Biopsychology and Neural Transmission Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering biophysiological topics including neural transmission, electrical potential, nervous system divisions, nature vs. nurture, and neuron anatomy.

Neural transmission

The process by which neurons communicate with each other using electrical and chemical signals.

Electrical communication

The form of communication used within a single neuron.

Chemical communication

The form of communication used between different neurons.

Resting potential

The state of a neuron when it is charged and ready to fire, but currently inactive, positioned at $-70\,\text{mV}$.

Threshold

The minimum level or boundary of physical stimulation required for the brain to detect a sensory signal or trigger an action potential, positioned at $-55\,\text{mV}$.

Action potential

A brief electrical charge peaking at $+40\,\text{mV}$ that moves down a neuron's axon when the cell fires.

Depolarization

The process where the inside of a neuron becomes more positive as positively charged sodium ions rush into the cell, shifting the electrical charge away from its resting state and triggering an action potential.

All-or-nothing principle

The principle stating that a neuron potential or muscle fiber either fires a complete action potential at full strength or does not fire at all.

Refractory period

The brief resting time right after a neuron fires when it pumps ions back to normal and cannot fire another impulse.

Reuptake

The process where the sending (presynaptic) neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules back into its axon terminal from the synapse after they have transmitted a neural message.

Multiple sclerosis

A disease of the nervous system where the immune system attacks and damages the myelin sheath.

Myasthenia gravis

A chronic autoimmune disorder that disrupts communication between nerve and muscle cells, leading to severe muscle weakness.

Nature

The component of biological development consisting of heredity and genetic predisposition.

Nurture

The component of development consisting of environmental factors and external influences, such as maternal drug exposure during pregnancy.

Natural selection

A core evolutionary psychology concept involving adaptation, survival, and reproductive success.

Eugenics

The discriminatory application of psychological concepts through selective breeding and selective sterilization.

Central Nervous System

The primary structure of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

All nerves outside the central nervous system responsible for bringing sensory information in and motor information out.

Somatic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary actions.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that automatically regulates involuntary bodily functions.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that triggers fight or flight responses and speeds things up.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for rest and digest functions, slowing digestion down and pumping the brakes.

Dendrites

Branching structures of a neuron that receive messages from other cells.

Soma

The cell body that acts as the life support center of the neuron.

Nucleus

The structure within the soma that houses the cell's genetic information.

Axon

The neuron extension that passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Myelin sheath

A layer covering the axon of some neurons that helps speed up neural impulses.

Schwann cell

A cell that forms the myelin sheath around nerve fibers.

Node of Ranvier

A gap along the myelin sheath that allows cations to flow in and out of the cell.

Terminal button

The junction structure at the end of axon branches that releases chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.

Synapse

The junction that allows one neuron to communicate with another cell by passing a chemical message.

Receptor sites

Specialized areas on the dendrites of receiving neurons that receive and bind to specific chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.