Unit 1 Important Vocab

Independent Variable (IV)

• What the experimenter changes

• Example: Giving different amounts of caffeine

Dependent Variable (DV)

• What is measured

• Example: Memory score after caffeine

Control Group

• Doesn’t get the treatment

• Example: Group gets no caffeine

Random Assignment

Participants randomly placed in groups

• Example: Names drawn from a hat

Correlation (≠ causation)

• Two things related, but one doesn’t cause the other

• Example: Ice cream sales ↑ and drowning ↑ (not cause)

Double-blind study

• Neither participant nor researcher knows who gets treatment

• Example: Drug vs placebo study

Neuron

• brain cell that send, receive, and carry signals

• Example: Neurons fire when you touch something hot

Action Potential

• Electrical signal traveling down neuron

• depolarization; positive charge on the inside

• Example: Signal moving to pull your hand away

Neurotransmitters

• Chemical messengers between neurons

• Example: Dopamine = pleasure

CNS (Central Nervous System)

• Brain + spinal cord

• Example: Processes pain

PNS (Peripheral Nervous System)

• Connects body to CNS

• Example: Nerves in your hands

Sympathetic Nervous System

• “Fight or flight”

• Example: Heart racing during fear

Parasympathetic Nervous System

• “Rest and digest”

• Example: Calming down after stress

Frontal Lobe

• Decision-making, personality

• Example: Choosing what to say

Parietal Lobe

• Touch, spatial awareness

• Example: Feeling heat

Temporal Lobe

• Hearing, memory

• Example: Listening to music

Occipital Lobe

• Vision

• Example: Seeing a car

Hindbrain: Cerebellum

• Balance + coordination

• Example: Walking smoothly

Amygdala

• Fear + emotions

• Example: Feeling scared

Hippocampus

• Memory formation

• Example: Remembering a name

Hypothalamus

• Hunger, hormones

• Example: Feeling hungry

Glial Cells

Helper cells that send and receive chemical signals to and from each other and to and from neurons

sensory neuron (receptor)

different for each sense

respond to non-chemical stimulation

send afferent signals

Afferent signals Arrive at the brain

Motor neuron

Connected to all of our muscles

The only way we can speak

Receive efferent signals

Efferent signals Exit the brain

Soma (neural anatomy)

Body of the cell (has nucleus)

dendrites

branch like structures that detect/receive messages and pass it them into the soma

Axon

a long, cable-like structure that passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

myelin sheath

protects and insulates the axon; makes the messages go faster

axon terminal/terminal buttons

knobs at the end of the axon that release neurotransmitters

synapse (synaptic cleft)

the tiny gap between the sending neuron and receiving neuron, where neurotransmitters are released

neuron resting potential

It is Polarized; Po=positive outside

neuron firing threshold

once it reaches threshold the neuron fires and its the same intensity everytime (all or none law)

refractory period

a breif period where the neuron cant fire again

reuptake

the sending neuron recollects neurotransmitters

glutamate

most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter

enhances learning and memory by strenghtening synaptic connects

GABA

most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter

associated with various anxiety disorder

Acetylcholine (ACh)

in CNS and PNS

causes all movement

dopamine

linked to the anticipation of pleasurable or rewarding activities

involved in movement, attention, and learning

excess dopamine is associated with schizophrenia

lack of dopamine is associated with parkinson’s

endorphins

natural painkiller-involved in pain reduction and reward

epinephrine (adrenaline)

neurotransmitter and hormone

primary chemical in fight or flight

Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)

arousal, alertness, vigilance
heavily involved in sleep cycle S

Serotonin

plays an important role in mood, appetite, sleep and dreams

agonist drug

fully activates neuron

antagonist drug

inhibits the full activation of a neuron

heroin

direct agonist for endorphins

nicotine

agonist for ACh

reuptake inhibitors

a drug that allows neurotransmitters to stay in the presynaptic neuron longer

prozac

inhibits the reuptake of serotonin

cocaine

inhibits the reuptake of dopamine

botox

antagonist for ACh

blocks ACh from reaching receptors

Thorazine

antagonist for dopamine

Psychoactive drugs

alter mental states

produces more dopamine

create tolerance

lead to physical dependence

all affect synaptic transmission

blood-brain barrier

allows some chemicals to go from the blood into the brain

depressants

slow or inhibit CNS

makes people tired/sleepy

most common: alcohol (agonist for GABA)

Opiates/Opiods

agonist for endorphins

ex. heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl

Stimulants

activate SNS

ex. Caffeine (antagonist for adenosine) and cocaine (agonist for dopamine)

Hallucinogens (Psychedelics)

create sensory and perceptual distortions and alter mood
ex. THC (causes hallucinations)

Hindbrain: Medulla

functions: HR, breathing and BP
reflexes: swallowing, sneezing, and vomiting

Hindbrain: Pons

The bridge that connects the brainstem and cerebellum

Helps coordinate and integrate movemets on each side of the body

plays a role in sleep functions

Hindbrain: Reticular Activating System (RAS)

A network of nerve fibers involved in attention, arousal, and alertness

Midbrain

nerve system connecting the higher and lower portions of the brain

relays info between the brain and the ears and eyes

limbic system of brain

thalamus

hypothalamus

amygdala

hippocampus

Thalamus

all senses go here first and then to the cortex (only smell doesnt go here)

Hypothalamus

Fight or flight

hunger

hormones

Amygdala

anger and fear

Hippocampus

memeory

short term memory into long term memory

motor cortex

initates voluntary movement (left side of brain controls right side of body)

part of frontal lobe

somatosensory cortex

part of parietal lobe

sense of touch

Primary visual cortex

part of occipital lobe

vision

auditory association cortex

part of temporal lobe

hearing

Broca’s Area

part of frontal lobe

language area (expressive speech)

only on left side

wernicke’s area

part of temporal lobe

involved in understanding language

corpus callosum

connects the two hemispheres of the brain

split brain research

done to cure epilepsy

researchers observed patients over weeks

left hemisphere functions

language and interpreter

right hemisphere functions

spatial abilities, facial recognition, emotional expression, and more active when it comes to art and music

neuroplasticity

the brain can change as a result of experience or injury

two types: neurogenesis and long term potentationn

neurogenesis

creation of new cells

LTP

When many neurons fire together, their neural pathway becomes more efficient and smoother

EEG

measures electrical activity from brain

identifies sleep disorders

fMRI

shows both structure and function

measures changes in O2 levels in brain areas to show activiation

sleep cycles

a full cycle lasts 90-120 minutes

4 stages: NREM 1, 2, 3 and REM

Awake stage

beta waves and our brain is very responsive

NREM 1

alpha waves

NREM 2

theta waves

NREM 3

delta waves/deepest stage of sleep/get shorter throughout the night

sleepwalking and talking

REM

beta waves

Our brain is responsive (like it’s awake)

gets longer throughout the night

paralyzed body

Restoration Theory of Sleep

sleep helps restore and repair muscles and brain tissues

Memory Consolidation Theory of Sleep

sleep helps us restore and rebuild our memories of the day’s experiences, happens during REM

Energy Conservation Theory of Sleep

Sleep protects us

Psychological Dream Theory

Freud suggests that dreams have a deep meaning

Activation Synthesis

Dreaming helps organize our brains