AP Psychology Unit 3-Neuroscience and states of consciousness

Phrenology

created by Franz Gall which, by studying the bumps on the skull, could reveal a person's mental abilities and characteristics.

Neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Dendrite

A neurons often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body.

Cell Body

the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell's life support center

Axon

the neurons extension that passes messages through it's branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

Axon terminal

branches of axon that form junctions with other cells

Myelin Sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speeds as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

Action Potential

a neural impulse; a brief elemental charge that tracks down an axon

Threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

All-or-none response

a neurons reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing

Refractory period

in a neural process, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials can not occur until the axon returns to it's resting state.

Synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the _______ gap/cleft.

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synapse gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, ________________ travel across the synapse and bind the receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.

Acetylcholine

enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Dopamine

influences movemnt, learning, attention, and emotion

Serotonin

affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

Norepinephrine/eprinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal

GABA

a major inhibiting neurotransmitter

Glutamate

a major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Endorphins

neurotransmitters that influence the perceptions or pain and pleasure

Agonist

a molecule that increased a neurotransmitters action

Antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action

The nervous system

the bodies information system of interconnected neuron cells

the central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

the peripheral nervous system

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

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). It's sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division claims.

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous stem that calms the body, conserving it's energy

sensory nervous system

neurons that carry incoming information from the body's tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

biological psychologist

the scientific study of links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) an psychological processes.

Glial Cell

cells in the nervous system that support, nourished, and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory.

Nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organ

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.

depolarization

a change in the difference between the electric charge on the inside and outside of the cell membrane and is when he cell becomes positively charged or less negative.

hyperpolarization

inhibits action potential by increasing the stimulus required to move the membrane potential to the actin potential threshold.

neural networks

The brain neurons clustered into work groups

endocrine system

the body's slow chemical communication system: a set of GLANDS that secrete hormones into the blood stream

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.

pituitary gland

the endocrine systems most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the ________ gland regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Also releases oxytocin.

adrenal gland

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress. Can increase heartrate, blood pressure, and blood sugar surging your energy.

Lesion

tissue destruction. A brain ______ is a naturally occurring or experimentally caused destruction of Brain tissue.

EEG(electroencephalogram)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical ACTIVELY sweeping across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

PET scan

a visual display of Brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain preforms a given task/

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. ___ scans show brain anatomy.

FMRI

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. ____ scans show brain function as well as structure.

Brain stem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull: the _________ is responsible for automatic survival functions.

medulla

the base of the brainstem: controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.

Thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem: functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling no-verbal learning and memory

Pons

located within the brainstem, above the medulla: coordinate movements and control sleep

Limbic system

neural system (including amygdala, hypothalamus, an hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemisphere associated with emotions and drives.

Amygdala

two Lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system: linked to emotion, mostly fear and rage.

hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system: helps process explicit (conscious) memories-of facts and events- for storage.

hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus: it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

nodes of Ranvier

uninsulated portions of the axon that facilitate rapid electric conduction

schwann cells

cells of the peripheral nervous system that are responsible for production of the myelin sheath that protects the synapses of the nerves

terminal buttons

small knobs at the end of an axon that release chemicals called neurotransmitters. they are responsible for sending the signal on to other neurons. Contain synaptic vesicles that house neurotransmitters.

neuromodulator

actively stimulated nerves to produce a natural biological response in the brain. Acts with neurotransmitters.

SSRI

a class of drugs used to relieve anxiety by limiting reuptake of the neurotransmitter.

feedback system

Brain-pituitary-other glands-hormones-body and brain

MEG

a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity.

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres: the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

Frontal lobe

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved n speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

Parietal lobe

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receiving sensory input for touch and body position.

occipital lobe

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.

temporal lobe

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas; each receiving information primary from the opposite ear.

Sensory/somatosensory cortex

an area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Association Areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in the primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

Boca's area

an area in the left frontal lobe of the brain that is critical for the production of SPOKEN language.

Wernicke's area

damage upon a specific area of the temporal lobe that disrupts the ability to comprehend or produce spoken OR written language.

Angular gyrus

part of the brain where neurons in the temporal lobe are hardwired to recognize faces

Aphasia

an impairment of language, usually caused by the left hemisphere damage

Brain plasticity

the brain's ability to change during childhood by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways, Brain compensates by putting other parts to work.

left hemisphere's specialties

This part of the brain processes reading, writing, speaking, mathematics, and comprehension skills

Right Hemisphere's specialties

controls the spacial abilities, face recognition, visual imagery, and music.

Split Brain patients

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting fibers (mainly of those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

prefrontal cortex

the gray matter of the anterior part of the frontal lobe that is highly developed in humans and plays a role in the regulation of complex cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning.

Basal ganglia

functions include control of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, habit learning, eye movements, cognition, and emotion

resting potential

the electrical potential of a neuron or other excitable cell relative to its surroundings when not stimulated or involved in passage of an impulse.

polarization

a difference in electric potential between two surfaces or two sides of one surface because of chemical activity.

lock and key mechanism

Receptors and neurotransmitters act like a ___ ___ ____ system. A neurotransmitter will only bind to a specific receptor. If the neurotransmitter is able to work on the receptor site, it triggers changes in the receiving cell.

glands

is an organ which produces and releases substances that perform a specific function in the body. There are two types of gland. Endocrine glands are ductless glands and release the substances that they make (hormones) directly into the bloodstream.

thyroid and parathyroid gland

_______ gland uses iodine from food to make two thyroid hormones that regulate the way the body uses energy. The ___________ glands are four tiny glands located behind the thyroid gland. The ___________ glands produce a substance that helps control the amount of calcium in the blood.

pancreas

These enzymes break down sugars, fats, and starches. Your ________ also helps your digestive system by making hormones.

gonads

an organ that produces gametes; a testis or ovary.

clinical observation

. The act of measuring, questioning, evaluating, or otherwise observing a patient or a specimen from a patient in healthcare; the act of making a clinical judgment. 2. The result, answer, judgment, or knowledge gained from the act of observing a patient or a specimen from a patient in healthcare.

Cat Scan

A computerized tomography scan allows doctors to see inside your body. A ___ ____ uses a combination of X-rays and computer to create pictures of your organs, bones, and other tissues, It shows more detail than a regular X-ray and can be used on many part of the body.

Hindbrain

the portion of the brain stem that contains the pons, cerebellum, and medulla. It is responsible for regulating basic human functions.

midbrain

a portion of the brain stem located just above the medulla and pons and contains basic vision and hearing functions. it is also the input center for muscle movement.

forebrain

composed of the thalamus and hypothalamus which develops into the cerebellum. It control body temperature, reproductive functions, eating, sleeping, and emotional display.

neurogenisis

s the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain. ____________ is crucial when an embryo is developing, but also continues in certain brain regions after birth and throughout our lifespan.

Thomas Bouchard

is an American psychologist known for his behavioral genetics studies of twins raised apart. He is professor emeritus of psychology and director of the Minnesota Center for Twin and Adoption Research at the University of Minnesota.

Twin Research

re studies conducted on identical or fraternal twins. They aim to reveal the importance of environmental and genetic influences for traits, phenotypes, and disorders. ____ ________ is considered a key tool in behavioral genetics and in related fields, from biology to psychology