Psychology: A Concise Introduction Chapter 2 Flashcards

neurons

Cells that transmit information within the nervous system

glial cells

Cells in the nervous system that comprise the support system for the neurons

dendrites

Fibers projecting out of the cell body of a neuron whose function is to RECEIVE information from other neurons

cell body

The part of the neuron that contains its NUCLEUS and the other biological machinery to keep the cell alive and that DECIDES whether or not to generate a neural impulse in order to PASS incoming INFO on to other neurons

axon

The long, singular fiber projecting out of the cell body of a neuron whose function is to conduct the neural impulse from the cell body to the axon terminals triggering chemical communication with other neurons.

myelin sheath

An insulating layer covering an axon that allows for FASTER neural impulses

neurotransmitter

A naturally occurring chemical in the nervous system that specializes in transmitting information between neurons

synaptic gap (synapse)

The microscopic gap between neurons across which neurotransmitters travel to carry their messages to other neurons

positron emission tomography (PET) scans

A visual display of the activity levels in various areas in the brain generated by detecting the amount of POSITRON EMISSION created by the metabolization of radioactive glucose in each area

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A computerized image of the activity levels of various areas in the brain generated by detecting the amount of oxygen brought to each area

agonist

A drug or poison that INCREASES the ACTIVITY of one or more NEUROTRANSMITTERS

antagonist

A drug or poison that DECREASES the ACTIVITY of one or more NEUROTRANSMITTERS

acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter involved in LEARNING, MEMORY, and MUSCLE MOVEMENT

dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in AROUSAL and MOOD states, THOUGHT processes, and PHYSICAL movement

Parkinson's disease

A disease in which the person has MOVEMENT PROBLEMS such as muscle tremors, difficulty initiating movements, and rigidity of movement. These movement problems stem from a SCARCITY of DOPAMINE in the BASAL GANGLIA

blood-brain barrier

A PROTECTIVE MECHANISM by which the blood capillaries supplying the brain create a barrier that PREVENTS DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES access to the brain

L-dopa

A drug for PARKINSON’S disease that contains the PRECURSORS to dopamine so that once it is in the brain, it will be converted to dopamine

serotonin and norepinephrine

NEUROTRANSMITTERS involved in levels of arousal and mood, sleep, and eating

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

ANTIDEPRESSANT drugs that achieve their AGONISTIC effect on “serotonin” by selectively BLOCKING its REUPTAKE

selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs)

ANTIDEPRESSANT drugs that achieve their AGONSITIC effect on “serotonin” and “norepinephrine” by selectively BLOCKING their REUPTAKE

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

The MAIN INHIBITORY NEUROTRANSMITTER in the nervous system. It is involved in LOWERING arousal and anxiety and regulating movement

glutamate

The MAIN EXCITATORY NEUROTRANSMITTER in the nervous system. It is involved in memory storage, pain perception, strokes, and schizophrenia

endorphins

A group of neurotransmitters that are involved in PAIN RELIEF and feelings of PLEASURE

central nervous system (CNS)

The brain AND spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The part of the nervous system that LINKS the CNS with the body's SENSORY RECEPTORS, MUSCLES and GLANDS

peripheral nervous system

Made up of Somatic nervous system, Autonomic nervous system, Sympathetic nervous system, and Parasympathetic nervous system

interneurons

Neurons that integrate information within the CNS through their communication with each other and between sensory and motor neurons in the spinal cord

sensory neurons

Neurons in the PNS that carry information to the CNS from sensory receptors, muscles, and glands

motor neurons

Neurons in the PNS that carry movement commands from the CNS out to the rest of the body

spinal cord

The conduit between the brain and the PNS for incoming sensory data and outgoing movement commands to the muscles

spinal reflex

A simple automatic action of the spinal cord not requiring involvement of the brain, such as the knee-jerk reflex

somatic (skeletal) nervous system

The part of the PNS that carries sensory input from receptors to the CNS and relays commands from the CNS to skeletal muscles to control their movement

autonomic nervous system

The part of the PNS that regulates the functioning of our internal environment (glands and organs like the heart, lungs and stomach)

sympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system that is in control when we are highly aroused, as in an emergency, and need to prepare for defensive action

parasympathetic nervous system

The part of the autonomic nervous system that returns the body to its normal resting state AFTER having been HIGHLY AROUSED, as in an emergency

endocrine glandular system

The body's OTHER major COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. Communication is achieved through hormones that are secreted by the endocrine glands and travel through the bloodstream to their target sites

hormone

A chemical messenger that is produced by an endocrine gland and carried by the bloodstream to target tissues throughout the body

pituitary gland

The MOST INFLUENTIAL GLAND in the endocrine glandular system. It releases hormones for human growth and hormones that direct other endocrine glands to release their hormones

emotion

A complex psychological state that involves a state of physiological arousal, an outward behavioral expression of the emotion, and a cognitive appraisal of the situation to determine the specific emotion and its intensity

James-Lange theory

A theory of emotion proposing that an emotion is determined from a cognitive appraisal of the physiological arousal behavioral responses, which occur first

Cannon-Bard theory

A theory of emotion proposing that an emotion is determined from simultaneously occurring physiological arousal, behavioral responses, and cognitive appraisal

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory

A theory of emotion proposing that an emotion is determined by cognitive appraisal of the physiological arousal and the entire environmental situation

medulla

A brain stem structure involved in many essential body functions, such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, digestion and swallowing

pons

A brain stem structure that serves as a bridge between the cerebellum and the rest of the brain and is involved in sleep and dreaming

reticular formation

A network of neurons running up the center of the brain stem that is responsible for our different levels of arousal consciousness

cerebellum

A part of the brain involved in the coordination of our movements, sense of balance, and motor learning

thalamus

A part of the brain that serves as a relay station for incoming sensory information

basal ganglia

A part of the brain that is involved in the initiation and execution of movements

limbic system

A group of brain structures (hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala) that play an important role in our survival, memory and emotions

hypothalamus

A part of the brain that is involved in regulating basic drives such as eating, drinking, and having sex. It also directs the endocrine glandular system through its control of the pituitary gland and the autonomic nervous system to maintain the body's internal environment

hippocampus

A part of the brain involved in the formation of memories

Medulla

involved in essential body functions such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure and swallowing

amygdala

A part of the brain that is involved in emotions by influencing aggression, anger and fear and by providing the emotional element of our memories and the interpretation of emotional expressions in others

cerebral cortex

The layers of interconnected cells covering the brain's two hemispheres. This is the control and information-processing center for the nervous system; it is where perception, memory, language, decision making, and all other higher-level cognitive processing occur

corpus callosum

The bridge of neurons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres

frontal lobe

The area in each cerebral hemisphere in front of the central fissure and above the lateral fissure. The motor cortex is in this lobe

parietal lobe

The are in each cerebral hemisphere in back of the central fissure and above the lateral fissure. The somatosensory cortex is in this lobe

temporal lobe

The are in each cerebral hemisphere located beneath the lateral fissure. The primary auditory cortex is in this lobe

occipital lobe

The are located in the lower back of each cerebral hemisphere. The primary visual cortex is in this lobe

motor cortex

The strip of cortex in each cerebral hemisphere in the frontal lobe directly in front of the central fissure, which allows us to move different parts of our body

somatosensory cortex

The strip of cortex in each cerebral hemisphere in the parietal lobe directly in back of the central fissure, which allows us to sense pressure, temperature, and pain in different parts of our body as well as the position of our body parts

association cortex

All of the cerebral cortex except those areas devoted to primary sensory processing or motor processing. This is where all the higher-level cognitive processing that requires the association of information, such as perception and language occurs

Broca's area

An area in the cerebral cortex responsible for fluent speech production. It is in the left frontal lobe of the majority of people, regardless of handedness

Wernicke's are

An area in the cerebral cortex responsible for comprehension of speech and text. It is in the left temporal lobe of the majority of people, regardless of handedness

consciousness

An individual's subjective awareness of their inner thinking and feeling and their external environment

REM (rapid eye movement) sleep

The stage of sleep that is characterized by rapid eye movements and brain wave patterns that resemble those for an awake state and in which most dreaming occurs. REM sleep is sometimes referred to as paradoxical sleep because the bodily muscles are immobilized but much of the brain is highly active

dendrites

The main function of the _____ is to receive information from other neurons.

amphetamine

Which of the following is an agonist?

curare

GABA

botulinum poison

amphetamine

serotonin

An SSRI works by blocking the reuptake of ____.

motor neuron

Which type of neuron carries information from the CNS to the PNS?

sensory neuron

motor neuron

interneuron

glial

b. stimulation of digestion

Which of the following is an action of the parasympathetic nervous system?

a. pupil dilation

b. stimulation of digestion

c. accelerated heartbeat

d. raised blood sugar levels

hypothalamus

The actions of the pituitary gland are controlled by the ____.

a. amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus

The limbic system consists of the ___, ____, and ____.

a. thalamus, hypothalamus, and amygdala

b. hypothalamus, medulla and reticular formation

c. amygdala, hypothalamus and hippocampus

d. basal ganglia, amygdala, and cerebellum

d. left; left

In the majority of people, Broca's area is located in the ____ hemisphere, and the Wernicke's area is located in the _____ hemisphere.

a. right; right

b. right; left

c. left; right

d. left; left

c. right; right

Information in a person's left visual field goes to the ___ half of each eye and then to the ___ hemisphere.

a. left; left

b. left; right

c. right; right

d. right; left

d. REM sleep

Which of the following stages of sleep is referred to as paradoxical sleep?