AP Psychology: Chapter 2: The Biological Perspective

Olfactory bulbs

two projections just under the front of the brain that receive information from the receptors in the nose located just below

Myelin

insulates and produces the axons of neurons that travel in the body

Reticular formation (RF)

an area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond that play a role in general arousal, alertness, and sleep

Roger Sperry

created The Split- Brain Experiment to demonstrate the specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain

Neuroplasticity

the ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

equipment designed to record the brain wave patterns produced by electrical activity of the surface of the brain

Antagonists

chemical substances that block or reduce a cells response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters

Agonists

chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell

Cerebellum

the upper part of the brain consisting of the two hemispheres and the structures that connect them

Neuron

the basic cell that makes up the nervous system and that receives and sends messages within that system

Soma

the cell body of the neuron responsible for maintaining the life of the cell

Hypothalamus

small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland, responsible for Mortar Behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex

Computed tomography (CT)

brain imaging method using computer- controlled X- rays of the brain

Cerebral hemispheres

the two sections of the cortex on the left and right sides of the brain

Spatial neglect

Condition produced by damage to the association areas of the right hemisphere resulting in an inability to recognize objects or body parts in the last visual field

Positron emission tomography (PET)

brain imaging method in which a radioactive sugar is injected into the subject and a computer compiles a color coded image of the activity of the brain, with lighter colors indicating more activity

Pancreas

endocrine gland; controls the levels of sugar in the blood

Excitatory

or inhibitory; involved in mood sleep, and appetite

Corpus callosum

thick band of neurons that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres

Nerves

bundles of axons coated in myelin that travel together through the body

Interneurons

also make up the bulk of the neurons in the brain

Medulla

the first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain, which is responsible for life- sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate

Afferent (sensory) neuron

a neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system

Pons

the larger swelling above the medulla that connects the top of the brain to the bottom and thar plays a part in sleep, and arousal

Receptor sites

holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters

Interneuron

a neuron found in the center of the spinal cord that receives information from the afferent neurons and sends commands to the afferent neurons and sends commands to the muscles through the efferent neurons

Amygdala

brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear

Parasympathetic division

part of the ANS that restores the body to the normal functioning after the arousal and is responsible for the day- to- day functioning of the organs

Spinal cord

a long bundle of neurons that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system

Neurotransmitter

a chemical found in the synaptic vesicles that, when released, has an effect on the next call

Adrenal glands

endocrine glands located on the top of each kidney that secrete over 30 different hormones to deal with stress, regulate salt intake, and provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual changes that occur during adolescence

Sympathetic division (flight- or- flight)

part of the ANS that is responsible for reacting to the stressful events and bodily arousal

Dendrites

branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons

Cocaine acts

by blocking dopamine reuptake sites, allowing dopamine to remain active in the synapse longer

Thalamus

: part of the limbic system located in the center of the brain, this structure relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex and processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper area

Efferent (motor) neuron

a neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body

Axon

tubelike structure that carries the neural messages to other cells

Dopamine

is removed from the synapse by reuptake sites

Hippocampus

curved structure located within each temporal lobe, responsible for the information of long- term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects

Occipital lobe

section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual centers of the brain

Gonads

sex glands; decrease hormones that regulate sexual development and behavior as well as reproduction

Reflex arc

the connection of the afferent neurons the interneurons to the interneurons tp the efferent neurons, resulting in a reflex action

Somatosensory cortex

area of neurons running down the front of the parietal lobes responsible for processing information from the skin and internal body receptors for touch, temperature, body position, and possibly taste

Reuptake

process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles

Axon terminals

branches at the end of the axon

Limbic system

a group of several brain structures located under the cortex and involved learning, emotion, memory, and motivation