chapter 8 + chapter 9 + chapter 13

neuron

a cell of the nervous system that recieves and transmits information; also called nerve cell

hypothalamus

a complex structure near the lower center of the brain that has direct connections to many other parts of the brain and is involved in the production of psychologically important hormones; thought to be important for mood and motivation

amygdala

a structure located near the base of the brain that is believed to play a role in emotion, especially negative emotions such as anger and fear

hippocampus

a complex structure deep within the brain, behind the hypothalamus, that plays an important role in memory processes

cortex

the outside portion of an organ; in the context of this book, the cortex refers to the outer layers of the brain

neocortex

the outer layer of the cortex of the brain, regarded as uniquely human

frontal cortex

the front part of the cortex of the brain; divided left and right into the two frontal lobes, this part of the brain is associated with cognitive functioning such as planning, foresight, and understanding

electroencephalography (EEG)

a technique for measuring the brains electrical activity by placing electrode sensors on the outside of the skull

magnetoencephalography (MEG)

a technique for using delicate magnetic sensors on the outside of the skull to detect brain activity

positron emission tomography (PET)

a technique for creating images of brain activity by injecting a radioactive tracer into the blood and then, using a scanner, finding where in the brain the blood is being metabolized

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

a technique for imaging brain activity by using a powerful magnet to help detect blood flow in the brain

somatic marker hypothesis

neurologist antonio damasio’s idea that the bodily (somatic) emotional component of thought is a necessary part of problem solving and decision making

corpus callosum

the thick bundle of nerve fibers connecting the right and left halves of the brain

anterior cingulate

the front part of the cingulate, a brain structure that runs from the front to the back of the brain int he middle, just above the corpus callosum; believed to be important for the experience of normal emotion and self control

neurotransmitters

the chemical that allow one neuron to affect, or communicate with, another

synapse

the space between two neurons across which impulses are carried by neurotransmitters

hormone

a biological chemical that affects parts of the body some distance from where it is produced

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cords

peripheral nervous system

the system of nerves running throughout the body, not including the brain and spinal cords

endorphines

the bodys own pain-killing chemicals, which operate by blocking the transmission of pain messages to the brain

serotonin

a neurotransmitter within the brain that plays an important role in the regulation of emotion and motivation

gonads

the glands, testes in men and ovaries in women, that (among other effects) produce the sec hormones testosterone and estrogen, respectively

adrenal cortex

the outer layer of the adrenal gland, atop the kidneys, that secretes several behaviorally important hormones

epinephrine (adrenaline)

a neurotransmitter in the brain and also a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland as part of the bodys response to stress

norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

an important neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with responses to stress

oxytocin

a hormone that may have specific effects in women of emotional attachment and calming

testosterone and estrogen

male and female sex hormones

cortisol

a collective term for the glucocorticoid hormones, which are released into the bloodstream by the adrenal cortex as a response to physical or psychological stress

personality trait

a pattern of thought, emotion, or behavior that is relatively consistent over time and across situations

allele

a particular variant, or form, of a gene; most genes have two or more alleles

epigenetics

non-genetic influences on a genes expression, such as stress, nutrition, and so forth

cross-cultural psychology

psychological research and theorizing that attempts to account for the psychological differences between and within different cultural groups

enculturation

the process of socialization through which an individual acquires his or her native culture, mainly early in life

acculteration

the process of social influence by which a person partially or fully acquires a new cultural outlook, either by having contact with or living in a culture different from his or her culture of origin

etics

the universal components of an idea; in cross-cultural psychology, aspects of a phenomenon that all cultures have in common

emics

the logically relevant components of an idea; in cross-cultural psychology, aspects of a phenomenon that are specific to a particular culture

deconstructionism

a philosophy that argues reality does not exist apart from human perceptions, or constructions, of it

outgroup homogeneity bias

the sociopsychological phenomenon by which members of a group to which one does not belong seem more alike than do members of a group to which one does belong