CLEP: psych module 2

hormones

chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream to regulate bodily functions

endocrine system

made up of glands located throughout the body that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

endocrine system

processes regulated include metabolism, growth rate, digestion, blood pressure, sexual development, and reproduction

pituitary gland

master gland of the endocrine system

pituitary gland

when activated by hypothalamus activated other glands throughout the body

etiology

biological explanation for mental disorders within psychology

etiology

genetic predisposition and hereditary links

etiology

malfunctioning brain chemistry, neuroanatomic pathology

neurons

communications throughout nervous system take place via these

neurons

cells that are highly specialized to receive and transmit information across the body

cell body

helps keep cell alive and functioning

dendrites

takes information in from outside the cell

axons

pass information along to other nerve cells, muscles, or glands

myelin sheath

covers axon on some neurons

myelin sheath

accelerates transmission of information

nodes of ranvier

breaks between myelin sheath

sensory/afferent neurons

take in information from body tissues and sense organs

sensory/afferent neurons

transmit to spinal cord and brain

motor/efferent neurons

send information from spinal cord and brain to body tissue, muscles, and sense organs

inter/association neurons

neurons that communicate with other neurons; most common

neurotransmitters

chemical molecules contained in vesicles within the axon terminal

neurons

work through use of electrical impulses and neurotransmitters

neurotransmitters

communicate across synapse gap

synapse gap

space between two neurons

reuptake

any neurotransmitter left in synaptic gap is broken down or absorbed back into the neuron; process referred to as…

serotonin

mood, emotional states, sleep

dopamine

attention, movement, pleasure sensations

agonist

increase neural activity flow and effect

antagonist

decrease neural activity and effect

neurotransmitter

drugs mimic behavior

neurotransmitter

each affects behavior differently

central nervous system

includes brain and spinal cord

central nervous system

suspended in cerebrospinal fluid

central nervous system

reflexive behavior

central nervous system

relies on sensory, motor, and interneuron activity

peripheral nervous system

connects the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body

somatic nervous system

carries information from muscles, sense organs, and skin to the CNS

somatic nervous system

carries messages from CNS to skeletal muscle

autonomic nervous system

controls internal environment of body

autonomic nervous system

glands, organs, and some muscles

sympathetic nervous system

prepares you for action

parasympathetic nervous system

operation during states of relaxation

genetics

play a large role in how and when learning, growing, and development occur

nature vs nurture

human behavior is a product of genetics and environment

genese

don’t determine behavior but can have a significant impact on what we do and why we do it

brainstem

where spinal cord enters skull and is oldest part of the brain

cerebellum

coordination of voluntary movement

thalamus

on top of brainstem

thalamus

receives information about taste, touch, sight, and hearing

reticular formation

runs through thalamus and brainstem

reticular formation

controls arousal and sleep

reticular formation

filters incoming stimuli and sends to other parts of brain

limbic system

sits between brainstem and cerebral cortex; more recently evolved part of brain

hippocampus

processes memory; limbic system

amygdala

fear and anger; limbic system

cerebral cortex

outer covering of brain

hypothalamus

hunger, thirst, sexual behavior; limbic system

hypothalamus

controls pituitary gland

cerebral cortex

motor, cognitive, sensory processes

cerebral cortex

divided into two hemispheres

frontal lobes

coordinating movement, higher level functioning, and speech

frontal lobes

broca’s area, wernicke’s area

parietal lobes

sense of touch in hands and feet

temporal lobes

hearing

occipital lobes

vision

cerebral cortex

hemispheres divided into four regions

physiological techniques

used to examine the interrelationship between a person’s brain and their behavior