Psych Chapter 3 Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts in neuroscience and behavior as outlined in the lecture notes.

Behavioral Neuroscientists (Biopsychologists)

Psychologists who explore how biological structures and functions affect behavior.

Neurons

Nerve cells that are the basic components of the nervous system and the fundamental units of behavior.

Cell Body

The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus and hereditary material that dictates cellular functions.

Glial Cells

Supportive cells that provide nourishment, insulation, and help repair damage to neurons.

Dendrite

A cluster of fibers at one end of a neuron that receives messages from other neurons.

Axon

The part of the neuron that carries messages away from the cell body toward other neurons.

Terminal Buttons

The part of the axon that sends messages to other neurons.

Myelin Sheath

A protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon and increases the speed of impulse transmission.

All-or-None Law

The principle that neurons are either on or off; they fire completely or not at all.

Resting State

The state of a neuron before being triggered, with a negative electrical charge of approximately -70 millivolts.

Action Potential

An electric nerve impulse that travels through a neuron when triggered, changing the charge from negative (-70 millivolts) to positive (+40 millivolts).

Mirror Neurons

Specialized neurons that activate both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing that same action.

Synapse

The space between two neurons where chemical messages (neurotransmitters) are transmitted.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit messages across the synapse to the receiving neuron; there are over 100 known types.

Excitatory Message

A chemical message that increases the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire.

Inhibitory Message

A chemical message that decreases the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire.

Reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the terminal button to prevent constant stimulation.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement and cognitive functioning; excitatory in the brain/PNS and inhibitory elsewhere.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord involved in memory.

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)

The brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter; regulates eating, aggression, and sleeping.

Dopamine (DA)

A neurotransmitter involved in movement control, pleasure, and attention; it can be inhibitory or excitatory.

Serotonin

An inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in regulating sleep, eating, and mood.

Endorphins

Primarily inhibitory neurotransmitters involved in pain suppression, pleasurable feelings, and appetites.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The branches of the nervous system that connect the CNS to the rest of the body; includes autonomic and somatic divisions.

Spinal Cord

Transmits messages between the brain and body and can control simple reflexes independently.

Reflex

An automatic, involuntary response to an incoming stimulus involving sensory and motor neurons.

Sensory (Afferent) Neurons

Neurons that transmit information from the perimeter of the body to the nervous system and brain.

Motor (Efferent) Neurons

Neurons that communicate information from the brain and nervous system to the muscles and glands.

Somatic Division

A part of the PNS that controls voluntary movements and connects sensory organs.

Autonomic Division

A part of the PNS that governs involuntary functions like heartbeat and digestion.

Sympathetic Division

The part of the autonomic system that prepares the body for action in stressful situations (fight-or-flight).

Parasympathetic Division

The part of the autonomic system that calms the body after an emergency.

Endocrine System

A chemical communication network that sends hormones through the bloodstream to regulate growth and function.

Hormones

Chemicals that circulate through the blood and regulate the functioning or growth of the body.

Pituitary Gland

The 'master gland' of the endocrine system that controls other glands and regulates growth.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

A device that measures brain electrical activity via electrodes placed outside the skull.

fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

A technique that produces 3D images of brain activity and structures using magnetic fields.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

A scan that displays biochemical activity in the brain via injected radioactive liquids.

Medulla

A hindbrain structure that regulates critical life functions like breathing and heart rate.

Pons

A hindbrain structure that coordinates motor information between the right and left halves of the body and regulates sleep.

Cerebellum

The part of the brain that controls bodily balance and coordination.

Reticular Formation

A network of neurons stretching from the midbrain to the forebrain that regulates arousal and attention.

Thalamus

The part of the brain located in the middle of the central core that acts as a relay station for sensory information.

Hypothalamus

A structure that maintains homeostasis and regulates basic survival behaviors like eating and drinking.

Limbic System

The part of the brain controlling emotions and self-preservation, including the amygdala and hippocampus.

Amygdala

A structure within the limbic system primarily responsible for emotion.

Hippocampus

A structure within the limbic system primarily responsible for memory functions.

Cerebral Cortex

The 'new brain' responsible for sophisticated processing, divided into four lobes.

Frontal Lobes

The lobes responsible for executive functions, decision-making, and voluntary motor control.

Parietal Lobes

The lobes responsible for processing sensation, touch, pressure, and spatial awareness.

Temporal Lobes

The lobes responsible for auditory processing and language comprehension.

Occipital Lobes

The lobes responsible for visual processing.

Motor Area

An area of the cerebral cortex that controls voluntary movement.

Sensory Area

An area of the cerebral cortex corresponding to sensory perceptions like touch and pressure.

Association Areas

Regions of the cortex involved in higher mental processes such as speech, memory, and language.

Broca’s Aphasia

A condition resulting from brain injury that causes impaired speech production.

Wernicke’s Aphasia

A condition resulting from brain injury that causes impaired language understanding and production.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself and form new connections throughout life.

Neurogenesis

The creation of new neurons, which may occur in specific areas of the adult brain.

Hemispheres

The symmetrical left and right halves of the brain, typically controlling the opposite side of the body.

Lateralization

The dominance of one hemisphere in specific functions, such as language processing in the left hemisphere.

Corpus Callosum

A bundle of fibers connecting the two hemispheres; severed in split-brain patients to treat epilepsy.