psych unit 2 flashcards (copy)

biological psychology

the science regarding the biological basis of behavior & the relationship between biology and psychology

neuron

basic cellular unit of the nervous system

dendrite

neuron message receiver

axon

neuron route of messages; only travels in one direction

myelin sheath

axon protection; moves ions from receiver to sender

action potential

neural impulse/fire

threshold

the point in which the neuron’s action potential is triggered (it fires)

synapse

the space between neurons sending & receiving messages

neurotransmitters

the messages neurons send or receive

acetylcholine

muscle action, learning, memory; when they deteriorate, they cause Alzheimer’s

endorphins

neuropeptide; produced during intense physical activity

nervous system

the quick communication system within the body; like texting

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

everything in the nervous system that is NOT the brain or spinal cord

nerves

bundle of axons; motor, sensory, or mixed

sensory neurons

neurons controlling/related to the senses; from sense receptors to central nervous system

motor neurons

neurons controlling motor functions; from central nervous system to muscles

interneurons

neurons in the spinal cord and brain; connect motor and sensory neurons

somatic nervous system (SNS)

controls all voluntary movements

automatic nervous system (ANS)

controls everything automatically done (ex: digestion, blinking, breathing)

sympathetic nervous system

nervous system that gives basically a big adrenaline rush

parasympathetic nervous system

nervous system for calming down after an adrenaline rush

reflex

automatic, relatively fixed responses

neural networks

interconnected neurons

endocrine system

the “slow” communication system within the body

hormones

substance created by endocrine glands and secreted into the blood stream

adrenal glands

part of the endocrine system that triggers fight-or-flight; abdomen area

pituitary glands

in the head (hangs right behind the eyes); the “master gland”; releases hormones & tells other glands to release hormones

lesion

removing a part of the brain in order to see how the organism acts differently (not done on humans)

EEG

using electrodes placed on the head to look at the brain’s electrical waves

PET scan

visually monitoring the brain after injecting it with a radioactive glucose

MRI

uses magnetic & radio waves to get images of the brain

functional MRI

MRI used to localize areas of brain activation

brainstem

oldest part of the brain; connected to the spinal cord; dedicated to the basic survival instincts

medulla

lowest part of the brainstem (what breaks when the neck is snapped); dedicated to heartbeat and breathing

reticular formation

middle part of the brainstem; dedicated to arousal

thalamus

top-most part of the brainstem (where the spinal cord ends); brain’s sensory switchboard

cerebellum

the “little brain” at the back of the brain (by the base of the skull); dedicated to movement and balance

limbic system

the doughnut-shaped central part of the brain on the border of the brainstem and cerebellum; associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

part of the limbic system dedicated to fear and anger; 2 almond-shaped clusters and the bottom of the limbic system doughnut

hypothalamus

below the thalamus; the bottom part of the limbic system doughnut hole thing; dedicated to body maintenance (hungry vs. full, cold vs. hot, thirsty, etc.)

cerebral cortex

the outside of the brain/what you see if you pull a brain out of a skull; right side controls left side of the body & vice versa

glial cells

cells that provide support for neurons

frontal lobes

lobes in top front of head; dedicated to thinking

parietal lobes

lobes in top back of head; dedicated to movement

occipital lobes

lobes in back of head; dedicated to vision

temporal lobes

lobes by the ear/side of head; dedicated to hearing & speech

motor cortex

area in rear of frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

sensory cortex

aka parietal cortex; gets info from skin & sensory organs

association areas

“uncommitted” area of the brain; the more intelligent, the more of this

aphasia

any language impairment

Broca’s area

#4 in the brain’s speaking process; small area above the ear; controls the speech muscles

Wernicke’s area

#3 in the brain’s speaking process; small area right behind the motor cortex; interprets the letters

plasticity

the brain’s ability to modify/change itself

corpus callosum

the part of the brain that connects the two sides

split brain

procedure in which the two hemispheres of the brain are split via cutting the corpus collosum

environment

the external things that influence an organism’s actions/thoughts/functions

behavior genetics

study of nature vs. nurture

chromosomes

structure in each cell’s nucleus; contains the DNA

DNA

the organism’s genetic material

genes

segment of DNA

genome

complete “blueprint” for making an organism; all the genes

identical twins

100% identical DNA; one zygote that split apart

fraternal twins

share ~50% of DNA (like normal siblings); two completely separate zygotes

temperment

a person’s emotional reactivity and intensity

heritability

the differences between people because of genes

interaction

a relationship between two or more things/systems/people/etc.

molecular genetics

branch of behavior genetics; do genes affect our behavior?

evolutionary psychology

study of how humans are alike

natural selection

adaptive traits passed on through genes

mutation

permanent change to genetic material

gender

socially constructed role initially given to specific sexes

culture

composition of behaviors, values, traditions, attitudes, and values shared by a group

norm

rules for accepted and expected behavior

personal space

area of defended space around an individual

individualism

typically Western European cultures; focused on a person’s individual identity/independence

collectivism

typically non-Western cultures; focused on a person’s identity for their culture/interdependence

aggression

behavior aimed at harming another physically or psychologically

X chromosome

having 2 means you’re female; creates more estrogen

Y chromosome

the “male” chromosome; creates more testosterone

testosterone

male sex hormone; causes the development of male reproductive organs & sex characteristics

role

a set of behaviors expected for an individual in a circumstance

gender role

expectations of how males and females are to act

gender identity

how a person views themself in terms of their gender

gender-typing

expectations for a person’s behavior based off of their gender

social learning theory

theorizes that gender roles are learned the way other behaviors are learned (reinforcement, punishment, and observation)

gender schema theory

theorizes that gender roles are learned because of what you’re taught (ex: pastel pink dolls for girls vs. bright red action figures for boys)

consciousness

awareness of self and environment

biological rhythms

“schedules” in the body ruled by “biological clocks”

circadian rhythm

24-hour cycle; includes sleep and wakefulness

REM sleep

part of level one of the sleep cycle; at the ending of the 90-mins instead of waking up; light/dream sleep

alpha waves

waves for awake but relaxed state; right before sleep; very short and close-ish together

sleep

the irresistible tempter to whom we inevitably succumb

hallucinations

a false, but seemingly realistic, sensory perception

delta waves

found in sleep stages 3 & 4 (the deepest stages); very tall and far apart

insomnia

any form of sleep disorder

narcolepsy

overpowering urge to fall asleep that can happen at any time

sleep apnea

failure to breathe when asleep

night terrors

waking suddenly with intense fear; accompanied by physical reactions (adrenaline rush, etc.)

dreams

a state of consciousness occurring in your REM stage of sleep