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biological psychology
the scientific study of how biological processes affect psychological processes
neurons
the building blocks of the central nervous system that are responsible for
receiving information from other neurons
carrying information down the body’s length
passing information to the next neuron in line
dendrites
tree-like extensions at the beginning of the neuron
receive information from a neighboring neuron and start an impulse toward the cell body
axon
longest part of a neuron
passes messages away from the cell body to the next neuron
soma
the cell body of the neuron
contains the cell nucleus to keep the cell healthy and functioning
myelin sheath
protects axon
speeds up transmission of information
axon terminals
contain neurotransmitters
sends message to next neuron
action potential
positively charged sodium/potassium ions flood through the cell membrane which causes the neuron to fire impulses (electrical charge that flows down the axon)
refractory period
neuron pumps positively charged sodium/potassium ions back outside
resting potential
positively charged ions are inside, negatively charged ions are outside
threshold
the level of stimulation in order to trigger an impulse
all or none principle
states that a neuron always fires with the same intensity
neuron will either transmit an impulse completely or not at all
inhibitory vs excitatory effect
inhibitory effect makes action potential less likely
excitatory effect makes action potential more likely
synapse
tiny fluid filled gap between neurons
neurotransmitters
travel across the synapse and latch onto receptor sites on the dendrite of the next neuron (can only attach to receptor sites that fit their shape)
reuptake
when the sending neuron reabsorbs excess neurotransmitters
acetylcholine (ACh)
enables muscle action, learning, and memory
dopamine
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
serotonin
affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
norepinephrine
helps control alertness and arousal
GABA
a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
Glutamate
a major excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory
agonist
boosts the effects of a neurotransmitter
antagonist
blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter