Psych October Test

Agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmiter’s action

Antagonists

A molecule that inhibits a neurotransmitter

Endorphins

• “ Morphine within”

• Natural, opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

Reuptake

Neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic caps between a neuron.

Elements of action potential

• a neural impulse

• brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Glial Cells

Cells in nervous system that support and nourish the neurons

Parasympathetic

Calming nervous system

Sympathetic

Stressing nervous system

Automatic Nervous System

Part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs; Sympathetic arouses and Para calms

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body”s skeletal muscles (voluntary movement)

Reflex Arc

A fast Neural pathway that controls an auto response

Interneurons

Neurons within the brain + spinal cord, communicate internally and proccess info between sensory inputs and motor outputs

Motor Neurons

Recieve info from central nervous system

Sensory Neurons

Takes information into central nervous system

Peripheral Nervous System

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

Central nervous system

Brain + Spinal crod

Epigenetics

The study of the enviornmental influences on gene expression that occur without DNA change

Mono V. Dizyg twins

• mono - identical

• Dizygotic- fraternal

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of evolution of behavior + themius

Corpus Callosum

Network of nerves that allow info to move between the two hemispheres

Hippocampus

The processing and storing of explicit memories of facts and events

Hypothalamus

Homeostatus → eat, drink, temp, etc, from the pituatary gland

Amygdala

Fear & aggression

Cerebellum

“ little brain”, controls movement, balance, sensory input, etc.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synatptic gaps between neurons when released by the sending neuron, neurontransmitters travel across the synapic + bind to receptor sites, influencing neural impulse

Broca’s Area

Left + frontal, muscles in face for speech production

Split Brain

• Cut corpus callosm

• no real effect

Temporal Lobe

• ears & hearing

• long term memory

• order of words

Occipital Lobe

• sight & visual cotrex

• back of head

Parietal Lobe

Sensory lobe for touch, math, and spatial abilities

Front Lobe

Where abstract thought + personality come from

Reticular Activiating System

Net like network neurons located inside of the brainstem

Thalamus

• all senses beside smell go here first!

• Sensory switch board

Medulla

• top of spinal cord/ base of brain

• controls breathing + heartbeat

• die or life support

FMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

EEG

electrical activity brain

Neuroplasicity

brain’s lifelong ability to adapt, learn + change

Natural Selection

The principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive & reproduce an organism to survive

Excitatory

keep action potential going

Inhibatory

Stops action potential

Endocrine System

Body’s slow chemical communication system which consists of a series of gland that increase horomones into the blood stream

Psychoactive Drugs

Stimulates inhibility or mimicking neurotransmitter activity

Depressenants

Reduce neural activity increase relaxation, decrease mood

Stimulants

• excites neural activity

• speeds up body processes

Hallucinogens

cause you to hallucinate

Opiates

• pain killers, slows things down

• all comes from poppyseed

Biopsychosocial Approach

an intergrated approach that incoropates biological psychologial + social- culutre view points