General Psychology - Quiz 2

Cedarville University; Prof DeWitt (2025)

biological psychology

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

neuroplasticity

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

neuron

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

cell body

the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life-support center

dendrites

a neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

axon

the segmented neuron 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

glial cells (glia)

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

action potential

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

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neral impulse

refractory period

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

all-or-none response

a neuron’s reaction of either firing or not firing

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite of cell body of the receiving neuron

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons

reuptake

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

endorphins

“morphine within” — nature, opiate-like neurotransmitter linked to pain control and to pleasure

agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action

antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action

nervous system

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and the spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

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

nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sensory organs

sensory (afferent) neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor (efferent) neurons

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

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing 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 reflex

endocrine system

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissue

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sits just above the kidneys and secretes hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

pituitary gland

the endocrine system’s most influential gland; regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

lesion

tissue destruction Brian lesions occur naturally, in surgery, or experimentally

EEG (electroencephalogram)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface

MEG (magnetoencphalography)

a brain-imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

PET (positron emission tomography)

a technique for detecting brain activity that displays where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; show brain anatomy

fMRI (functional MRI)

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans: show brain function and structure

hindbrain

consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions, such as breathing, sleeping, and wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance

midbrain

found atop the brainstem; connects the hindbrain with the forebrain, controls some motor movement, and transmits auditory and visual information

forebrain

consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus; manages complex cognitive activities, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities

brainstem

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

medulla

the hindbrain structure that is the brainstem’s base; controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the forebrain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

the hindbrain’s “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling non-verbal learning and memory

limbic system

neural system located mostly in the forebrain; associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

two lima-bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

hypothalamus

directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

hippocampus

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

cerebral cortex

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

frontal lobes

involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

parietal lobes

receives sensory inputs for touch and body position

occipital lobes

includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

temporal lobes

includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

motor cortex

a cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

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

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that separates the brain’s tow hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

environment

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to our experiences of the people and things around us

heredity

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

behavior genetics

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

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

genes

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

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes

identical (monozygotic) twins

individuals who developed from a single fertilized egg that split in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

individuals who developed from separate fertilized eggs; genetically no closer than ordinary siblings, but they shared a prenatal environment

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor

epigenetics

the study of the molecular mechanisms by which environments can influence genetic expression

evolutionary psychology

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

natural selection

the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to subsequent generations