Studied by 1 person
phrenology
study of bumps on skull to reveal personality and mental abilities
localization of function
idea that various brain regions have particular functions
biological psych
study of links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes
neuron
nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system
dendrites
neurons’ branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
axon
neuron extension that passes messages through branches to other neurons, muscles, and glands
myelin sheath
fatty tissue layer encasing axons of some neurons; enables greater transmission speed as neural impulses travel
action potential
neural impulse; brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
refactory period
period of inactivity after neuron has fired
threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger neural response
all-or-none response
neuron’s reaction of either firing with full strength or not at all
synapse
junction between axon tip of sending neuron and the dentrite/cell body of receiving neuron (tiny gap=synaptic gap or clef)
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps between neurons; when released by sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across synapses and bind to receptor sites on receiving neuron thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
reuptake
neurotransmitter’s resorption by the sending neuron
agonist
molecule that by binding to receptor site stimulates a response
antagonist
molecule that by binding to receptor site inhibits/blocks response
sensory/afferent neurons
afferent = inward, towards; neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
motor/efferent neurons
efferent = outward, away; neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
nerves
bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
nervous system
body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all nerve cells of peripheral and central nervous systems
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal chord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
the sensory and motor neurons that connect central nervous system (CNS) to rest of body
interneurons
neurons within brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs
somatic nervous system (PNS)
division of the peripheral nervous system that controls body’s skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system (PNS)
part of the peripheral nervous system that controls glands and muscles of internal organs (heart) - sympathetic arouses; parasympathetic calms
sympathetic nervous system
division of autonomic nervous system that arouses body - fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system
division of autonomic nervous system that calms body, conserving energy
reflex
simple, automatic response to sensory stimulus (like knee jerk)
endocrine system
body’s “slow” chemical communication system; set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands travel through bloodstream and effect other tissues
adrenal glands
pair of endocrine glands that sit above kidneys, secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse body in times of stress
pituitary gland
endocrine system’s most influential; under influence of hypothalamus, pituitary regulates growth and controls other endo glands
lesion
tissue distruction; naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
electroencephalogram (EEG)
amplified recording of waves of electrical activity sweeping across brain’s surface; waves measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
CT (computed tomography) scan / CAT
series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into composite representation of a slice of brain’s structure
PET (positron emission tomography) scan
visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while brain performs given task
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue and show brain anatomy
fMRI (functional MRI)
technique for revealing bloodflow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; scans show brain function and structure
brainstem
oldest part and central core of brain, beginning where spinal chord enters skull; responsible automatic survival functions
medulla
base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
pons
above medulla; coordinates movement and links brain to spinal chord, helps facilitate parts of sleep cycle
thalamus
brain’s sensory control center; located on top of brainstem; directs messages to sensory receiving areas in cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
reticular formation
nerve network that travels through brainstem and thalamus and plays important role in arousal
cerebellum
“little brain” at rear of the brainstem; functions like processing sensory input, coordinating movement/balance, and nonverbal learning and memory
limbic system
neural system (including hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
hippocampus
responsible for formation of memory, processes explicit memories for storage
amygdala
two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in limbic system; linked to emotion
hypothalamus
neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; directs maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp), governs endocrine system via pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion/reward
cerebral cortex
fabric of interconnected neural cells covering cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center
glial cells
cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; may also play role in learning and thinking
frontal lobes
portion of cerebral cortex lying behind forehead; involved in speaking, muscle movements, and making plans/judgments.
parietal lobes
portion of cerebral cortex lying at top and rear of the head; receives sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back lower of the head; includes areas that receive info from visual fields
temporal lobes
portion of cerebral cortex lying roughly above ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from opposite ear
motor cortex
area at the rear of frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
somatosensory cortex
area at front of parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
association areas
areas of cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor/sensory functions; involved in higher mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking, speaking
broca’s area
damage disrupts speaking
wernicke’s area
damage disrupts understanding
plasticity
brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
neurogenisis
formation of new neurons
lateralization
localization of function or activity on one hemisphere of brain in preference to the other
corpus callosum
large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
split brain
condition resulting from surgery that isolates brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (corpus callosum) connecting them
consciousness
awareness of ourselves and our environment
cognitive neuroscience
interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, language)
dual processing
principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious track (“we know more than we know”)
behavior genetics
study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes
DNA
complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up chromosomes
genes
biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
genome
complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes
identical twins
twins who develop from single fertilized egg that splits
fraternal twins
twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs; shared fetal environment
molecular genetics
subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes
heritability
proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes; heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied
interaction
interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)
epigenetics
study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change (“nature via nurture”)
evolutionary psych
study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
natural selection
principle
that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
mutation
random error in gene replication that leads to a change
sexual overperception bias
male tendency to believe that women are more sexually attracted to them than they are in reality
circadian rhythm
biological clock; regular bodily rhythms (wakefullness, body temp) on a 24hr cycle
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
pair of cell clusters in hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm; in response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying feelings of sleepiness
alpha waves
relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
NREM sleep
non–rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep
hallucinations
false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus
delta waves
large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
sleep spindles
bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity
REM sleep
rapid eye movement; recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams occur, aka paradoxical sleep bc muscles are relaxed but other body systems are active
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