Unit 1 (Im so cooked)

What is Broca's area and what happens if it's damaged?

Located in the left frontal lobe; damage leads to expressive aphasia (difficulty speaking).

What is Wernicke's area and what happens if it's damaged?

Located in the left temporal lobe; damage causes receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding language).

What is brain lateralization?

The idea that each hemisphere has specialized functions.

What do CT scans show?

Computer-generated images from X-rays showing brain structure.

How does MRI work?

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of brain tissue.

What does EEG measure?

Electrical activity of the brain using scalp electrodes.

What is a PET scan?

Shows brain activity based on glucose metabolism.

What is fMRI?

Shows brain function by measuring blood oxygen levels.

What is MEG?

Detects magnetic fields caused by neural activity.

What does the central nervous system include?

The brain and spinal cord.

What are the two parts of the peripheral nervous system?

Somatic and autonomic your body's info and reaction systems.

What does the somatic nervous system control?

Voluntary muscle movements.

What does the autonomic nervous system control?

Involuntary functions like heartbeat and digestion.

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Prepares the body for stress (fight or flight).

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Calms the body and restores functions.

What does the medulla control?

Heart rate, breathing, digestion.

What is the pons involved in?

Arousal and sending messages between brain regions.

What does the cerebellum control?

Posture, balance, and movement.

What is the basal ganglia responsible for?

Movement regulation and implicit memory.

What does the thalamus do?

Relays sensory signals to the the outer part of your brain that does thinking.

Functions of the hypothalamus?

Regulates hunger, thirst, body temp, sexual behavior, chemicals in your blood that change how your body works.

What does the hippocampus do?

Forms new long-term memories.

What is the cerebral cortex responsible for?

Higher thinking, sensory processing, voluntary movement.

What is brain plasticity?

The brain's ability to reorganize after damage.

What are glial cells?

Support cells that guide neurons and produce fatty coating that speeds up signals.

What is a neuron?

The basic unit of the your body's info and reaction system.

What do dendrites do?

Receive information from other neurons.

What is the function of the axon?

Conducts impulses away from the cell body.

What does the myelin sheath do?

Insulates the part of a brain cell that sends messages and speeds conduction.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers that cross the tiny space between brain cellss.

Function of dopamine?

Movement, alertness, and hormone regulation.

Function of glutamate?

Excitatory a chemical that sends signals in the brain important for learning.

Function of serotonin?

Mood, attention, and arousal.

What are endorphins?

Natural painkillers.

Function of GABA?

Main block or slow downory a chemical that sends signals in the brain.

Function of norepinephrine?

Alertness and arousal.

What do agonists do?

Mimic a chemical that sends signals in the brains.

What do antagonists do?

Block a chemical that sends signals in the brain activity.

What is resting potential?

The neuron’s stable, negative charge when inactive.

What triggers an action potential?

A stimulus strong enough to reach threshold.

What is the all-or-none principle?

A neuron fires completely or not at all.

What is saltatory conduction?

Jumping of a signal that a brain cell sends between fatty coating that speeds up signals gaps.

What is the function of excitatory neurotransmitters?

Increase the chance of the next neuron firing.

What is the function of inhibitory neurotransmitters?

Decrease the chance of the next neuron firing.

What is a reflex arc?

Pathway involving sensory, interneurons, and motor neurons.

What are effectors?

Muscles or glands that respond to neural signals.

What are hormones?

Chemical messengers secreted into the blood.

What does the pineal gland do?

Produces melatonin for sleep regulation.

What does the pituitary gland do?

Master gland that controls other glands.

What hormone does the thyroid produce?

Thyroxine, regulates metabolism.

Function of adrenal glands?

Produce adrenaline and cortisol.

What does the pancreas do?

Regulates blood sugar via insulin and glucagon.

What do ovaries/testes do?

Produce reproductive chemicals in your blood that change how your body works.

What do behavioral geneticists study?

Role of genes vs. environment on behavior.

What is heritability?

Proportion of variation due to genes.

Difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins?

Identical share 100% genes; fraternal share ~50%.

What is a genotype?

Genetic makeup.

What is a phenotype?

Observable characteristics.

What is a dominant gene?

Expressed when present.

What is a recessive gene?

Hidden unless two copies present.

What causes Tay-Sachs?

Recessive gene leads to your body's info and reaction system deterioration.

What is PKU?

Cannot process phenylalanine; causes brain damage if untreated.

What is Huntington’s disease?

Dominant gene disorder causing your body's info and reaction system degeneration.

What is Down syndrome?

Extra chromosome 21 causing developmental delay.

What is Klinefelter’s syndrome?

XXY males with learning issues.

What is Turner syndrome?

XO females with short stature and infertility.

What is preconscious?

Outside awareness but easily accessed.

What is nonconscious?

Inaccessible body functions like heartbeat.

What is unconscious?

Holds unacceptable thoughts and feelings.

What is dual processing?

Info processed on conscious and unconscious levels.

What is circadian rhythm?

24-hour sleep-wake cycle.

What waves are in NREM-1?

Theta waves.

What characterizes NREM-2?

Sleep spindles and K complexes.

What waves are in NREM-3?

Delta waves.

When does REM sleep occur?

About 90 minutes after falling asleep.

What are nightmares?

Frightening dreams during REM.

What are night terrors?

Screaming episodes during deep NREM sleep.

What is sleepwalking?

Performing activities while asleep during NREM-3.

What is narcolepsy?

Sudden onset of REM sleep while awake.

What is sleep apnea?

Breathing stops during sleep.

What is insomnia?

Trouble falling or staying asleep.

What is hypnosis?

Altered state with high suggestibility.

What is dissociation theory?

Split consciousness during hypnosis.

What is meditation?

Focused attention for relaxation.

What are psychoactive drugs?

Alter mood, perception, or behavior.

What is tolerance?

Reduced effect with repeated use.

What is withdrawal?

Symptoms after stopping a drug.

What are depressants?

Slow CNS activity (e.g., alcohol).

What are stimulants?

Increase CNS activity (e.g., caffeine, cocaine).

What are hallucinogens?

Distort perceptions and evoke images.

What are narcotics?

Pain-relieving depressants like morphine.