Psychology in Your Life Chapter 2

Nervous System

network of billions of cells in the brain and the body

The brain is responsible for what?

All aspects of what we feel ,think, and do

What are the 3 basic functions fo the nervous system?

Receive input from the world

Process the information in the brain

Respond to information by acting

What does the central nervous system consist of?

The Brain and Spinal Cord

What is the Peripheral nervous system?

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

What are neurons?

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

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

Parts of the neuron are covered with a?

membrane

The neuron begins in what state?

resting state

what is action potential?

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

In what ways does neurons communicate with other neurons?

Neurons pass signals to other neurons

Receive signals from neighboring neurons

Assess the incoming signals

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

all or nothing

(all or nothing principle)

Do neurons touch one another in the synapse?

No, they communicate chemically at the synapse

Neurotransmitters

Chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another

Receptors

specialized sites that specifically respond to certain types of neurotransmitters

What are the 2 types of postsnynaptic neurons

excitatory

inhibitory

Excitatory means?

fire (messages in neurons)

inhibitory means?

don't fire (messages in neurons)

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 Paul Broca 1861)

Contemporary brain research 2 types

Electroencephalograph

fMRI's

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

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

survival

The spinal cord's allow what?

communication between the brain and the rest of the body

Brain

The forebrain includes what two main areas?

the cerebral cortex and the five subcortical structures

Outer layer of the forebrain is called the...

cerebral cortex

Cortex

divided into 2 halves; right and left hemisphere

Cerebral hemisphere has 4 areas called?

lobes

What are the 4 cerebral lobes called?

occipital, parietal, temporal, and frontal lobes

Cerebral hemisphere is connected by a structure called?

corpus callosum

what is the corpus callosum?

massive bridge consisting of millions of axons

Prefontal 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

peripheral nervous system has what 2 primary components?

the somatic nervous system

the autonomic nervous system

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

autonomic nervous system has what 2 divisons

sympathetic nervous system

parasympathetic nervous system

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

boys brains are how much larger than female brains?

9 percent

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

corpus callosum