ap psychology unit 2: the brain

studied byStudied by 3 people
0.0(0)
Get a hint
Hint

biological psychology

1 / 62

flashcard set

Earn XP

Description and Tags

63 Terms

1

biological psychology

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

New cards
2

neuron

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

New cards
3

axon

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

New cards
4

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

New cards
5

action potential

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

New cards
6

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

New cards
7

synapse

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

New cards
8

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gap between neurons

New cards
9

acetylcholine

muscle action, learning, associated with alzheimer

New cards
10

endorphins

linked to pain control and pleasure

New cards
11

nervous system

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

New cards
12

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

New cards
13

peripheral nervous system

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

New cards
14

nerves

neural "cables" containing many axons

New cards
15

sensory neurons

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

New cards
16

interneurons

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

New cards
17

motor neurons

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

New cards
18

somatic nervous system

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

New cards
19

autonomic nervous system

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

New cards
20

sympathetic nervous system

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

New cards
21

parasympathetic nervous system

calms the body, conserving its energy

New cards
22

reflex

a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus

New cards
23

neural networks

interconnected neural cells - with experience, networks can learn

New cards
24

lesion

tissue destruction

New cards
25

electroencephalogram (EEG)

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

New cards
26

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

New cards
27

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

New cards
28

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

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

New cards
29

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

New cards
30

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

New cards
31

reticular formation

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

New cards
32

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

New cards
33

cerebellum

helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

New cards
34

limbic system

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

New cards
35

amygdala

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

New cards
36

hypothalamus

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

New cards
37

cerebral cortex

the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

New cards
38

glial cells

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

New cards
39

frontal lobes

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

New cards
40

parietal lobes

senses except vision, body position

New cards
41

occipital lobes

includes the visual areas

New cards
42

temporal lobes

hearing, storing and learning memories

New cards
43

motor cortex

controls voluntary movements

New cards
44

sensory cortex

registers and processes body sensations

New cards
45

aphasia

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

New cards
46

Broca's area

nvolved in speech

New cards
47

Wernicke's area

understanding

New cards
48

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

New cards
49

corpus callosum

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

New cards
50

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

New cards
51

endocrine system

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

New cards
52

hormones

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

New cards
53

adrenal glands

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

New cards
54

pituitary gland

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

New cards
55

association area

thinking

New cards
56

dendrite

recieves messages and conduct impulse toward cell body

New cards
57

agonist

speed up

New cards
58

antagonist

slow down, botox

New cards
59

dopamine

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

New cards
60

serotonin

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

New cards
61

norepinephrine

helps control alertness&arousal

New cards
62

GABA

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

New cards
63

Glutamate

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

New cards

Explore top notes

note Note
studied byStudied by 68 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 164 people
... ago
5.0(3)
note Note
studied byStudied by 116 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 24 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 10 people
... ago
5.0(2)
note Note
studied byStudied by 164 people
... ago
5.0(3)
note Note
studied byStudied by 210 people
... ago
4.8(5)

Explore top flashcards

flashcards Flashcard (23)
studied byStudied by 7 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (42)
studied byStudied by 9 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (27)
studied byStudied by 9 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (64)
studied byStudied by 3 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (32)
studied byStudied by 1 person
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (27)
studied byStudied by 42 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (37)
studied byStudied by 2 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (20)
studied byStudied by 41 people
... ago
5.0(3)
robot