All Unit Vocabulary

phrenology (Franz Gall)

studying bumps on skull to reveal abilities + traits (76)

localization of function

idea that various brain regions have particular functions (76)

neurons/nerve cells

basic building block of nervous system (78)

dendrite

branching extension of neuron that receives messages from other cells, and conduct impulses toward cell body (78)

axon

passes messages through branches to other neurons/muscles (78)

myelin sheath

insulating tissue that not only protects axon but enables axon a greater transmission speed as neural impulses go place to place (78)

multiple sclerosis

result of myelin sheath degeneration/deterioration: communications to muscles slow, eventual loss of muscle control (78)

action potential

neuron impulse: brief electrical charge that travels through axon (78)

resting potential

positive outside - negative inside state of neuron (79)

refractory period

cooldown; period of inactivity after neuron has fired (79)

excitatory signal

“hitting neuron’s accelerator” (79) / FIX THIS

inhibitory signal

“hitting neuron’s brake” (80) / FIX THIS

all-or-none-response

neuron’s reaction of either firing or not firing (80)

synapse

meeting point between neurons, where info is exchanged (80)

synaptic gap/cleft

where axon terminal of one neuron is separated from receiving neuron (80)

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps between neurons (80)

reuptake

the sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter (80)

endorphins

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure (82)

agonist

molecule that stimulates response by binding to receptor site (82)

antagonist

molecule that inhibits/blocks response by binding to receptor site (83)

genotype

organism’s genetic makeup

phenotype

organism’s observable physical traits

nervous system

body’s speedy, electrochemical, communication network which consists of all nerve cells of PNS (peripheral) and CNS (central) (86)

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord, body’s decision maker (86)

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

sensory + motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body (nerves), responsible for gathering info + transmitting CNS decisions to body parts (86)

nerves

electrical cables formed of bundles of axons, linking CNS decision to other body parts (86)

sensory/afferent neurons

carry INCOMING info from sensory receptors to CNS (86)

interneurons

take message from sensory neurons to the motor neuron / neurons within CNS that communicate internally and intervene btwn sensory INPUTS and motor OUTPUTS (87)

motor/efferent neurons

take info from brain to rest of body / carry OUTGOING info from CNS to muscles + glands (87)

somatic/skeletal nervous system

enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles (87)

autonomic nervous system

self regulating, controls glands + muscles of internal organs (87) ex. breathing, heartbeat, digesting

sympathetic nervous system

arouses body + mobilize energy in stressful situation (87) (hyper gf)

parasympathetic nervous system

calms body + conserves energy (87) (calm bf)

neural networks

cluster of neurons in ‘work group’ (88)

reflex

simple, automatic response to sensory stimulus (89)

endocrine system

body’s chemical communication system, includes glands that secrete hormones into body (90) travels a bit more slowly than nervous system (NS)

hormones

another form of neurotransmitters; travels thru bloodstream + affects other tissues (90)

adrenal glands

endocrine glands that secrete (nor)epinephrine hormones that help arouse body in stressful/threatening situations (91)

pituitary glands

regulates growth + controls other endocrine glands-- top leader gland of endocrine system, but is influenced by hypothalamus (91)

lesion

tissue destruction (94)

ventricles

fluid-filled brain areas (95)

electroencephalogram (EEG)

amplified reading/recording of waves of electrical activity across brain surface (95)

computed tomography scan (CT)

series of X-ray photos taken from diff angles + combined into composite representation of brain structure (95)

positron emission tomography scan (PET)

visual display of brain activity that detects each brain area’s sugar glucose consumption (95)

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

technique that uses magnetic fields + radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue -- shows brain anatomy (95)

functional MRI (fMRI)

technique that reveals blood flow and brain function (as well as activity) (95)

brainstem

central core of brain, responsible for automatic survival functions (starts where spinal cord swells when enters skull) (97)

medulla

controls heartbeat + breathing (located at base of brainstem) (97)

pons

helps coordinate movements (above medulla) (97)

thalamus

brain’s sensory control center; directs messages to sensory receiving areas (cortex) and transmits replies to cerebellum + medulla (97)

reticular formation

plays important role in relaying info to other brain areas, and controls arousal (travels thru brainstem + thalamus) (98)

cerebellum

coordinates voluntary movements, processes sensory inputs, enables nonverbal + learning memory (located below occipital lobes of brain, near lower back of brain, the BALLS of brain) (98)

limbic system

neural system associated w emotions + drives (located below cerebral hemispheres- the two halves of the brain) (98)

amygdala

emotion-related memory formation (332)

hypothalamus

keeps body in balance, stable internal state (homeostasis), (located under thalamus) linked w emotion + reward, helps govern endocrine system through pituitary gland (clevelandclinic.org)

cerebral cortex

body’s ultimate control and info processing center, made up of interconnected neural cells (104)

cerebrum/cerebral hemispheres

85% of brain’s weight, includes both L + R hemisphere (104)

glial cells (glia)

cells in nervous system that support, nourish, protect neurons; may also play role in learning + thinking (104)

frontal lobes

involved in speaking, muscle, movement, making plans in judgements (located behind forehead) (105)

parietal lobes

receives sensory input for touch/body position (located at top of/toward read of head) (105)

occipital lobes

includes areas that receive info from visual fields (located at bottom/rear of head) (105)

temporal lobes

includes auditory areas, each receiving info from opposite ears (since brain wired oppositely: L hemisphere for right body, R hemisphere for left body) (105)

motor cortex

controls voluntary movement (located at rear of frontal lobes) (105)

somatosensory cortex

registers + processes body touch and movement sensations (located in front of parietal lobes) (107)

association area

involved in higher mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking, speaking (in cerebral cortex) (109)

plasticity

ability to modify itself after damage, reorganizes existing tissue (111)

neurogenesis

formation of new neurons (112)

corpus callosum

connects cerebrum (two brain hemispheres) + carries messages btwn them (made up of large band of neural fibers) (114)

split brains (Robert Sperry + Michael Gazzanga)

result of surgery that isolates L + R hemispheres, by cutting fibers but mainly the corpus callosum (114)

L hemisphere

primarily responsible for speech, math, logic

R hemisphere

excel in making inferences, helps modulate speech to make meaning clear, facial/emotion recognition, visual perception, recognize patterns

consciousness

awareness of ourselves and our environment (118)

cognitive neuroscience

study of brain activity link w cognition (includes perception, thinking, memory, language) (7)

dual processing

idea that info is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious + unconscious tracks (120)

behavior geneticists

study of relative power + limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior (124)

environment

any external influences (124)

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes (23 from egg, 23 from sperm = 46 total) (124)

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

molecule containing genetic info that chromosomes are made up of (124)

genes

biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes, segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins (124)

genome

complete instructions for making organisms (kinda like recipe) (124)

monozygotic/identical twins

twins who develop from single fertilized egg that splits into two, creating 2 genetically identical organisms (125)

dizygotic/fraternal twins

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs, sharing fetal environment (125)

molecular genetics

subfield of biology tat studies molecular structure + functions of genes (129)

heritability

“quality of characteristic being passed on from parent to offspring” (oxfordlanguages) / extent to which variation among people can be attributed to diff genes (129-130)

interaction

how individuals influence/are influenced by others (Psych Dictionary) / interplay that occurs when effect of one factor depends on another factor (130)

epigenetics

“study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work” (CDC.gov) / studying molecular mechanisms by which environments trigger genetic expression OR study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur w/o DNA change (131)

epigenetic mark

molecule attached to part of DNA strand, instructs cell to ignore any gene present in DNA segment, preventing DNA from producing proteins coded by that gene (131)

evolutionary psychology

study evolution of behavior + mind using principles of natural selection (135)

natural selection

among range of inherited trait variations, those who survive environment and reproduce will pass those traits to next generation (10)

mutation

random error in gene replication that leads to change (136)