Psychology: The Brain and Nervous System

This set of flashcards covers key concepts from psychology relating to the brain and nervous system, including anatomy, functions, and important psychological principles.

Central Nervous System

The part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

Spinal Cord

A long bundle that carries messages to and from the body to the brain, responsible for life-saving reflexes.

Hormones

Chemicals released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands.

Pituitary Gland

The gland that controls all other endocrine glands.

Melatonin

A hormone released by the pituitary gland that reduces body temperature and prepares the body for sleep.

Gonads

The sex glands that secrete hormones regulating development, behavior, and reproduction.

Adrenal Glands

Glands located at the top of the kidneys responsible for regulating salt intake, controlling stress reactions, and secondary sex hormone production.

GTC Scan

A brain imaging method that uses computer-controlled X-rays.

Electroencephalograph

An instrument used to measure brain waves.

Medulla

A structure in the brain stem responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Pons

A structure in the brain stem that helps regulate sleep, dreaming, coordination, and arousal.

Reticular Formation

A structure responsible for the ability to selectively attend to and become alert to changes in surroundings.

Thalamus

Acts as a relay station for all incoming sensory information.

Hypothalamus

Involved in eating, drinking, sexual behavior, sleeping, and temperature control.

Hippocampus

Responsible for the formation of long-term memories.

Alzheimer's Disease

A degenerative disease affecting memory, often linked to hippocampal dysfunction.

Amygdala

A brain structure responsible for fear responses and memory of fear.

Corpus Callosum

A thick band of neurons connecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres.

Broca's Area

A region in the frontal lobe responsible for the production of fluent speech.

Dendrite

The part of a neuron that receives messages.

Axon

The part of a neuron that sends messages.

Action Potential

The electrical charge inside a neuron compared to the electrical charge outside.

Peripheral Nervous System

A complex network of cells that carries information to and from all parts of the body.

Neuron

A specialized cell that makes up the nervous system, responsible for receiving and sending messages.

Cell Body (Soma)

The part of a neuron responsible for maintaining its life functions.

Myelin

A protective coating for axons made up of fatty acids.

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps between the myelin sheath that facilitate the rapid conduction of nerve impulses.

Life-saving Reflexes

Automatic responses to stimuli that do not require conscious thought.

Endocrine Glands

Glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Stress Reactions

Physical responses to perceived threats or challenges.

Sexual Changes During Adolescence

Physical and hormonal changes occurring during puberty.

Computer-Controlled X-Rays

A technique used in GTC scans for brain imaging.

Sleep Stages

Different phases of sleep, each with distinct brain activity.

Memory Formation

The process by which the brain encodes and stores information.

Fear Response

The physiological and psychological reaction to perceived danger.

Selective Attention

The process of focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where information is transmitted.

Long-term Memory

Type of memory responsible for storing information over extended periods.

Sleep Cycle

The progression through various stages of sleep throughout the night.

Neural Pathways

Connections formed by the synapses between neurons.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain involved in complex functions like thought and action.

Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Brain area involved in complex decision-making and social behavior.

Left Hemisphere

The hemisphere of the brain associated with language and analytical thought.

Right Hemisphere

The hemisphere of the brain associated with creativity and spatial ability.

Cerebellum

A brain structure responsible for coordination and balance.

Frontal Lobes

Parts of the brain associated with executive functions, decision-making, and impulse control.

Parietal Lobes

Brain areas responsible for perceiving touch and spatial relationships.

Occipital Lobes

Regions of the brain that process visual information.

Temporal Lobes

Areas of the brain involved in processing auditory information and memory.

Neuroplasticity

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

Cognitive Dissonance

Mental discomfort experienced when holding two conflicting beliefs.

Executive Functioning

Higher-order cognitive processes including planning, organization, and decision-making.

Behaviorism

A psychological approach emphasizing observable behaviors over internal mental states.

Cognitive Psychology

The study of mental processes including perception, memory, and reasoning.

Developmental Psychology

The study of how and why human beings change over the course of their life.

Persuasion

The process of influencing someone's beliefs or behaviors.

Social Psychology

The study of how individuals influence and are influenced by others.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to recognize and manage our emotions and the emotions of others.

Motivation

The process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A type of therapy that helps individuals change negative thought patterns.

Thermoregulation

The process by which an organism maintains its body temperature.

Homeostasis

The state of balanced internal conditions in the body.

Genetic Influences

The role of genes in shaping behaviors and individual differences.

Conditioning

A learning process through which associations are made between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus.

Behavior Modification

A method used to change behavior through reinforcement or punishment.

Social Learning Theory

A theory that emphasizes learning through observation and modeling.

Attachment Theory

A psychological model that describes the dynamics of long-term relationships between humans.

Resilience

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a rewarding stimulus following a desired behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an aversive stimulus to encourage desired behavior.

Punishment

An event that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Insight Learning

A form of problem-solving characterized by the sudden realization of a solution.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The theory that people experience discomfort when holding conflicting cognitions.

Attribution Theory

The theory that explains how individuals determine the cause of behavior.

Self-Actualization

The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potential.

Stress Management Techniques

Methods used to control a person's levels of stress.

Primary Emotions

Basic emotions that are universal and recognized across cultures.

Secondary Emotions

Emotions that are more complex and can vary widely between individuals.

Emotional Regulation

The ability to monitor, evaluate, and modify emotional reactions.

Motivational Interviewing

A counseling approach that helps individuals find the motivation to make positive decisions.

Interpersonal Skills

Skills used to interact effectively with others.

Active Listening

A communication technique that requires the listener to fully concentrate, understand, respond, and then remember what is being said.