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psych- exam 1- chapter 2
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52
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
09/14/2011

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Term
biological psychology
Definition
a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Term
nueron
Definition
a nerve cell, the basic building block of the nervous system.
Term
sensory nuerons
Definition
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptos to the brain and spinal cord.
Term
motor nuerons
Definition
nuerons that carry outgoing information from the brain to the spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
Term
interneurons
Definition
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
Term
dendrite
Definition
the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
Term
axon
Definition
the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.
Term
myelin sheath
Definition
a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of nueral impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.
Term
action potential
Definition
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
Term
threshold
Definition
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
Term
synapse
Definition
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. the tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between the neurons.
Term
reuptake
Definition
a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending nueron.
Term
endorphins
Definition
"morphine within" - natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
Term
nervous system
Definition
the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Term
Central Nervous System(CNS)
Definition
the brain and spinal cord.
Term
Peripheral nervous system(PNS)
Definition
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
Term
nerves
Definition
bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
Term
somatic nervous system
Definition
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. also called the skeletal nervous system.
Term
autonomic nervous system
Definition
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs( such as the heart). It's sympathetic division arouses; it's parasympathetic division calms.
Term
sympathetic nervous system
Definition
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
Term
parasympathetic nervous system
Definition
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.
Term
reflex
Definition
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.
Term
endocrine system
Definition
the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Term
hormones
Definition
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other affect other tissues.
Term
adrenal glands
Definition
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress.
Term
pituitary gland
Definition
the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine systems.
Term
lesion
Definition
tissue destruction. a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
Term
electroencephalogram(EEG)
Definition
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
Term
PET( positron emission tomography) scan
Definition
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
Term
MRI( magnetic resonance imaging)
Definition
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. SHOW BRAIN ANATOMY.
Term
fMRI( functional MRI)
Definition
a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.
Term
BRAINSTEM
Definition
THE OLDEST and CENTRAL CORE of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions.
Term
medulla
Definition
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.
Term
reticular formation
Definition
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.
Term
thalamus
Definition
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving ares in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerbellum and medulla.
Term
cerebellum
Definition
the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensor input and coordinating movement output and balance.
Term
limbic system
Definition
neural systam( including hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
Term
amygdala
Definition
two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities(eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center.
Term
glial cells
Definition
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.
Term
frontal lobes
Definition
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.
Term
parietal lobes
Definition
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
Term
occipital lobes
Definition
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.
Term
temporal lobes
Definition
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas; each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
Term
motor cortex
Definition
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
Term
sensory cortex
Definition
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
Term
association areas
Definition
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
Term
plasticity
Definition
the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.
Term
corpus callosum
Definition
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
Term
split brain
Definition
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers(mainly the corpus callosum) connecting them.
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