biological psychology

CNS

brain and spinal cord

neuron

individual nerve cell that receives, transmits and processes information

sensory neurons

neurons specialised to carry messages towards the brain

spinal cord

cable of nerve fibres that stretches from the base of the brain to the lower back

parasympathetic NS

a branch of the ANS that is dominant during times of normal emotional or physical arousal

sympatheic NS

a branch of the ANS that is dominant during times of high emotional or physical arousal

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

a division of the PNS that transmits motor messages from the brain to internal muscles organs and glands and transmits messages back to the brain

brain

recieves information from all parts of the body and formulates appropriate responses to it

somatic nervous system

transmits sensory information from sensory receptors inwards towards the CNS and motor messages from the CNS to the skeletal muscles

motor neurons

neurons specialised in carrying messages away from the brain to the body's skeletal muscles to produce movement

Peripheral nervous system

all the nerves outside of the CNS

synapse

a very small gap between one neuron and the next

neurotransmitters

chemicals that transfer neural impulses from one neuron to the next

hindbrain

link between brain and spinal cord - includes medulla and cerebellum

midbrain

co-ordinates movement, vision, hearing, sleeping, waking

forebrain

Higher functions (emotion, memory, language, problem solving, body movement, sensations, thinking) - includes the cerebrum, hypothalamus, thalamus and limbic system

cerebellum

Controls posture, balance, fine motor coordination (muscle movement)

medulla oblongata

controls heart rate, breathing and dilation of blood vessels

Broca's area

responsible for the production of articulate speech

frontal lobe

lobe responsible for higher mental abilities, personality and the control of voluntary movment

primary somatosensory cortex

a strip of specialised neurons that registers and processes sensory information sent from the body and skin

primary visual cortex

registers, processes and interprets visual information

primary auditory cortex

registers and processes auditory infomration

Wernicke's area

responsible for the ability to understand language and formulate coherent, meaningful speech

interneuron

connects the motor and sensory neurons

heredity

involves the passing of characteristics from biological parents to offspring via genes at conception

Soma (cell body)

Contains the nucleus which contains the DNA which determines what the cell does. Controls the metabolism of the neuron.

Dendrites

Receive information from other neurons and carry that information to the soma

Axon

Carries information away from the soma towards other neurons

Myelin sheath

Speeds up the transmission of impulses. Axons with a myelin sheath are called myelinated axons. Axons without a myelin sheath are called unmyelinated axons.

Axon terminals

Release neurotransmitters (chemicals) which pass the signal on to the next neuron

Neural Transmission

The process of passing a message along one neuron and then onto another neuron using electro-chemical processes

Electro-chemistry

The production of electricity through chemical reactions

Localisation

Different brain areas control different functions.

Cross-Lateralised

The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body (contralateral).

Lateralised

Brain functions are concentrated on one side of the brain.

Corpus Callosum

A thick band of nerve fibres in the middle of the brain that connects the left and right hemispheres and transfers information registered in one hemisphere to the other

Hypothalamus

Lies in the middle of the brain between the two hemispheres

It is mostly concerned with homeostasis

Thalamus

Sits on top of the brain stem in the centre of the brain

Acts as a relay system for sensory messages on their way to the cerebral cortex, except for smell

Cerebrum

Largest part of the brain

Cerebral Cortex

Outer region of the cerebrum

Primary Motor Cortex

Situated at the rear of each frontal lobe, next to the parietal lobe. Responsible for movement of the skeletal muscles.

Pre-Frontal Cortex

This is the front part of the frontal lobe, it receives and combines information from other parts of the frontal lobe, and from other lobes and enables us to perform complex mental functions, often referred to as executive functions.

Occipital Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

Temporal Lobe

The main site where hearing registers, has a role in the formation of long term memories, particularly in recognising faces and identifying objects and making appropriate emotional responses

Electoencephalogram (EEG)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated still 3-D images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

A neuro imaging technique that detects changes in oxygen levels in the blood flowing through the brain and combines this data into a detailed, computer-enhanced 3-D representation of the active brain. This is a dynamic image because it shows activity (function) in the brain

CT scan

A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a 2D, still representation of a slice through the body showing structure.