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BioPsych quiz
Biopsychology
57
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
09/27/2011

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Term
BioPsych
Definition
Branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behaviour
Term
Phrenology
Definition

Franz Gall

Study of the bumps on your head, bumps reveal a person's abilities and traits

Term
Neuron
Definition
A nerve cell, the basic building block of the nervous system
Term
Soma
Definition

Cell body; serves as neuon's control centre 

 

Contains the nucleuis and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life

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 are sent to other neurons or muscles or glands

 

Wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons that extends from the cell body

Term
Myelin Sheath
Definition

A layer of fatty segmentally encasing fibers of many neurons. Enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses

 

Fatty covvering around the axon of some neurons that speeds neural impulses

Term
Neurotransmitters
Definition

Chemicals contained in terminal buttons that enable neurons to communicate

Neurotransmitters fit into receptor sites on teh dendrites of neurons like a key fits into a lock

Term
Terminal Buttons 
(also called End Buttons, Axon Terminal, Terminal Branches of Axon, and Synaptic Knobs) 
Definition
Branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters
Term
Sensory Neurons
Definition
INPUT from sensory organs to the brain and spinal cord. Also called AFFERENT Neurons
Term
Motor Neurons
Definition
OUTPUT from the brain and spinal cord, to the muscles and glands. Also called EFFERENT Neurons
Term
S.A.M.E.
Definition

 S:  Sensory Neurons

A: Afferent Neurons

M:    Motor Neurons

E: Efferent Neurons

Term
Interneurons
Definition
Connector neurons. Carry information between other neurons and only found in the brain and spinal cord
Term
Action Potential
Definition

A neural impulse; a bried electrical charge that travels down and axon. Generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane. When an action potential occues, a molecular message is sent to neighbouring neurons

 

Electric charge that spreads down the length of a neuron after the threshold is achieved

 

Travels like a bullet from a gun

Term
Threshold
Definition

The level os stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

 

Level of neurotransmitters required to "Fire" a neuron

Term
Resting Potential
Definition
At rest, the inside of the cell is at (-70) microvolts with inputs to the dendrites inside becomes more positive. If resting potential rises above threshold, an action potential starts to travel from teh cell body down the axon
Term
Depolarization
Definition

(Ahead of AP)

AP opens cell membrane to allow sodium (Na+) in, Inside of cell rapidly becomes more positive than outside. Depolarization travels down the axron as leading edge of AP

Term
Repolarization
Definition
After depolar. potassoim (K+) moves out restoring the sinide to a (-) voltage. The rapid depolar. and repolar. produce a pattern called a spike discharge
Term
Hyperpolarization
Definition
Repolar. leads to a voltage below the RP. Now neuron can't produce a new AP. This is called refactory period
Term
Synapse
Definition
Junction between the axon tip of hte sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. Tiny cap at this junction is called the synaptic gap/cleft
Term
Antagonists
Definition

Fit the receptor but poorly and blocks the NT

 

ex. Beta blockers

Term
Agonists
Definition

Fit receptor site well and act like the NT

 

ex. Nicotine

Term
Excitatory Message
Definition
Increases the liklihood that the postsynaptic neuron will activate
Term
Inhibitory Message
Definition
Decreases teh likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will activate
Term
Dopamine
Definition

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

 

Dopamine imbalance (or too much) involved in schizophrenia.

Loss of dopamine producing neurons (or not enough) causes Parkinson's Disease

Term
Parkinson's Disease
Definition

Loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Symptons include: difficulty  starting and stopping voluntary movements, tremors ar rest, stooped posture, rigidity, and poor balance

 

Treatments: L-Dopa. 

Term
Cocaine
Definition
Increases the availability of selected NT by blocking their reuptake. Increase of the realse of dopamine and norephinephrine and slows the reuptake of them leaving an overbalance of these NT
Term
Serotonin
Definition
Involved in regulation of sleep and wakefulmess, eating and agrression. Slows or prevents AP, calming effect, mood regulator, hunger and sleep. Low levels assoc. with irritablility, aggression, impatience, and anxiety. Inolved in depression (defiency). Prozac works by keeping serotonin in synapse longer
Term
Acetyocholine (AcH)
Definition

1st NT discovered. AcH is found in all motor neurons. Only transmitter between motor neurons and voluntary msucles. Every move depends on the release of AcH. Stimulates msucles by contracting, including heart and stomach muscles

 

Primary Roles: alertness, attention, memory, motivation, and muscles contractions.

 

Disruptions of AcH Functioning:
not enough: suffocation, paralysis, Alzheimers

Too Much: Violent convulsions, spasms

 

Curare: blocks AcH receptors = paralysis

 

Nerve gases and black widow spiders. Too much AcH

Term
Cigarettes
Definition
Nicotine workers on AcH receptors. Can artificially stimulate skeletal uscles, leading to slight trembling movements
Term
Alzheimer's Disease
Definition
Deterioration of memory, reasoning, and language skills. Symptoms may be due to loss of AcH
Term
Endorphins
Definition
Control pain and pleasure. Realses in response tp pain. Morphine codeine work on endorphin receptors; involved in healing effects of accupuncture
Term
Runner's High
Definition
Feeling of pleasure after a long run is due to heavy endorphin release
Term
Norephinephrine
Definition

"Fight or flight" response. Primary roles: physical arousal, learning, memory

 

Not Enough: Depression

Too Much: Anxiety, fear, mania

Term
GABA
Definition

Muscle corrdination, moods, major inhibitory transmitter. Inhibition of brain activity

 

Not Enough: Depression, irritability, anxirty, epilespy, sleep disorders, Parkinson's. 

 

Can be sused to induce sleep, relaxation

 

Huntington's Disease: Involves loss of neurons in stratum that utilize GABA. Jerky. Mental deterioation

Term
Glutamate
Definition

Major excitatory transmitter

 

Too Much (and too little GABA): associated with epileptic seizures

Term
Nerves
Definition
Neural cables containing many axons. Part of the PNS. Connect CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Term
Nervous System
Definition
The body's speedy, electrochemical communication system. Consists of all the nerve cells of the PNS and CNS
Term
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Definition
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

 

 

Term
Automatic Nervous System
Definition
The part of the PNS that controls glands and msucles or internal organs
Term
Sympathetic Nervous System
Definition
Division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Term
Parasympathetic Nervous Systems
Definition
Division of the automatic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Term
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Definition
The brain and spinal cord
Term
brain
Definition
Part of the CNS that plays important roles in sensation, movement, and information processing
Term
Spinal Cord
Definition
Plays a role in body reflexes and communication between the brain and PNS
Term
Reflex
Definition
A simple, autmatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
Term
Neural Networks
Definition
Interconnected neural cells. With experience networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. Computer simulations of neural networks shows analogous learning
Term
Lesion
Definition
Tissue destruction. A brain lesion is 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
CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
CAT Scan 
Definition
A series of xray photographs taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of a slive through the body
Term
PET (Positron Emssion 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 that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

 

Most Descriptive

Term
Stimulation
Definition
Electrical stimulation of the brain involves sending a weak electric current into a brian structure to stimulate it (it is not painful because the brain has no parin receptors)
Term
Brain stem
Definition

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as is enters teh skull

 

Responsible for autmatic (survival) functions

Term
Neural Tube
Definition
Beginning of a nervous system. Develops at 2 weeks after conception
Term
Neurogenesis
Definition
Development of new neurons
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