Chapter 3 Bio-Psychology Perspective Midterm Review

Axons Central Nervous System Dendrites Gazzaniga’s research Hormones Nervous System Neurotransmitters Peripheral Nervous System Phineas Gage’s case Plasticity Pituitary gland Reuptake Serotonin Severing a corpus callosum Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Nervous System Synapse Two main divisions of the nervous system

Axons

-signals are transmitted electrically across the soma and down a major extension from the soma known as the axon

Central Nervous System

primary processing center CNS is comprised of the brain and spinal cord

Dendrites

receive incoming electrical signals from other neurons and the dendrites send the signals now the axon 

Gazzaniga’s Research

lateralization—in each hemisphere, mainly regarding differences in language functions. The left hemisphere controls the right half of the body, and the right hemisphere controls the left half of the body. Decades of research on lateralization of function by Michael

Hormones

  hormones are chemical messengers that must bind to a receptor in order to send their signal.                    

Nervous system

The bodies master communication center

Neurotransmitters

– chemical messenger of the nervous system. Different neurons release different types of neurotransmitters that have many different functions.

Peripheral Nervous System

made up of thick bundles of axons, called nerves, carrying messages back and forth between the CNS and the muscles, organs, and senses in the periphery of the body

Phineas Gage’s

While working as a railroad foreman, an accident caused an iron rod to penetrate through Gage’s skull and frontal lobe. After the accident, people noticed changes in his personality.

Before the accident - Well-mannered and soft-spoken.

After the accident - Started behaving in odd and inappropriate ways.

Broca’s area

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production.

Plasticity

the brain's lifelong ability to adapt, change, and reorganize its physical structure and neural pathways in response to new experiences, learning, or injury

Pituitary gland

master gland of the endocrine system

reuptake

Reuptake involves moving a neurotransmitter from the synapse back into the axon terminal from which it was released.

Serotonin

mood and sleep.

Severing a corpus callosum

“split brain” to stop seizures

some patients were unable to name a picture that is shown in the patient’s left visual field because the information is only available in the largely nonverbal right hemisphere.

sympathetic

involved in stress-related activities and functions; prepares us for fight or flight.

Parasympathetic

associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body under relaxed conditions. (rest and restore responses)

synapse

is the space between the terminal button of one neuron and the dendrite of another neuron.

Two main divisions of the nervous system

Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)