bio/psych test

ap psychology

Transmission of information in a cell body

Dendrites- soma- axon- terminals

Myelin Sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Polarization

refers to the resting state of a neuron where the inside of the cell is negatively charged compared to the outside

Depolarization

The process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.

action potential indicates that a neurons reaction is

"firing" or actively sending an electrical signal; it signifies a rapid depolarization of the neuron's membrane, meaning the neuron is actively transmitting information along its axon

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Opiate drugs occupy the same receptor sites as

endorphins + dopamine

Parkinson's disease results in lack of what drug?

Lack of dopamine in the brain

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

limbic system triggers the

fight of flight response

parasympatheric nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy. Relaxing, resting, and digesting

Endocrine glands secrete

hormones into the bloodstream

EEG

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

CT scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

fMRI

images, to show brain function

PET

Radioactive Glucose, Brain activity

MRI

magnetic radio waves, brain anatomy

medulla

controls heartbeat and breathing

Hippocampus

memory

Amygdala

memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

limbic system

(including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) associated with emotions and drives.

cerebral cortex (fancy name for the freaking brain)

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

parietal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

Phineas Gage

railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality and behavior; case played a role in the development of the understanding of the localization of brain function

frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

Wernicke's area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Plasticity

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

left and right side of brain

Left: logical sided, dealing with language, writing, and analysis
Right: emotional side, dealing with spatial perception, patterns, and recognition of faces

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

dual processing

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks