Intro To Psychology- Chapter 2

Neurons

Use electrochemical energy to generate action potentials and cause the release of neurotransmitters

Action potentials

Are fired when a neuron is depolarized to reach its threshold of excitation

Key Neurotransmitters

acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, endorphins

What roles do neurotransmitters play

Regulating behavior and mood

Nervous system subsystems

central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

central nervous system consists of?

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system contains

autonomic nervous system and somatic nervous system

autonomic nervous system

Controls muscles,organs,glands that move automatically

Somatic nervous system

Controls voluntary movement and actions

Sympathetic division

Arouses

Parasympathetic division

Calms

Hindbrain

Governs basic and life sustaining functions in the body

Midbrain

Connects the lower structures of the hindbrain with the forebrain

Forebrain

Regulates higher order processes such as thinking and emotional control

Cerebral cortex

Is a thin layer of wrinkled tissue that covers the outside of the brain

Cerebral cortex responsibilities

Cognition, decision making and language capabilities

The brain is divided into?

right and left cerebral hemispheres

left cerebral hemisphere

Governs the right body

Right cerebral hemisphere

Governs the left body

Endocrine system

Contains glands that release hormones into the bloodstream

Pituitary gland

master gland

Gonads

Are necessary for sexuality and reproduction

Estrogens

Female sex hormones

Androgens

male sex hormones

Adrenal medulla

Releases norepinephrine and epinephrine during times of stress

Adrenal cortex

Produces adrenal androgens and interacts with the immune system for protection

Thyroid

Regulates how energy is used in our bodies

Pancreas

Regulates blood sugar levels

Which part of the neuron sends the signal to and across the synapse?

Axon

The general term for the type of cell that provide various support functions in the nervous system

Glia

Which part of a neuron is also found in many other types of body cells?

cell body

Chemicals that change behavior or mood directly affecting activity of the post synaptic cell are referred to as?

Neurotransmitters

Vast interconnected electrochemical system of communication, which uses neurons to convey information

The nervous system

The major structure found in the midbrain which plays a role in attention,sleep and life sustaining functions

Reticular formation

A heavily controlled activity by the cerebellum is

Riding a bicycle

Which case study taught neuroscientists much of what they know about the functioning of the frontal lobes?

Phineas Gage

Which of the following brain scanning techniques relies on X-rays being passed through the head at different angles to examine its structures?

computerized axial tomography (CAT scan)

Which technique can be used to study both brain structures and brain activity?

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Magnetism is the primary tool for examining brain structures utilized by?

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Depression can be treated with which of the following electrically based technologies?

brain stimulation

Which two technologies use electricity to examine the functioning of the brain?

EEG and Brain Stimulation

Which of the following is NOT a method to measure or image the brain?

ACh

Which two technologies use magnetism to examine the functioning of the brain?

MRI and fMRI

Which of the following is an appropriate use of PET scanning?

To image which areas of the brain are most active while playing a memory game.

Which forebrain structure transmits information from the nervous system to the endocrine system?

hypothalamus

If you are frightened by a friend who jumps out from behind you and yells boo, which gland will most likely produce hormones as a part of your fear reaction?

adrenal medulla

The main route for hormones, reaching body organs is?

Bloodstream

The structure through which the hypothalamus communicates with the glands of the endocrine system is?

Pituitary gland

A child has a relatively large amount of brain tissue removed to control a seizure disorder. Several years after the surgery, she has almost completely normal functioning. This is evidence of which quality of nervous system system, tissues?

Neuroplasticity

Damage to which area of the cerebral cortex would be likely to produce problems with speech production?

Broca's area

Injury to which structure in the four brain would be most likely to produce anterograde amnesia?

Hippocampus

This is a four brain structure that regulates attention to sensory inputs and relays information about these to the cerebral cortex

Thalamus

The system of structures in the four brain, including the hippocampus and amygdala that plays a major role in generating emotion, motivation, and memory

Limbic system