1.4 and 1.5 Psych Vocab

Biological psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

Brain plasticity (neuroplasticity)

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

EEG (Electroenceph-alogram)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the skin.

fMRI (Functional magnetic resonance imaging)

A technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; this scan shows brain function and as well as structure

Lesion

Damaged or destroyed brain tissue; intentionally used as a tool to research the functions of different parts of the brain

Split brain

A condition resulting from surgery that separates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

Hindbrain

Consists of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum; directs essential survival functions, such as breathing, sleeping, and wakefulness, as well as coordination and balance

Midbrain

Found atop the brainstem; controls some motor movement and transmits auditory and visual information

Forebrain

Consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hypothalamus; manages complex cognitive activity, sensory and associative functions, and voluntary motor activities

Brainstem

Medulla (oblongata)

The base of the brainstem; controls involuntary basic life functions like heartbeat and breathing

Reticular formation (reticular activating system)

A nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus; it filters information and plays an important role in controlling arousal; this is where nerve cells “cross over” from one side of the body to the opposite side of the brain

Cerebellum

The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement and balance, as well as enabling nonverbal learning and memory

Limbic system

Neural system located mostly in the forebrain – below the cerebral hemispheres –  that includes the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus; associated with emotions and drives

Thalamus

The forebrain’s sensory control center, 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

Hypothalamus

A limbic system neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system, and is linked to emotion and reward

Pituitary gland

The “master gland” of the endocrine system; communicates with the hypothalamus; sends messages to other glands; regulates growth

Hippocampus

“Seahorse”-shaped neural center in the limbic system helps process explicit (conscious) memories – of facts and events – for storage

Amygdala

Two small bean-sized (“almond”) neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotions like fear and aggression

Corpus callosum

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

Frontal lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; they enable linguistic processing and muscles movements, higher-order thinking, and executive functioning (such as making plans and judgments); doesn’t fully develop in most humans until roughly age 25

Occipital lobes

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

Temporal lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas, each of which receives information primarily from the opposite ear; they also enable language processing

Parietal lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; it receives sensory input for touch and body position

Cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the forebrain’s cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

Prefrontal cortex

A part of the frontal lobe associated with higher-order, complex cognitive behaviors such as decision making, reasoning, and personality expression

Somatosensory cortex

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

Motor cortex

A cerebral cortex area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Cortex specialization (similar to “association areas”)

The idea that certain areas of the cerebral cortex (that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions) are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

Neurogenesis

The formation of new neurons; happens naturally during sleeping, exercising, and non-stressful stimulation

Aphasia

Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)

Broca’s Area

Controls language expression; an area in the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

Wernicke’s Area

Controls language reception; a brain area in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression

Contralateral hemispheric organization

The idea that the each hemisphere of the brain controls motor and sensory activity on the opposite side of the body

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment

Cognitive neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with mental tasks like thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Sleep

A periodic, natural loss of consciousness – as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation

Circadian rhythm

Our biological clock; regular body cycles (for example, of temperature and wakefulness) that occur on a 24-hour cycle

Jet lag

A disruption in a person's circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock, which occurs when traveling across multiple time zones

EEG patterns

Patterns of brain activity at different states of consciousness, including different stages of sleep

REM sleep (Rapid eye movement sleep)

A recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

Alpha waves

The 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

Hypnagogic sensations

Bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep

Delta waves

The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

A pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm. In response to light, it adjusts melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness.

EX: SCN = “Sleep Comes Now” (The part of the brain that sends out the signals that make us sleepy)

Insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The affected person may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

Sleep apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

REM sleep behavior disorder

A sleep disorder in which normal REM paralysis does not occur; instead, twitching, talking, or even kicking or punching may occur, often acting out one’s dream

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking; a sleep disorder where a person performs complex motor activities while in a state of partial sleep and partial wakefulness

REM rebound

The tendency for REM sleep in increase following REM sleep deprivation

Dream

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind

Activation synthesis theory

The idea that dreams are our brain’s attempt to make sense of spontaneous, random neural activity during REM sleep

Consolidation theory

The idea that dreams are the result of our brain processing and organizing memories and new learnings from the day’s events