AP Psychology - Vocabulary: Unit 2 - Biological Factors

Biological Psychology

A branch of psychology that deals with the links between biological (neuroscience & behavior genetics) and psychological processes .

Neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

cell Body/soma

the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus (the cells life support)

Dendrite

a neuron's often bushy, branching extensions that recieve and integrate messages, conducting impluses towards the cell body/soma

Axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to other muscles/glands

Myelin Sheath

a fatty tissue layer Segmentally encasing the axons of neurons; insulates the neuron, Speeding up message transmission .

Glial Cell

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

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

Refractory Period

a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; the neuron returning to its resting state

All-or- None Response

a neuron either fires at full strength or not at all

Synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite/cell body of the recieving neuron

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. Relesed by the sending neuron & recieved by the dendrites of the recieving neuron

Acetylcholine Ach

a neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning, and memory

Reuptake

a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

Endorphins

natural opiate-like neurotransmitter linked to pain control and pleasure

Agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action

Antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action

Nervous System

the body's fast, electrochemical communication network consisting of all nerves in the PNS and CNS

Central Nervous System (CNS)

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

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Sensory Neurons

Afferent neurors that carry incoming information from the body's tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and Spinal cord

Motor Neurons

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

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and process information between sensory and motor neurons

Somatic Nervous System

the division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles

Aulonomic Nervous System

the part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

Sympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing energy -> Fight or Flight response

Parasympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving energy

Reflex

a simple, autonomic response to a sensory Stimulus

Neural Networks

inter connected neural cells/work groups of neurons

Endocrine System

the body's slow, chemical communication system. Glands 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 above the kidneys and secrete hormones (lepinephron & norepinephron) that help arouse the body in times of stress

Pituitary Gland

the most influential gland of the endocrine system. Under the influence of the Hypothatamus, it regulates growth & other endocrine glands

Lesion

tissue destruction by natural/experimental means

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity Sweeping across the brain's surface

Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)

a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity

Computed Tomography Scan (CT/CAT scan)

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles which are then combined by a computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structore

Positron Emission Tomography Scan (PET scan)

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radio active glacose goes while the brain performs a task

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

a technique that uses magnetic fields & radiowaves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue.

Functional MRI (fMRI)

a technique revealing blood flow/brain activity by comparing successive MRI Scans; Shows brain structure & function

Brain Stem

the oldest part of the brain. Responsible for automatic Survival Functions

Medulla

base of the brainstem, controls heartrate & breathing

Thalamus

the Secondary control center of the brain. Located on the top of the brainstem & directs messages to the sensory cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum & medulla

Reticular Formation

nerve network that travels through the brainstem and into the thalamus. Plays an important role in controlling arousal

Cerebellum

"little brain" at the rear of the brainstem. Processes sensory input, coordinates movement output/balance, and enables nonverbal learning and memory

Limbic System

neural System (includes amygdala, hypothalames, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; Associated with emotions/drives

Amygdala

two lima-bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system that are linked to emotion

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the the thalamus, and directs several maintenence activities, helps govern the endocrine System, and is linked to emotion/reward

Hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic System; helps process explicit memories of facts for storage

Cerebral Cortex

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

Frontal Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forthead; involved in speaking, muscle movements, making plans, and judgemet

Parietal Lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and towards the rear; recieves Sensory input for touch and body position.

occipital lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the areas that recieve information from the visual fields

Temporal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each recieving information primarilly from the opposite ear

Motor Cortex

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

Somatosensory Cortex

an area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch/movement Systems

Association Areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that aren't involved in primary motor/sensory functions; they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking

Plasticity

the brain's ability to changeladapt, especially in childhood. Reorganizing after damage or building new pathways based on experience

Neurogenesis

formation of new neurons

Corpus Callosum

the large band of neural fibers that connects the two brain hemisphere & transmits messages between them

Split Brain

condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains hemispheres by cutting the corpus Callosum

Aphasia

impairment of language usually caused by left hemisphere damage to Broca's area or to Wernicke's area

Broca's Area

controls language and expression - an area usually in the left Frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

Wernicke's Area

Controls language reception- a brain area involved in language comprehension & expression; usually in the left temporal lobes