Openstax Psychology chapter 3

Action Potential

electrical signal that moves down the neuron's axon

Adrenal Gland

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved with stress response

agonist

drug that mimics or strengthens effects of neurotransmitters

all-or-none

Phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitement

allele

specific version of gene

amygdala

structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories

antagonist

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitters

auditory cortex

strip of cortex in the temperal lobe that is resposible for processing auditory information

autonomic nervous system

controls our internal organs and glands

axon

major extension of the soma

biological perspective

view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems

Broca's area

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

cerebellum

hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movemment , motor skills, and is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

Cerebral cortex

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

chromosome

long strand of genetic information

computerized tomography CT scan

imaging technique in which a computor coordinated and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area

corpus callosum

thick band of neural fibers connecting the brains 2 hemispheres

dendrite

branch like extension of the soma that recieves incoming signals from other neurons

diabetes

disease related to insufficient insulin production

electroencephalography eeg

records the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp

endocrine system

series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

epigenetics

study of gene-environment interactions, such as same genotype leads to different phenotype

Fight or flight response

activation of sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. energy reserves and heightened sensory compacity so that we may fight or run

forebrain

largest part of the brain, contains the celebral cortex, thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures

frontal lobe

part of the celebral cortex involved in the reasoning , motor control, emotion, and kanguage , contains motor cortex

Functional magnetic resoncance imagaing

FMRI mri that shows changes in metabolic activity

gene

sequence of dna that controls or partially controls a physical characteristic

genetic environmental correlation

view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences our expression of genes

gilial cell

provide support and nutrition to the nervous system

gonad

secretes sexual hormone

gyrus

bump or ridge on the celebral cortex

hemisphere

left of right of the brain

hindbrain

division of the brain consisting of the mendulla, pons, and cerebellum

hippocampus

structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory

homeostasis

state of equilibrium

hormone

chemical messenger released by endocrine glands

hypothalamus

forebrain structure that regulates the sexual motivation and behavior and a number of homestatic processes. Serves as the interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system

lateralization

concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

limbc system

collection of structures involved in the processing of emotion and memory

logitudinal fissure

deep groove in the brain cortex

MRI

magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged

medulla

hindbrain structure that controls automate processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

membrane potential

difference in charge across the neutal membrane

Midbrain

division of the brain. contains the reticular formation

motor cortex

strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinationg movement

myelin sheath

fatty substance that insulates axon

neurotransmitter

chemical messanger for the nervous sstem

occipital lobe

part of the cerebral cortex assosiated with visual processsing: contains the primary visual cortex

pancreas

secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar

parasymapathetic nervous system

Routine & Day to Day operations of the body

parietal lobe

part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information: contains the primary somatosensory cortex

peripheral nervous system PNS

connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body

pituitary gland

secretes hormones

polygenic

multiple genes affecting a given trait

pons

hindbrain structure that connect the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep