biological bases of psyhcology

phrenolgy

studying bumps on skull

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

cell body

the part of the beuron that contains the nucleus; the cells life support center

dendrites

a neurons often bushy, branching extensions that recieve and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

axon

the neuroins extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

glail cells

cells in the nervosu system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

action potential

a neural impulse, a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. A neuron sends a message by firing an impulse which is this.

depolariztion

happens when sodium ions rush into a neuron, making hte inside of the neuron more positive and causing the action potenital to move down the axon

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

refractory period

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state

all or none repsonse

a neurons reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the recieving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synapse gap or cleft

neurotransimtters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on teh recieving neuron, influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

reuptake

a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

endorphins

“morphine within” - natural opiate like neurotranismtters linked to pain control adn to pleasure

agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action

antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action

nervous system

the bodys speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system.

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with msucles, glands, and sense organs

sensory(afferent) neurons

neurons taht carry incoming information from the bodys tissues and sensory receptors to teh brain and spinal cord

motor(efferent) neurons

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

interneurons

neurons withing the brain and spinal cord; they communciate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the bodies skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart) its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body; mobilizes its energy

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

reflex

a simple automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee jerk response

endocrine system

the bodies slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream

hormones

chemical messengers that are manafactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the blood stream, and affect other tissues

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress

pituitary glands

the endocrine system most influential gland under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Releases growth hormone and oxytocin

lesion

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

EEG

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

MEG

a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from teh brains natural electrical activity

CT scan

a series of xray photographs taken from different angels and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brains structure

PET

a visual display of brain activity that detects where radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields adn radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy

FMRI

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure

brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

medulla

the base of teh brainstem; controls heart beat and breathing

thalamus

the brains sensory control center, located on the top of the brain stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

reticular formation

a nerve network that travel through the brain stem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

limbic system

neural system (including amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

two lima sized beans neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotions especially fear and anger

hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit memories of facts and events

cerebrum

two cerebral heispheres contributing to 85% of the brains weight. Form work teams that enable our percieving thinking and speaking

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the bodies ultimate control and information processing center

frontal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and msucle movements and in making plans and judgement

parietal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and towards the rear; recieves sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

temporal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from opposite ear

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. The motor cortex gives more space to body parts that require precise control such as the hands, fingers, face, tongue, etc

somatosensory cortex

an area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensation. The more sensitive the body region, the larger the somato sensory cortex area devoted to it

association areas

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

visual cortex

processes and interprets visual infromation from the eyes

auditory cortex

processes and interprets sounds and other auditory information

broccas area

controls speech production

wernickes area

helps with understanding language

plasticity

the brains ability to change especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

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

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

right hemisphere

excels in making inferences

helps us modulate our speech to make meanign clear

consioucsness

our subjective awareness of ourselves and our enviornment

cognitive neuroscinece

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

dual processing

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

behaviro genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

heredity

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

DNA

a complex moleucle containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosome

genes

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins

genome

the complete isntructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organisms chromosomes

identical monozygotic twins

develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two; creating two genetically identical organisms

fraternal dizygotic twins

develop from seperate fertilized eggs. they are genetically no closer than ordinary brother and sister, but they share a prenatal environment

heritability

the proportion of variation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes. the heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as the environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

molecular genetics

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

molecular behavior genetics

the study of how the structure and function of genes interact wiht out environment to influence behavior

epigenetics

“above” or “in addition to” (epi) genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur wihtout a DNA change

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

social script

culturally modelled guide for how to act in various situations

acetylcholine

enables muscle action, learning, and memory. Ex: w/ alzheimers ACH producing neurons detiorate

dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion. Ex: oversupply linked to schizoprenia; undersupply linked to tremors and decreased mobility in parkinsons

serotonin

affects mood, hunger, sleep, adn arousal. Ex: undersupply linked to depression, some drugs that raise serotonin are used to treat depression

norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal. Ex: undersupply can depress mood

GABA

a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. EX: undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia

glutamate

a major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory; oversupply can overstimulate the brain producing migraines and seizures

endorphins

neurotransmitter that influences the perception of pain or pleasure. EX: oversupply w/ opiate drugs can suppress the bodies natural endorphin supply

Pituitary Gland

• Master gland

• Controlled by hypothalamus

• Responsible for release of hormones throughout body

• Controls all endocrine glands

Right Hemisphere

Generally specialized for visual spatial processing, recognizing faces and processing some aspects of emotion and music

Left Hemisphere

Generally specialized for speech, language, logic and analytical processing

Basal Ganglia

Helps control voluntary movement and plays a role in habits and learning

Association Areas

Integrate and interpret information from different parts of the brain, involved in thinking, memory, and problem solving

Somatosensory/ Sensory Cortex

• area in parietal lobe

• takes in sensory input from corresponding body parts