Psych Book Notes

Phrenology

The study of bumps on the skull to reveal a person's mental abilities and traits.

Biological Psychologist

A scientist who studies the links between biological and psychological processes.

Neural Communication

The process by which nerve cells conduct electricity and communicate through chemical messages.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to change and reorganize itself, especially during childhood, based on experiences.

Neurons

The building blocks of the nervous system that transmit messages through electrical impulses.

Action Potential

The neural impulse that travels down an axon, generated by the exchange of ions.

Synapse

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

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps to influence the activity of receiving neurons.

Reuptake

The process by which excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing information and making decisions.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the PNS that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

The division of the PNS that controls involuntary actions and regulates internal organs.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body and expends energy.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body and conserves energy.

Endocrine System

The body's chemical communication system that uses hormones to regulate various functions.

Hormones

Chemical messengers secreted by glands in the endocrine system that travel through the bloodstream.

Amygdala

A part of the limbic system linked to aggression and fear responses.

Hippocampus

A seahorse-shaped structure involved in processing explicit memories.

Cerebral Cortex

The ultimate control and information-processing center of the brain, responsible for higher mental functions.

Motor Cortex

The area at the rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements.

Somatosensory Cortex

The area at the front of the parietal lobes that processes body touch and movement sensations.

Association Areas

Areas of the cerebral cortex involved in higher mental functions such as learning and memory.

Prefrontal Cortex

The area of the frontal lobe responsible for judgment, planning, and processing new memories.