Shared Flashcard Set

Details

AP Psych Chapter 2
AP Psych Chapter 2 - Neuroscience and behavior
55
Psychology
Not Applicable
01/17/2012

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
[image]
Definition
[image]
Term
[image]
Definition
[image]
Term
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Definition
A main subdivision of the nervous system that consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
Term
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Definition
A main subdivision of the nervous system that consists of the somatic nervous system and the automatic nervous system.
Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition
A subdivision of the PNS that regulates voluntary control of skeletal muscles.
Term
Automatic Nervous System
Definition
A subdivision of the PNS that usually operates on its own to control glands and the muscles of internal organs (for example your heart beat). It is subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Term
Sympathetic Nervous System
Definition
A subdivision of the Automatic Nervous System that controls your response to stress. (For example it raises your heart rate and breathing rate among other reactions.)
Term
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Definition
A subdivision of the Automatic Nervous System that calms the body after stress. (For example it would lower your heart rate and breathing rate among other reactions.)
Term
Medulla
Definition
The part of the brain that regulates the heart's rhythm, blood flow, breathing, digestion, and vomiting. It operates in contralateral (opposite side) control.
Term
Pons
Definition
The part of the brain that includes a portion of the reticular formation and is important in arousal.
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
The part of the brain that controls motor functions and balance. It takes information from the inner ear about positioning to help maintain balance.
Term
Thalamus
Definition
The part of the brain that is the relay station for sensory neural pathways. It transports audio and visual information to and from the cerebral cortex. Some of the nuclei are involved in emotion.
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
The part of the brain that controls automatic functions with the sympathetic and parasympathetic centers in the Medulla. It sets appetite drives for hunger, thirst, and sexual desire. It sets emotional states with the endocrine system by controlling hormones released by the pituitary gland.
Term
Amygdala
Definition
The part of the brain that controls aggression and fear. This part of the brain is also important in forming sensory memories.
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
The part of the brain that enables the formation of new long term memories.
Term
Cerebral Cortex
Definition
The part of the brain that receives and processes sensory information, movement, and thinking/planning/judgement. It consists of the occipital lobe, the parietal lobe, the frontal lobe, and the temporal lobe.
Term
Occipital Lobe
Definition
Part of the cerebral cortex that processes vision. The left side of the brain processes the right field of vision and the right side of the brain processes the left field of vision.
Term
Parietal Lobe
Definition
Part of the cerebral cortex containing the somatosensory cortex for touch sensation.
Term
Frontal Lobe
Definition
Part of the cerebral cortex that initiates movement with the skeletal muscles.
Term
Temporal Lobe
Definition
Part of the cerebral cortex that processes auditory information from both ears.
Term
Broca's Area
Definition
Part of the frontal lobe (the left frontal lobe) controlling the production of speech.
Term
Wernicke's Area
Definition
Part of the temporal lobe (in the left temporal lobe) that understands language and makes meaningful sentences.
Term
Plasticity
Definition
The ability of the brain, if damaged, to move the function of the damaged area to another part of the brain.
Term
Gyri
Definition
The "peaks" in the surface of the cortex.
Term
Sulci
Definition
The "valleys" in the surface of the cortex.
Term
The Limbic System
Definition
A system that contains the hippocampus, the amygdala, the cingulated cortex, the hypothalamus, and the thalamus. It controls emotional behavior and some aspects of memory and vision.
Term
Glial Cells
Definition
These cells guide the growth of neurons. They also give nutrition to neurons, and get rid of wastes of the neuron. They form the myelin sheath.
Term
Neuron
Definition
The basic unit of structure and function of the nervous system. It has three functions:
1. Receive information
2. Process information
3. Transmit information to the rest of the body
Term
Cell Body (Neuron)
Definition
In a neuron, it contains cytoplasm and directs the synthesis of neurotransmitters among other things.
Term
Dendrites
Definition
In a neuron, it receives information.
Term
Axon
Definition
In a neuron, it is a conducting fiber that transports an electric signal to the axon terminals.
Term
Myelin Sheath
Definition
In a neuron, the glial cells that cover the axon.
Term
Neurotransmitter
Definition
A chemical stored in structures called synaptic vesicles.
Term
Acetylcholine
Definition
A neurotransmitter that controls the contraction of skeletal muscles, regulates the heart's contractions, is involved in memory, and transmits from the brain to the spinal cord (CNS).
Term
Dopamine
Definition
A neurotransmitter that stimulates the hypothalamus, synthesizes hormones, and regulates alertness and movement. A lack of this neurotransmitter is linked with Parkinson's disease.
Term
Seratonin
Definition
A neurotransmitter that regulates concentration, attention, moods, and emotion.
Term
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Definition
A neurotransmitter that inhibits the firing of neurons.
Term
Action Potential
Definition
When a net flow of sodium ions in a cell causes the potential to change across the cell membrane. If the stimulation is not strong enough, the neuron will not fire. The strength of the action potential is constant whenever it occurs. (This is called the all or none principle.)
Term
Synapse
Definition
The small area between neurons. Neurotransmitters are released into it and attach to receptor sites on the membranes of dendrites.
Term
Excitatory Neurotransmitters
Definition
These neurotransmitters cause neurons on the other side of the synapse to generate an action potential.
Term
Inhibitory Transmitters
Definition
These neurotransmitters prevent neural impulses from firing.
Term
Sensory Neurons
Definition
Neurons that cary impulses from sensory receptors to the spinal cord.
Term
Interneurons
Definition
Neurons that are in the brain and spinal cord that cary impulses between sensory and motor neurons.
Term
Motor Neurons
Definition
Neurons that cary impulses to muscle cells that cause gland cells to secrete.
Term
Effectors
Definition
Muscle and gland cells.
Term
Pituitary Gland
Definition
The "master gland" that produces stimulating hormones and promote secretion by glands including TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), ADH (retains water in body), HGH (human growth hormone), and ACTH (stimulates the adrenal cortex).
Term
Adrenal Cortex
Definition
Produces steroid hormones (the stress hormone), epinephrine, and nonepinephrine. (Epinephrine and nonepinephrine prepare the body for fight or flight.)
Term
Pancreas
Definition
Produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar and fuel the behavioral process.
Term
[image]
Definition
[image]
Term
CAT (or CT) scan
Definition
A method of scanning the brain that sends x-rays through the brain at different angels, resulting in computer imaging of the extent of a lesion (destruction of brain tissue). Shows the structure of the brain.
Term
MRI scan
Definition
A method of scanning the brain where magnetic fields and radio waves measure the density of brain tissue.
Term
EEG scan
Definition
A method of scanning the brain that transmits signals about the brain's electrical activity.
Term
PET scan
Definition
A method of scanning the brain where color graphics show the amount of metabolic and neural activity in the brain.
Term
Functional MRI scan
Definition
A method of scanning the brain that measures changes in oxygen and blood flow in the working brain.
Term
The two methods of scanning the brain that show the brain's structure:
Definition
CT scan and MRI scan
Supporting users have an ad free experience!