Studied by 3 people
biological psychology
a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
axon
the extention of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
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
action potential
a neural impulse; a breif electrical charge that travels down an axon
threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gap between neurons
acetylcholine
muscle action, learning, associated with alzheimer
endorphins
linked to pain control and pleasure
nervous system
the body's speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
central nervous system
the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
nerves
neural "cables" containing many axons
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
interneurons
central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands
somatic nervous system
the division of the perihperal nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
sympathetic nervous system
arouses& accelerate the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
parasympathetic nervous system
calms the body, conserving its energy
reflex
a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
neural networks
interconnected neural cells - with experience, networks can learn
lesion
tissue destruction
electroencephalogram (EEG)
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain&surface
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
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
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue
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
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
reticular formation
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
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
cerebellum
helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance
limbic system
associated with emotions such as fear and agression and drives such as those for food and sex
amygdala
two almond-shaped neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion
hypothalamus
emotion, sexual, pleasure, drinking, eating, body temporature
cerebral cortex
the body's ultimate control and information-processing center
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
frontal lobes
invloved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
parietal lobes
senses except vision, body position
occipital lobes
includes the visual areas
temporal lobes
hearing, storing and learning memories
motor cortex
controls voluntary movements
sensory cortex
registers and processes body sensations
aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (imparing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (imparing understanding)
Broca's area
nvolved in speech
Wernicke's area
understanding
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
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
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
endocrine system
the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine system, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
adrenal glands
secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress
pituitary gland
under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
association area
thinking
dendrite
recieves messages and conduct impulse toward cell body
agonist
speed up
antagonist
slow down, botox
dopamine
influence movement, learning, attention, and emotion. Lead to schizophrenia, parkinson, depression ex: cocaine, alcohol
serotonin
affects mood, hunger, sleep, &arousal. Prozac, OCD
norepinephrine
helps control alertness&arousal
GABA
major inhibitory nt, seizures, tremors, &insomnia, Huntington disease
Glutamate
excitatory nt, involves memory. migraines/seizures, avoid MSG, Lou Gherigs's
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