest freestanding structure in the brain, works with motor cortex to control motor movement

RAS (reticular activation system)

located in the brainstem, is the internal biological clock, regulates sleepiness and alertness

thalamus

located in the limbic system, this is the relay station for sensory impulses to and from other parts of the brain and body

hypothalamus

located in the limbic system, is the most freudian, controls hunger, thirst, sex drive

corpus callosum

located deep in the center of the brain, this is a bundle of nerve fibers that connect the 2 hemispheres of the brain

sensory cortex

cortex that processes touch, located behind motor cortex

hippocampus

located in the limbic system, is responsible for the formation of new memory, this part of the brain could be correlated with some memory issues

amygdala

located in the limbic system, this part of the brain controls emotions especially fear, anxiety, and aggression

motor cortex

located in the top middle portion of the brain, this cortex helps the brain monitor and control movement throughout the body

frontal lobe

one of the 4 lobes located in the cerebral hemisphere, this lobe controls judgement, attention, problem solving, behavior, intellect, creative thought, smell, personality, coordinated movements, muscle movements, physical reaction, and abstract thinking

parietal lobe

this lobe focuses on comprehension, visual functions, language, reading, internal stimuli, tactile sensation, and sensory comprehension

occipital lobe

located in the back of the brain, this lobe controls vision

temporal lobe

this lobe manages speech and behavioral capabilities, behavioral elements, and language

broca's area

part of the brain that controls facial neurons as well as speech and languages

wernicke's area

portion of the temporal lobe that helps manage some speech and hearing capabilities

cerebrum

largest portion of the brain, is divided into the four lobes

sympathetic nervous system (SNS)(Part of autonomic nervous system)

fight or flight mechanism going into play

parasympathetic nervous system (Part of autonomic nervous system)

reestablish normalcy after fight or flight (homeostasis/equilibrium)

pancreas

part of the endocrine system that produces insulin/glucagon that regulates blood sugar level

adrenal glands

gland that releases adrenaline/cortisol and functions as fight or flight and anti-stress

thyroid gland

gland that releases thyroxine and functions as metabolic rate

pineal gland

gland that releases melatonin and functions as the biological clock

pituitary gland

gland that releases many hormones that regulates menstrual cycle, milk production, osmoregulation, and birth contractions

acetylcholine

an excitatory neurotransmitter that regulates muscle function, attention, memory and learning, deficit causes alzheimer's disease

dopamine

an inhibitory that regulates mood and emotion and arousal, surplus causes schizophrenia, deficit causes parkinson's disease

serotonin

an inhibitory that regulates mood, hunger, and sleep, deficit causes depression

norepinephrine

an excitatory that regulates arousal and alertness especially in fight-or-flight response, and elevates mood, surplus causes anxiety

GABA

an inhibitory that regulates sleep-wake cycle, and is the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter, surplus causes sleep/eating disorders, deficit causes anxiety, epilepsy, insomnia

endorphins

an inhibitory that regulates pain control and stress, surplus can cause migraines and seizures

soma

cell body of neuron, heart of nerve cell

axons

goes away from cell, sender of message to next cell

axon terminal/terminal button

end of axon

dendrites

receiver of message from axon terminal

synapse

miniscule space in between axon of one neuron and dendrite of the next

synaptic vesicles

storage container for neurotransmitters

myelin sheath

fatty, insulating surface that protects and speeds up the process of the message being sent

refractory period

the brief period of time when the neuron cannot generate another impulse after firing

all-or-none response

chemicals either get across synapse or it doesn't, there's no in-between

excitatory

wanting more signals

inhibitory

prevent more action potential from happening

reuptake

a process in neurotransmission where the chemicals in the synapse don't get used so they get swept back into previous cell to be recycled and used again

brain lateralization

inclination for certain cognitive processes to be specialized to one hemisphere of the brain or the other

reticular formation

finger shaped network of neurons that extends from the spinal cord right up to the thalamus, filters incoming stimuli and relays important information to other areas of the brain

cerebral cortex

a thin surface layer of interconnected neural cell, brain's thinking crown, body's ultimate control and information-processing center

glial cells

support nerve cells, provide nutrients and insulating myelin, guide neural connections, mop up ions and neurotransmitters. May also play role in learning and thinking. Are like the "worker bees"

association areas

areas found in all 4 lobes that integrate information, link sensory inputs with stored memories. have different function in each lobe

brain plasticity

the brain's ability to modify itself after some type of damage, (severed neurons do not regenerate--just extra info)

constraint-induced therapy

a therapy that aims to require the brains by restraining a fully functioning limb and forcing use of "bad hand"

neurogenesis

the fascinating process where the brain generates new neurons from neural stem cells

dual processing

the idea that information is processed simultaneously on two levels

action potention

when a neuron fires an impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down its axon

somatic nervous system (part of peripheral nervous system)

a system that enables voluntary contorl of skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system (Part of peripheral nervous system)

a system that controls glands and the muscles of the internal organs

multiple sclerosis (MS)

when Myelin becomes degenerate causing choppy motor movement