AP Psych Unit 2.1

Neuron

an individual cell that receives, integrates, and transmits information

Sensory/Afferent Neurons

carry information from the sense receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Motor/Efferent Neurons

carry information away from your brain and spinal cord to your muscles and glands so they can take action

Interneurons

go-between neurons located in the brain and spinal cord; relays messages between sensors and motor neurons

Plasticity/Neuroplasticity

the brain has the ability to adopt or modify itself as the result of experience

Structural Plasticity

the brain’s ability to actually change its physical structure as a result of learning

Functional Plasticity

the brain’s ability to move functions from a damaged area of the brain to other undamaged areas

Dendrites

the branching extensions of a neuron that receives information from other neurons

Nucleus

contains chromosomes (genetic material)

Soma/Cell Body

contains the nucleus and other parts to keep the cell healthy

Myelin Sheath

fatty substance that surrounds most axons; speeds up conduction velocity of action potentials; makes neural communication more efficient

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

disease of the brain and spinal cord; immune system attacks myelin that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between brain and rest of body

Schwann Cell

provides support and cushioning to axons; vital in the maintenance and regeneration of axons of the neurons

Node of Ranvier

gaps in the myelination of axons; keeps charge/signal going

Axons

neuron’s extending fibers; conducts impulses away from the cell body and transmits to other neurons, muscle or gland cells

Axon Terminal

endpoint of the neuron where neurotransmitters are stored and released into the synapse

Neurotransmitters

a chemical messenger that travels across the synapse from one neuron to the next and influences whether a neuron will generate an action potential; found in axon terminal

Excitatory Response

activates the next cell; hooked to a positive ion channel

Inhibitory Response

less likely that the cell would fire; hooked on to a negative ion channel

Reuptake

NT not taken up by the receiving cells are reabsorbed by their vesicles to be used again; nature’s own version of recycling

Enzymes

organic substances in the synapse break down NT, which are then eliminated from the body in the urine

Antagonists

drugs or chemicals that block/diminish the functions of NT by occupying their receptor sites

Agonists

drugs that either increase the availability or effectiveness of NT or mimic their actions. Some agonists prevent the reuptake process

Acetylcholine (ACh)

enables fine motor function in the body; makes muscles contract; role in learning, memory, and dreaming; both Excitatory and Inhibitory

Endorphins

natural chemicals released in the brain that have pain killing effects; work in the emotional pathways; Inhibitory

Serotonin

affects mood, hunger, temperature regulation, and sleep; both Excitatory and Inhibitory; located in the brain stem, cerebellum, pineal gland, and spinal cord

Dopamine

influences body movement, learning, attention, reward experiences, and emotion; both Excitatory and Inhibitory

GABA

a major inhibitory NT in the Central Nervous System; reduces the activity of the neurons to which it binds; controls fear and anxiety

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and cerebral arousal, releases glucose; acts as a hormone and NT; Excitatory; typically activated by stressful events

Glutamate

major excitatory NT; involved in half of the synapses

Nervous System

network of nerve cells for communicating and processing information

Central Nervous System

brain and spinal cord; processing center

Brain

enables you to think, plan, and create; regulates life processes

Spinal Cord

extension of the brain; neural pathway that transmits information between the brain and Peripheral Nervous System

Spinal Reflex

a physical movement that bypasses the brain

Peripheral Nervous System

network of nerve cells that connects the spinal cord and brain with the sensory organs, muscles, and glands

Somatic Nervous System

helps your muscles to contract to an intentional command

Autonomic Nervous System

controls internal bodily processes such as heartbeat, respiration, digestion, blood vessels, glands; automatically

Sympathetic Nervous System

speeds up bodily processes and draws energy from stored reserves

Parasympathetic Nervous System

slows down bodily processes

Brain-stem

begins where the spinal cord swells slightly after entering the skull; oldest part and central core of the brain; it is responsible for automatic survival functions

Medulla

controls heartbeat and breathing. Responsible for many involuntary controls such as vomiting, sneezing, and coughing; at base of brain-stem

Pons

responsible for motor function (eye movement and swallowing), sleep-wake cycle, dreaming (biochemical function)

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

found in the Reticular Formation; inside the brain; plays an important role in brain arousal

Cerebellum

extending from the rear of the brain-stem; coordinating movement output and balance and enabling nonverbal learning and memory; voluntary movement

Thalamus

atop brain-stem; receives information from all senses except smell and routes it to the higher brain regions that deal with seeing, hearing, tasting, and touching; relay station

Limbic System

between oldest and newest regions; forms a border around the brain-stem and are involved in emotion, motivation, learning and memory

Hippocampus

large structure in the temporal lobes; helps us form new memories of events and information

Amygdala

involved in intense emotional responses including fear, anger, and disgust

Hypothalamus

below thalamus; influences hunger, thirst, body temperature, sexual behaviors. Helps maintain steady internal state

Cerebral Cortex

the bumpy grey outer surface of the brain; body’s control and information-processing center

Frontal Lobes

behind forehead; responsible for thinking/cognition, planning, creativity, organizing, etc.; motor cortex; speech production

Parietal Lobes

top and to the rear; helps us identify objects by touch; contains brain’s ability to interpret sensations from anywhere on or within body

Temporal Lobes

sides of head; processes sound; auditory complex; memory

Right Temporal Lobe

memory for pictures and faces

Left Temporal Lobe

memory for words and names

Occipital Lobes

back of head; visual processing

Cerebral Dominance

the tendency of each brain hemisphere to exert control over different functions; both hemispheres work together

Corpus Callosum

the band of nerve cells (axon fibers) that connects the two cerebral hemispheres; cannot be repaired or replaced when damaged

Corpus collostomy

founded by Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga; surgical procedure used to treat atomic seizures/drop attacks; lead to Split Brain studies

Functions of the Left Hemisphere

processing of positive emotions, spontaneous speaking and writing, understanding speaking and writing, trouble with reading and writing

Functions of the Right Hemisphere

processing of negative emotions, responses to simple commands, making inferences, memory for shapes and music