Unit 2 Psych Vocab

biological psychology

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

neuron

a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.

dendrite

branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

axon

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

myelin sheath

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

action potential

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

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

synapse

a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next. (gap btwn neurons)

neurotransmitters

chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another

acetylcholine

a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction (alzheimer's)

endorphins

controls pain perception and positive memories ( opiate addiction)

nervous system

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

Central Nervous System (CNS)

consists of the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

nerves

bundles of neuron fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system.

sensory neurons (afferent)

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

motor neurons (efferent)

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral 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 (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

sympathetic nervous system

a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations (fight or flight)

parasympathetic nervous system

a set of nerves that helps the body return to a normal resting state (rest and digest)

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

neural networks

networks of nerve cells that integrate sensory input and motor output

lesion

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

record of the electrical activity of the brain

Computed Tomography (CT)

brain-imaging method using computer-controlled X-rays of the brain

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

a method of brain imaging that assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

brain-imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce detailed images of the brain

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time

brainstem

responsible for automatic survival functions like breathing, consciousness, blood pressure, heart rate, and sleep

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

recticular formation

registers and controls activity level, increases excitement, and helps generate sleep.

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

a large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills. (drawing or grabbing an abject)

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

a limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

gilal cells

support, nourish, and protect neurons

antagonist (brain)

a type of ligand or drug that avoids or dampens a biological reaction

agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action

frontal lobe

a region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

parietal lobe

a region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

occipital lobe

a region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

temporal lobe

a region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

sensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

aphasia

inability to speak

Broca's area

controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Wernicke's area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

corpus callosum

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

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

endocrine system

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

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

pituitary gland

the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

homeostasis

process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

cell body

largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm

hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

pons

a brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

resting potential

the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron's cell membrane

basilar membrane

a structure that runs the length of the cochlea in the inner ear and holds the auditory receptors, called hair cells.

midbrain

a small part of the brain above the pons that integrates sensory information and relays it upward.

receptors

special structures that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their internal or external environment.

eardrum

a thin membrane that marks the beginning of the middle ear; sound waves cause it to vibrate

all or none law

principle that the action potential in a neuron does not vary in strength; the neuron either fires at full strength or it does not fire at all

genotype

an organism's genetic makeup, or allele combinations.

hindbrain

medulla, pons, cerebellum

phenotype

the physical appearance of a character

forebrain

the largest and most complicated region of the brain, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

spinal cord

nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit most messages between the body and brain

Charles Darwin

English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)

Micheal Gazzaniga

Split brain research

Roger Sperry

like Gazzaniga, studied split brain patients; showed that left/right hemispheres have different functions

terminal buttons

small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

receptor sites

holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters

neural firing

electrochemical process

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

DNA

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

genes

DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission.

genomes

all the genetic material in an organism

natural selection

a process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

mutation

a change in a gene or chromosome.

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

gender

in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characteristics by which people define male and female

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

environment

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

identical twins

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

fraternal twins

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.

temperament

a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity

heritability

the ability of a trait to be passed down from one generation to the next

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

molecular genetics

the study of the structure and function of chromosomes and genes

culture

beliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.

norm

rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members

personal space

the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies

memes

self-replicating ideas, fashions, and innovations passed from person to person