Psych Ch3 Vocab

What is Biological Psychology?

The study of the links between biological and psychological processes.

What are neurons?

Nerve cells that serve as the building blocks of the nervous system.

What do dendrites do?

Receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

What is the axon?

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

A fatty tissue layer that insulates axons and speeds neural impulses.

What is action potential?

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

What is resting potential?

The state where the outside of an axon has more positively charged ions than the inside.

What is selective permeability?

The axon’s selective property of allowing only certain ions to pass through its membrane.

What occurs during depolarization?

Positive ions enter the neuron, making it more likely to fire an action potential.

What is the refractory period?

A short period after a neuron fires when it cannot fire again until it returns to its resting state.

What is the threshold in neural communication?

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

What does all-or-none response mean?

Neurons either fire completely or don’t fire at all.

How do neurons communicate?

Through electrical and chemical signals.

What is a synapse?

The tiny gap between neurons where communication occurs.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemicals that cross the synapse to send messages.

What is reuptake?

The process of reabsorbing excess neurotransmitters by the sending neuron.

What is the role of acetylcholine (ACh)?

Muscle action, learning, memory; linked to Alzheimer's and paralysis.

What connection does dopamine have with behavior?

Movement, learning, emotion; oversupply linked to schizophrenia, undersupply to Parkinson’s.

What does serotonin regulate?

Mood, hunger, sleep; low levels linked to depression.

What role does norepinephrine play?

Affects alertness and arousal; low levels linked to depressed mood.

What function does GABA serve?

Inhibitory neurotransmitter; low levels linked to seizures, tremors, insomnia.

What is glutamate?

Excitatory neurotransmitter; oversupply linked to migraines, seizures.

What are endorphins?

Natural opiates that reduce pain and boost mood.

What is phrenology?

The study of bumps on the skull related to localization of function.

What makes up the nervous system?

Processes information and sends orders to the body.

What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) include?

The brain and spinal cord.

What is the function of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

Gathers information and transmits CNS decisions.

What do sensory neurons do?

Carry info from body tissues and sensory receptors to the CNS.

What is the role of motor neurons?

Transmit instructions from CNS to muscles and glands.

What are interneurons?

Neurons that process information between sensory input and motor output.

What does the somatic nervous system control?

Voluntary control of skeletal muscles.

What is the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

Controls glands and internal organ muscles.

What does the sympathetic nervous system do?

Arouses and expends energy (fight-or-flight response).

What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Calms and conserves energy (rest-and-digest).

What are reflexes?

Simple automatic responses like the knee-jerk reaction.

What is the endocrine system?

A slower communication system using hormones.

What does the pituitary gland do?

Regulates growth, stress, and other glands; considered the master gland.

What hormones do the adrenal glands release during stress?

Epinephrine and norepinephrine.

What is a lesion?

Destruction of brain tissue, either naturally or experimentally.

What does an EEG measure?

It measures the brain's electrical activity.

What is the purpose of a CT scan?

To show brain structure using x-ray images.

What does a PET scan track?

Radioactive glucose to show active brain areas during tasks.

What is an MRI used for?

To produce detailed images of brain structure.

What does an fMRI show?

Brain function by tracking blood flow in active areas.

Where is the brainstem located?

At the base of the brain, controlling survival functions.

What does the thalamus do?

Acts as the sensory control center, routing sensory information.

What is the role of the reticular formation?

Filters incoming stimuli and controls arousal.

What is the cerebellum responsible for?

Coordinating movement, balance, and nonverbal learning.

What components make up the limbic system?

Amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus.

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Regulates body maintenance like hunger, thirst, and temperature.

What does the corpus callosum do?

Connects the brain's two hemispheres.

What is split-brain?

A condition resulting from cutting the corpus callosum.

What is hemispheric specialization?

The concept that each hemisphere has different functions.

What kind of tasks does the left hemisphere handle?

Speech, language, and analytical tasks.

What does the right hemisphere manage?

Spatial skills, patterns, and emotional processing.

What is cognitive neuroscience?

The study of how brain activity is linked to thinking and memory.

What does dual processing refer to?

The brain's operation on two levels: conscious and automatic.

What is natural selection?

Traits enhancing survival and reproduction are passed down.

What does evolutionary psychology study?

How evolution affects our thoughts and actions.

How do human similarities relate to survival traits?

Common traits helped early humans survive.