Ap psychology Unit 3 Flashcards

Neuron

Specialized cell that reasons to and send signals: basic building block of the nervous system

Soma (cell body)

Holds nucleus, interprets received signals

Dendrites

Branched fibers that receive and integrate messages conducting impulse towards the soma

Axon

Extended fiber that passes messages to other neurons. Info travels along this in the form of an electric charge called action potential.

Myelin sheath

Insulation fatty covering of some neuron’s axons. Facilitates electrical impulse, and increases communication.

Glial cells

Provides structural support, clean up on dead cells from the myelin, form new synapses, and plays a role in learning/memory

Axon Terminal (branches)/ Buttons

Tiny bubble like structure at the end of the axon, contains synaptic vesicles

Synaptic vesicles

Small containers holding neurotransmitters that connect to the presynaptic membrane, releasing neurotransmitter into the synapse.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that relay neural messages across the synapse influence whether or not the next neuron fires.

Synapse

Communication link between neurons

Resting potential

electrical charge of a neuron when it’s ready to fire: it’s inactive state is (-70)

Refractory period

Time period in which the neuron cannot reach it’s action potential; repolarizing to return to it’s resting potential. (polarized)

Action potential

Nerve impulse caused by reversal in the electrical charge across axon (- to +)

Sodium and potassium

Chemical charged in/out of axon

All or none principle

Ap occurs full blown or not at all, must cross the threshold.

Agonist

Drug that enhances/mimics the effects of neurotransmitters; facilitates message

Antagonist

Drug that inhibits the effects of neurotransmitters; blocks receptor sites

Reuptake

recycling of neurotransmitters back into presynaptic neuron

Central Nervous system

Brain and spinal cord

Autonomic NS

Regulates involuntary functions

Somatic NS

Regulates voluntary functions

Peripheral NS

Extends to the outer part of the body

Sympathetic NS

Expend energy; arousal; fight or flight response (vitals go up, pupils dilate, digestion habits)

Parasympathetic NS

Conserve energy; calms you, returns you to homeostasis

Sensory neurons (1st)

Carry messages from sense receptors towards the central nervous system

Motor neurons (3rd)

Carry messages from the central nervous system toward muscles and glands

Effector (4th)

A muscle, gland, or organ that can respond to a stimulus/nerve impulse

Interneurons (2nd)

Carry messages between nerve cells within the brain and spinal cord

Brain waves

Patterns of electrical activity generated by the brain

CT

X-ray structure

PET

Detects glucose in active circuits uses dye

MRI

Tissue and structure

FMRI

Moving picture of brain action; activity and structure

Corpus Callosum

Band of neural fibers that carries messages between hemispheres

Contralaterality

Control of one side of your body by the other side of your brain

Cerebral dominance

Tendency of each brain hemisphere to exert control over different functions

Left Hemisphere Functions

Logic and language

RIght Hemisphere Functions

Facial, spatial, recognition

Broca’s area

Interferes with speech production

Wernicke’s area

Loss of ability to understand language

Frontal lobes

Involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.

Motor cortex

Rear of the frontal cortex and controls voluntary movements

Parietal lobes

Receives sensory input for touch and body position

Somatosensory

At the front of the parietal lobe and processes body touch and movements

Temporal lobes/auditory cortex

Includes auditory areas, each receiving info from the opposite ear

Occipital lobes/visual cortex

Area where you receive info from the visual fields

Association areas

Areas of the cerebral cortex that isn’t involved in primary motor or sensory functions, are involved in higher mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

Hypothalamus

Directs several maintenance activities and helps govern the endocrine system and is linked to emotion and reward.

Hippocampus

Helps process for storage conscious memories

Brain stem

Responsible for automatic survival functions

Pons

Controls activity for sleep and dreaming

Medualla

Controls heartbeat and breathing

Reticular formation

A nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role on arousal, alertness, awareness, attention, and multitasking

Thalamus

Directs messages to sensory areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

Cerebellum

In control of balance, movement, processing sensory input, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

Amygdala

Linked to emotion, fear, and aggression