PSYCH 105: Week 1 Flashcards

All 3 videos from week 1 inputed within the Flashcards

Behavioral neuroscience

The study of the brain's role in behavior, also known as biological psychology.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A neurotransmitter that inhibits nerve transmission in the brain, helping to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.

Neurotransmitter reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron after transmitting a signal.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where communication occurs.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays a role in reward, motivation, and motor control.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that contributes to mood regulation, sleep, and appetite.

endorphins

Neurotransmitters that help relieve pain and induce feelings of pleasure or euphoria.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain, involved in higher brain functions such as thought, perception, and decision-making.

Limbic System

A complex set of structures in the brain that regulates emotions, memory, and motivation.

Cenetral nervous system (CNS)

Comprises the brain and spical cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Includes all nerves outside the CNS; connects the CNS to limbs and organs.

Neuron

Basic building block of the nervous system that transmits information.

Myelin sheath

Insulating layer around many neurons that speeds up signal transmission.

Action potential

A short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls.

Axon

Long projection of a neuron that transmits impulses away from the cell body.

Dendrites

Branch-like structures of a neuron that receive messages from other neurons

James-Lange Theory of Emotion

According to this theory, our feelings follow our bodily reactions to external situations; for example, you feel sad because you're crying.

Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion

This theory claims that physiological responses to emotions are general and that emotions and physiological responses occur simultaneously.

Emotion Recognition

The ability to identify emotions through facial expressions, which has shown to be universal across cultures, but with variable recognition rates.

Constructed Emotion Theory

The theory that emotions are created as a combination of the body's physical properties, brain flexibility, and cultural upbringing, rather than being universally built-in.

Circumplex Model of Affect

A model suggesting that emotions can be expressed on a spectrum of positive or negative valence and arousal, showing that emotions lack clear boundaries.

Cognitive Reappraisal

A strategy for emotion regulation that involves changing the meaning of a situation to decrease emotional response.

Suppression

An emotion regulation strategy where individuals attempt to decrease emotional expression through behavioral control, which may lead to greater physiological activation.

Brain Lateralization

The concept that different processes occur on different sides of the brain, becoming a cornerstone of neuroscience.

Roger Wolcott Sperry

A neurobiologist who studied brain function and won a Nobel Prize for his work on the specialization of the two hemispheres.

Commissurotomy

A surgical procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum, allowing researchers to study the independent functioning of the brain's hemispheres.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A type of brain scan used to measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Myth of Left-Brained/Right-Brained People

The oversimplified belief that individuals can be categorized as either logical left-brained or creative right-brained, which lacks scientific support.