psych stuff other

Frequency

Wavelength; determines pitch

Amplitude

Strength of wave; determines a sound's loudness

Outer Ear

Channels sound waves through the auditory canal towards the eardrum

Eardrum

A tight membrane that vibrates when in contact with sound waves; helps to amplify the sound waves as they lose strength travelling down the auditory canal

Middle Ear

Consists of three small bones--the hammer, anvil, and stirrup, called the ossicles.

Ossicles

Series of three tiny bones in the middle ear (the hammer, the anvil, and the stirrup) that vibrate when in contact with the vibrations of the eardrum

Cochlea

Tightly-wound structure within the inner ear, whose fluids, when vibrated by the ossicles, are jostled, which causes ripples in the basilar membrane.

Basilar Membrane

Membrane within the cochlea; the vibration caused by the jostled fluid in the cochlea bends the hair cells lining its surface

Hair Cells

When the hair cells are bent by the jostled fluid in the cochlea and the ripples in the basilar membrance, the hair cell movement triggers a neural impulse in adjacent nerve cells

Auditory Nerve

Convergence of axons of the nerve cells adjacent to the hair cells, which then sends neural messages to the auditory cortex (in the temporal lobe)

Semicircular Canals/Vestibular Sacs

Attached to the canals of the cochlea; they contain fluids, which, when the head is rotated and fluids jostled, helps to determine the head's position and movement (vestibular sense)

Inner Ear

Consists of the cochlea, the semicircular canals, oval window, basilar membrane, auditory nerve, and hair cells

Neurotransmitters

Natural chemicals produced by the body that transfer signals from one neuron to another.

Agonist

Mimics the shape of natural chemical, non competitive, creates action

Antagonist

Blocks neurotransmitters from binding to receptor sites

Axons

"Speaks." Carry impulses away from the cell body.

Dendrites

"Listen." Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Myelin Sheath

"electrical wire" (dial up vs. DSL vs. Verizon Fios); degeneration = multiple sclerosis

Neuron

A nerve cell that is specialized to receive and conduct electrical impulses.

Acetylcholine function

Memory, mood, voluntary muscle movement

Dopamine function

Feelings of euphoria (reward), movement

Serotonin function

Mood, appetite, impulsiveness

GABA function

Mood, sleep, movement

Norepinephrine function

Alertness/Arousal, sleep, learning & memory

Glutamate function

Memory

Epinephrine function

Involved in energy, and glucose (sugar) metabolism

Endorphins function

Pain Control and perception of pain

Temporal Lobe

Auditory cortex receptive language, understanding language, and has to do with hearing

Frontal Lobe

Has to do with controlling motor, behavior, expressive language, judgment, decision making.

Parietal Lobe

Involved in the processing of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain

Occipital Lobe

, interception of visual information

Thalamus

The brain's central "relay station" situated just a top the brainstem. Nearly all the messages going into or out of the brain go through the thalamus.

Cerebral Cortex

The thin gray-matter covering of the cerebral hemispheres. The cerebral cortex covers major portion of mental processing and thinking.

Broca's Area

One of the main areas of the cerebral cortex responsible for producing language.

Medulla Oblongata

A brain-stem structure that controls breathing and heart rate.

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression

Midbrain

A portion of the brain located just above the medulla. Controls pons and contains basic vision and hearing functions.

Motor Cortex

A narrow vertical strip of cortex in the frontal lobes, lying just in front of the central fissure; controls movement

Reticular Formation

A pencil-shaped structure forming the core of the brainstem and it arouses the cortex to keep the brain alert.

Angular Gyrus

A region of the inferior parietal lobe of the brain that is involved in the processing of auditory and visual input and in the comprehension of language.

Corpus Callosum

The band of nerve cells that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Brainstem

Sits beneath cerebrum and in front of cerebellum. It connects the rest of the brain to spinal cord and in charge of all functions that you need to stay alive.

Hippocampus

A component of the limbic system, involved in establishing long-term memories

Forebrain

The forebrain has to do with learning and memory, language and speaking, emotional responses, planning, and decision making.

Spinal Cord

The body's central nervous system. The Spinal cord is the pathway for messages sent by brain to body and from body to brain

Hypothalamus

A limbic structure that serves as the brain's blood testing laboratory, constantly monitoring the blood to determine the condition of the body. Also controls body temperature, appetite and metabolism.

Limbic System

The middle layer of the brain, involved in emotion and memory. The limbic system includes the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other structures

Wernicke's Area

Located in the left temporal lobe. Processing of words that we hear being spoken.

Pons

Regulates states of arousal, including sleep and dreaming

Cerebellum

The "little brain" attached to the brain stem. balance posture smooth precise actions

Hindbrain

Includes cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata, medulla joined to spinal cord and controls unconscious body functions.

Somatosensory Cortex

A strip of the parietal lobe lying just behind the central fissure. The somatosensory cortex is involved with sensations of touch.

Psychoactive drug

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood

Tolerance

needing more and more to get the same affects as the first time the drug was taken caused by desensitization

Withdrawal

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

Physical Dependence

a physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued

Psychological Dependence

A psychological need to use a drug

Depressants

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions

Stimulants

temporarily excite neural activity and arouse body functions

Hallucinogens

distort perceptions and evoke sensory images

Barbituates

drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment

Opiates

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Amphetamines

drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes

Ecstasy MDMA

a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Procedures euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognitive

LSD

a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid

Alcohol

Depressant-- initial high followed by relaxation and disinhibition -- depression, memory loss, organ damage, impaired reactions

Heroin

Depressant-- Rush of euphoria, relief from pain-- depressed physiology, agonizing withdrawl

Caffeine

Stimulant-- increased alertness and wakefulness-- anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia in high doses; uncomfortable withdrawl

Methamphetamine

Stimulant--Euphoria, alertness, energy-- irritability, insomnia, hypertension, seizures

Cocaine

Stimulant--rush of euphoria, confidence, energy-- cardiovascular stress, suspiciousness, depressive crash

Nicotine

Stimulant-- Arousal and relaxation, sense of well-being-- heart disease, cancer

Ecstasy MDMA

Stimulant; mild hallucinogen-- Emotional elevation; disinhibition-- dyhydration and overheating, depressed mood and cognitive functioning

Marijuana

Mild hallucinogen--Enhanced sensation, relief of paint, distortion of time, relaxation

THC

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

Cornea

Light first enters through the cornea, which helps focus incoming rays.

Pupil

A small adjustable opening that dilates or constricts in response to light intensity or emotional factors

Iris

Muscles in the iris allow the movement of the pupil

Lens

Behind the iris and pupil, the muscularly controlled lens focuses incoming light into an image on the light sensitive retina.

Retina

Light waves are detected and transduced into neuron signals by vision receptors (rods and cones) back of eye

Fovea

A tiny pit full of cones, responsible for our sharpest vision

Rods

Visual receptors that detect white, black and gray and are responsible for peripheral vision also Most important for dim light and at night

Cones

Visual receptors adapted for color, daytime, and detailed vision. Sensitive to many wavelengths but maximally sensitive to red, green, and blue

Blind spot

A small circular area at the back of the retina where the optic nerve enters the eyeball and is not sensitive to light

Ganglion cells

rods and cones go through to connect at the center of the retina

Bipolar cells

specialized sensory neurons for the transmission of special senses

Cognitive

Jean Piaget

Evolutionary

Charles Darwin

Behavioral

John B Watson, BF Skinner, Ivan Pavlov

Humanistic

Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow

Structuralism

Edward Titchener

Psychanalytic

Sigmund Freud

Experimental

Mary Calkins

Functionalism

William James

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for higher-level cognitive functions such as decision-making, planning, and problem-solving. Controls voluntary movements and is involved in language production.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information like touch, temperature, and pain. It is also involved in spatial orientation and body position.

Occipital Lobe

Primarily responsible for processing visual information and interpreting visual stimuli such as color, light, and movement.

Temporal Lobe

Key in auditory processing and understanding language. Also plays a role in memory formation and retrieval, especially for sensory memories.

Cerebellum

Responsible for coordinating muscle movements, maintaining balance and posture, and involved in motor learning and fine motor control.

Limbic System

Includes structures like the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus, playing a key role in emotions, memory formation, and regulating bodily functions.