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| study of behavior as influenced by biology. It draws its techniques & research methods from Bio and Medicine to examine phychological phenomena |
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| Electroencephalogram: measures subtle changes in brain electrical activity through electrodes placed on the head. Records the electrical activity of the brain. This is important because it allows psychologists to observe and get an electrical picture of brain activity during various cognitive states. |
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| Computerized Axial Tomography: generates cross-sectional images of the brain through an X-ray-like technique. Computers measure the amounts to radiation and piece together a 3-D view of the brain that can be displayed on a video monitor. |
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| Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Similar to CAT scans but generates more highly detailed pictures of the brain and is more effective at revealing small injuries and abnormalities in hard-to-see areas |
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| Positron emission tomography: differs from CAT/MRI scans because it shows the brain in activity (using radioactive glucose) and helps researchers observe which parts of our brain is in use while we do certain activities |
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| the body's speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous sytems. |
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| Central Nervous System (CNS) |
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| the subsystem of the nervous system, comprising of the brain and the spinal cord |
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| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) |
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a subsystem of the nervous system; the neurons that connect the central nervous sytem to the rest of the body. It consists of the sensory neurons and the motor neurons and all the nerve cells in the body with the exception of those in the CNS.
The PNS can be subdivided into the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System. |
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| neurons that carry messages to the CNS from the body's sense receptors |
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| neurons that carry messages from the CNS to the muscles and glands |
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| a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system |
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| nerves sending information to the brain |
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| nerves conveying information from the brain |
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| a certain small subset of movements are controlled by direct transmission from afferent to efferent cells at the level of the spinal cord; quick and involuntary responses to environmental stimuli |
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| responsible for voluntary movement of large skeletal muscles; the division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the CNS with sensory receptors, muscles, and skin. |
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-controls the nonskeletal or smooth muscles, such as those of the heart and digestive tract. These muscles are typically not under coluntary control.
-the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates body functions, such as respiration and digestion
-can be further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. |
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| Sympathetic Nervous System |
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| associated with processes that burn energy; the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations |
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| Parasympathetic Nervous System |
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| the division of the autonomic nervous sytem that calms the body, conserving its energy. |
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| divided into 3 regions: forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain |
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| located at the front of the head and contains the four major areas: the limbic system, the hypothalamus, the thalamus, and the cerebral cortex. |
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| the area of the brain involved in learning, emotion, and memory, hunger, sex, and agression. If a particular part of the limbic system is damaged, people can recall old memories but cannot create new memories. Destruction of other parts of the limbic system can cause animals to behave agressively (with no reason). The Limbic System includes the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the septum. |
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-Involved in learning and memory formation. Damage to the hippocampus does not eliminate existing memories, but prevents the formation of new memories.
-a neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage. |
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| 2 almond shaped neural centers in the limbic system that are linked to emotion (particularly agression) |
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| a neural center located in the limbic system that is linked to emotion (particularly fear) |
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| where damage of the hippocampus occurs, and the formation of new memories is not possible, but does not elimiate existing memories |
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-a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is located to emotion
-is very tiny, but vital because it is involved in many aspects of behavior and physiological functions. It regulates the body temperatures, the storages of nutrients, and various aspects of motivation and emotion. Also involved in hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, caring for offspring, and agression. Disturbances within the hypothalamus can lead to unusual drinking and eating behaviors. |
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-the brain's sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
-recieves and directs sensory input from visual and auditory systems, and it converys information about balance and pain
-Latin word meaning "inner chamber" |
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| paths of neurons that extend from one area of the brain to another |
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-the wrinkled outer layer of the brain, involved in higher cognitive functions, such as thinking, planning, language use, and fine motor control. Recieves sensory input via the thalamus and sends out motor information.
-the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center |
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| location of the reticular activating system, a network of neurons responsible for consciousness, attention, sleeping, and wakefulness. Areas within the midbrain are involved in vision and hearing. |
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-the junction between the brain and the spinal cord.
-central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; it is responsible for automatic survival functions
-the midbrain, hindbrain, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus form the brainstem |
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| Reticular Activating System |
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-a network of neurons responsible for consciousness, attention, sleeping, and wakefulness
-the part of the brain that is involved in attention, sleep, and arousal |
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| -made up of the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and the pons. |
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-controls muscle tone and balance
-the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance
-involved in balance and coordination |
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-controls heart rate, swallowing, breathing, and digestion.
-involved in vital functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing |
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-is a way station, passing neural info from one brain area to another
-located in front of the medulla and is involved in regulating body movement, attention, sleep, and alertness |
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| 2 symmetrical-looking sides of the brain, joined together in the center of the brain by a dense band of nerves called the corpus callosum. The 2 halves of the brain handle most informational input in a contralateral fashion, meaning input from receptors on the left side of the body tansmit information to the right cerebral hemisphere and vice versa. This type of transmission is called ipsilateral. |
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| French physician, discovered that damage to a specific area of the left frontal lobe left a person struggling to form words. He discovered that the left hemisphere of the brain typically is specialized for language processing and damage to the left hemisphere can lead to aphasia. |
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| a loss of speaking ability |
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| He demonstrated that the 2 hemispheres can operate independently of each other (using cats), however the brain functions better when the 2 hemispheres work together. |
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-is responsible for higher level thought and reasoning, and contains the primary motor cortex, which is the area responsible for planning and performing movements
-the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgement |
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| -handles somatosensory information, and is the home of the primary somatorsensory cortex. This area recieves information about temp., pressure, texture, and pain. |
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-This lobe handles auditory input and is critical for processing speech and appreciating music.
-the portion of the cerebral cortex lying rouhgly above the ears; includes the auditory areas |
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| the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, each of which receives visual info from the opposite visual field |
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| areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in such mental operations as thinking, memory, learning, and problem solving. Damage to these association areas can lead to a variety of dysfunctions including apraxia, agnosia, and alexia. |
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| the inability to organize movement |
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| a difficulty in processing sensory input |
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| a dense band of nerves that join together the two hemispheres in the center of the brain |
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| a clearly defined, nucleated cell body (??SOMEONE CHECK THIS ONE??) |
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-receive input from other neurons through receptors on their surface.
-the branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive impulses and conduct them toward the cell body |
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| where the cell body joins with the axon |
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| a long, tube-like structure that responds to input from the dendrites and soma. It transmits a neural message down its length and then passes its information on to other cells. |
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-a fatty coating that surrounds the axon
-a layer of fatty cells segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; makes possible a vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses |
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| -chemical messengers that carries impulses across the synaptic gaps between neurons |
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| a key neurotransmitter; affects memory function, as well as muscle contraction, particularly in the heart |
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| a key neurotransmitter; related to arousal, sleep, pain sensitivity, and mood and hunger regulation |
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| a key neurotransmitter; associated with movement, attention, and reward; dopamine imbalances may play a role in Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia |
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-provides another way by which various parts of our bodies relay information to one another
-the glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream |
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-affects cell growth and proliferation
-one of several chemicals produced by the endocrine glands that regulates specific body functions |
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| the application of the principles of evolutionary theory to the study of behavior |
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-distinctive characteristics or behavior patterns that are determined by genetics
-a dominant trait is more likely to be expressed in offspring that is a recessive trait |
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| basic biological elements responsible for carrying information about traits between successive generations |
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| comprises of all the possible combinations of genes; an organism's genetic makeup |
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| the outward expression of an allele or alleles; the observable result |
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| a disorder that is the result of genetic abnormalities, occurs when there is a break in the 21st chromosomal pair and generally causes some degree on mental retardation. |
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| a genetic disorder that results in muscle impairment that does not typically occur until after age 40 |
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| Pituitary Gland (aka "Master Gland") |
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| an important endocrine gland that releases hormones that affect many body activities; controlled by the hypothalamus; stressful situations cause the pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormones (ACTH), which stimulates the adrenal glands, resulting in fight or flight reactions. |
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| located at the front of the neck, produces Thyroxine, which is important for regulating cellular metabolism |
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| What purpose does Myelin serve? |
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| Myelin serves as insulation for the electrical impulses carried down the axon, and also speeds up the rate at which electrical information travels down the axon. |
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