Untitled Flashcards Set

Glial Cells

Cells that provide structure, nourishment, and cleanup for the brain; outnumber neurons 9:1.

Blood Brain Barrier

A barrier that protects the brain from harmful substances in the blood.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt based on circumstances.

Neuropeptides

Chemicals in the brain that regulate neuron activity.

Neurogenesis

The process of creating new brain cells in the brain.

Neurons

Cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other.

Dendrites

Branches of a neuron that receive information from other neurons.

Cell Body/Soma

The part of the neuron where the nucleus is located.

Axon

The part of the neuron that transmits information to other neurons.

Myelin Sheath

A layer that surrounds the axon and speeds up information transfer.

Terminal Buttons

The ends of axons that release neurotransmitters for other neurons.

Synapse

The small space between neurons where communication occurs.

Synaptic Pruning

The process of eliminating unnecessary neuronal connections.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that carry information from sensory organs to the brain.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that transmit information from the brain to muscles.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that enable us to mimic actions and understand emotions.

Interneurons

Neurons that connect other neurons, mostly found in the brain.

Action Potential

An electrical signal that travels down the axon of a neuron.

Refractory Period

The period in which a neuron cannot fire again.

Agonist

A substance that enhances the effectiveness of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

A substance that decreases the effectiveness of a neurotransmitter.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter important for mood regulation and sleep.

Epinephrine

A neurotransmitter also known as adrenaline, involved in stress responses.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter associated with arousal and alertness.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Glutamate

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter that promotes neuron activation.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter crucial for muscle movement and memory.

Law of Forward Condition

Information travels from dendrites to terminal buttons, never backwards.

All or None Principle

A neuron either fires completely or not at all.

Hebb’s Rule

Repeated activation between two neurons strengthens their connection.

Enzymatic Degradation

The process of breaking down leftover neurotransmitters in the synapse.

Reuptake

The process where a neuron takes back neurotransmitters it released.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain responsible for complex thought processes.

Frontal Lobe

The part of the brain associated with higher order functions like reasoning.

Prefrontal Cortex

The front part of the frontal lobe, important for decision-making and control.

Phineas Gage

A man whose brain injury contributed to understanding of the frontal lobe's role.

Motor Cortex

The area at the back of the frontal lobe involved in planning and executing movement.

Homunculus

A visual representation of the body based on the sensory processing in the cortex.

Parietal Lobe

The part of the brain that processes sensory information like touch.

Occipital Lobe

The area of the brain responsible for vision.

Temporal Lobe

The part of the brain involved in hearing and language processing.

Broca’s Area

A region crucial for language production, located in the frontal lobe.

Wernicke’s Area

A region important for language comprehension, located in the temporal lobe.

Thalamus

all sensory information goes here except for smell

Pituitary Gland

The gland that regulates hormone release in the body.

Hippocampus

A structure critical for forming new memories.

Amygdala

A brain region involved in emotion regulation, especially fear.

Cerebellum

The part of the brain that controls balance and fine motor movements.

Midbrain

A region that processes sensory information and helps with movement.

Hindbrain

The oldest part of the brain, responsible for basic life functions.

Forebrain

The most complex region of the brain, involved in higher processing.

Cortex

The outer layer of the brain; divided into several lobes.

Lateralization

The distinct functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Corpus Callosum

The band of fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain.

Gate Control Theory

The theory that the spinal cord can block pain signals to the brain.

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the nervous system responsible for involuntary functions.

Sympathetic System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that triggers fight or flight responses.

Parasympathetic System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that promotes rest and digestion.

Transduction

The process of converting external signals into neural signals.

Psychophysics

The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the perception of those stimuli.

Absolute Threshold

The smallest level of stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time.

Signal Detection Theory

A theory explaining how we discern between information and irrelevant stimuli.

Weber's Law

The principle that the just noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus.

Just Noticeable Difference (JND)

Smallest change in a stimulus for you to be able to notice that the stimulus has changed

Depth Cues

Visual indicators that help us perceive depth and distance.

Binocular Cues

Depth cues that arise from the use of both eyes.

Monocular Cues

Depth cues that can be perceived by using one eye.

Gestalt Principles

Rules that describe how the brain organizes visual information into wholes.

Sensation vs Perception

Sensation is the input from the senses, perception is how the brain interprets that input.

Kinesthesia

The sense of body position and movement.

Chemical Senses

The senses of taste and smell that are based on chemical detection.

Taste Buds

The sensory receptors for taste located on the tongue.

Papillae

Bumps on the tongue that contain taste buds.

Stress

The process of perceiving and responding to events that are challenging or threatening.

Tend and Befriend

A social response to stress that involves seeking support from others.

Coping

Strategies used to manage stress and its effects.

Adaptation-level Phenomenon

The tendency to judge current experiences based on past experiences.

Relative Deprivation

The perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself.

Type A Personality

A personality type that is competitive, driven, and often hostile.

Type B Personality

A personality type that is relaxed and easy-going.

Hardiness

A personality characteristic that reflects resilience against stress.

Diathesis-Stress Model

A model that explains the interaction between genetics and stress in the development of disorders.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss resulting from damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Conduction Hearing Loss

Hearing loss due to problems with the outer or middle ear.

Phantom Limb Pain

The sensation of pain in a limb that has been removed.

Somatosensory Cortex

A region in the brain responsible for processing body sensations.

Auditory Nerve

The nerve that carries sound information from the inner ear to the brain.

Cochlea

The spiral-shaped part of the inner ear involved in hearing.

Fovea

The area of the retina with the highest concentration of cones for sharp vision.

Rods

Photoreceptors in the retina that are sensitive to low light.

Cones

Photoreceptors responsible for color vision and visual detail.

Binocular Disparity

The difference in images between the two eyes that aids in depth perception.

Olfactory Receptors

Receptors that detect smell stimuli in the nasal cavity.

Flavor

The combination of taste and smell that influences the perception of food.

Emotional Control

The ability to manage one's emotional responses effectively.

Decisional Control

The ability to make choices that can influence stress outcomes.