ap psychology unit 2: the brain

biological psychology

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

axon

the extention of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next

action potential

a neural impulse; a breif electrical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gap between neurons

acetylcholine

muscle action, learning, associated with alzheimer

endorphins

linked to pain control and pleasure

nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

nerves

neural "cables" containing many axons

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system

interneurons

central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands

somatic nervous system

the division of the perihperal nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

sympathetic nervous system

arouses& accelerate the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

calms the body, conserving its energy

reflex

a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus

neural networks

interconnected neural cells - with experience, networks can learn

lesion

tissue destruction

electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain&surface

CT (computed tomography) scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue

brainstem

the oldest part and central of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

cerebellum

helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

limbic system

associated with emotions such as fear and agression and drives such as those for food and sex

amygdala

two almond-shaped neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion

hypothalamus

emotion, sexual, pleasure, drinking, eating, body temporature

cerebral cortex

the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

frontal lobes

invloved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

parietal lobes

senses except vision, body position

occipital lobes

includes the visual areas

temporal lobes

hearing, storing and learning memories

motor cortex

controls voluntary movements

sensory cortex

registers and processes body sensations

aphasia

impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (imparing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (imparing understanding)

Broca's area

nvolved in speech

Wernicke's area

understanding

plasticity

the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brain

a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine system, that are produced in one tissue and affect another

adrenal glands

secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress

pituitary gland

under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

association area

thinking

dendrite

recieves messages and conduct impulse toward cell body

agonist

speed up

antagonist

slow down, botox

dopamine

influence movement, learning, attention, and emotion. Lead to schizophrenia, parkinson, depression ex: cocaine, alcohol

serotonin

affects mood, hunger, sleep, &arousal. Prozac, OCD

norepinephrine

helps control alertness&arousal

GABA

major inhibitory nt, seizures, tremors, &insomnia, Huntington disease

Glutamate

excitatory nt, involves memory. migraines/seizures, avoid MSG, Lou Gherigs's