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chapter 2
psych test 2
72
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
06/29/2008

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Term
neuron
Definition
a specialized cell that conducts impulses through the nervous system and contains three major parts a cell body, dendrites and an axon
there are 100 million in our brain that are connected but not touching. the fire chemically and electrically
Term
cell body
Definition
the part of a neuron that contain the nucleus and carries out the metabolic functions of the neuron
Term
dendrites
Definition
in a neuron the branchlike extensions of the cell body that receive signals from other neurons
Term
axon
Definition
the slender taillike extensions of the neuron that transmits signals to the dendrites or cell body of other neurons and to muscles, glands, and other parts of the body
Term
glial cells
Definition
specialized cells in the brain and spinal cord that hold neurons together remove waste products such as dead neurons and perform other manugacturing, nourashing and cleanup tasks
Term
synapse
Definition
the junction where the axon terminal of a sending neuron communicates with a receiving neuron across the synaptic cleft
Term
resting potential
Definition
the slight negative electrical potential of teh axon membrane of a neuron at rest
Term
action potential
Definition
the sudden reversal of the resting potential which initiates the firing of a neuron
Term
myelin sheath
Definition
the white fatty coating wrapped around some axons that acts as insulation and enables impulses to travel much faster
Term
neurotrasmitters
Definition
found in the axon terminal with thin membranes called synaptic vesicles, a chemical substance that is releaed in to the synaptic cleft from the axon terminal of a sending neuron crosses a synapse and binds to appropriate receptor sites on the dendrites or cell body ofa receiving neruon influencing the cell either to fire or not to fire
chemicals that the message is carried by across the synapse and tells the neuron whether or not to fire
when the neuron fires the membrane opens up the positive rushes in and negative rushes out then it closes
Term
receptors
Definition
protein molecules on the surface of dendrites and cell bodies that have distinctive shapes and will interact only with specific neurotransmitters
Term
reuptake
Definition
the process by which neurotransmitters are taken from the synaptic cleft back into the axon terminal for later use, thus terminating their excitatory or inhibitory effect on the receiving neuron
Term
acetylcholine
Definition
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in learning new information, causes the skeletal muscle fibers to contract and keeps the heart from beating too rapidly
Term
dopamine
Definition
a neurotransmitter that plays a role in learning, attention, movement, and reinforcement, neurons in the brains of those with parkinson's disease and schizophrenia are less sensitive to its effects
Term
norepinephrine
Definition
a neurotransmitter affecting eating, alertness, and sleep
Term
epinephrine
Definition
a neurotransmitter that affects the metabolism of glucose and nutrient energy stored in muscles to be released during strenuous exercise
Term
serotonin
Definition
a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating mood, sleep, impulse, aggression, and appetite
Term
glutamate
Definition
primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, active in areas of the brain involved in learning, though and emotion
Term
GABA
Definition
primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain facilitates neural inhibition in the central nervous system
Term
endorphins
Definition
chemicals produced naturally by the brain that reduce pain and the stress of vigorous exercise and positively affect mood, provide relief from pain, produce feelings of pleasure and well being
Term
central nervous system (CNS)
Definition
the part of the nervous system comprising the brain and the spinal cord
Term
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Definition
the nerves connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Term
spinal cord
Definition
an extension of the brain, from the base of the brain through the neck and spinal column and transmits messages between the brain and the peripheral nervous system
Term
hindbrain
Definition
a link between the spinal cord and the brain that contains structures that regulate physiological functions including heart rate respiration and blood pressure, it includes the pons, medulla, spinal cord, reticular formation, cerebellum
Term
brainstem
Definition
part of the hindbrain, the structure that begins at the point where the spinal cord enlarges as it enters the brain and handles functions critical to physical survival, includes the medulla, pons and the reticular formation
Term
medulla
Definition
the part of the brainstem that controls heart beat blood pressure breathing coughing and swelling
Term
reticular formation
Definition
a structure in the brainstem that plays a crucial role in arousal and attention and that screens sensory messages entering the brain, filters info moving towards awareness
Term
cerebellum
Definition
the brain structure that helps the body execute smooth skilled movements and regulates muscle tone and posture
Term
substantia nigra
Definition
the structure in the midbrain that controls unconscious motor movement
Term
forebrain
Definition
includes hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, limbic system, thalamus
the largest part of the brain where the cognitive functions and many motor functions are carried out
Term
midbrain
Definition
area that contains structures linking the physiological functions of the hindbrain to the cognitive functions of teh forebrain
Term
thalamus
Definition
the structure located above the brain stem that acts as a relay station for information flowing into or out of the forebrain
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
a small but influential brain structure that regulates hunger thirst sexual behavior internal body temperature and some emotional behaviors
Term
limbic system
Definition
a group of structures in the midbrain including the amygdala and hippocampus that are collecively involved in emotional expression, memory and motivation
includes: thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland
Term
amygdala
Definition
in the limbic system, plays a role in emotion and the response to unpleasant or punishing stimuli
Term
hippocampus
Definition
plays a central role in longterm memory, storing new memories responding to stimuli and navigating ability
Term
sympathetic nervous system
Definition
the division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources during stress and emergencies preparing the bidy for action--fight or flight response, anything related to excitement or being worked up
Term
parasymoathetic nervous system
Definition
the division if the autonomic nervous system that brings the heightened bodily responses back to normal following an emergency
takes you back to calm
Term
electroenceophalogram (EEG)
Definition
a record if brain wave activity made by a machine called the ekectrienceohakigraph
Term
beta wave
Definition
the brain wave pattern associated with mental or physical activity
Term
alpha wave
Definition
brain-wave pattern associated with deep relaxation
Term
delta wave
Definition
brain-wave pattern associated with slow-wave or deep sleep
Term
mircoelectrode
Definition
a small wire used to monitor the electrical activity of or stimulate activity within a single neuron
Term
CT Scan (computerized axial tomography)
Definition
brain-scanning technique that uses a rotating computerized x-ray tube to produce cross-sectional images of the structures of the brain
Term
MRI (magnetic resonance imagery)
Definition
a diagnostic scanning technique that produces high-resolution images of the structures of the brain
Term
PET scan (Positron-emission tomography)
Definition
a brain-imaging technique that reveals activity in various parts of the brain based on patters of blood flow, oxegyn use and glucose consumption
Term
functional MRI (fMRI)
Definition
reveals both bain structure and brain activity more prcisely and rapidly than PET
Term
cerebrum
Definition
the largest structure of the human brain consiting of the two cerebral hemisphere connected by the corpus callosum and covered by the cerebral cortex
Term
cerebral hemisphere
Definition
the right and left halves of the cerebrum covered by the cerebral cortex and connected by the corpus callosum they control movement and feeling on the opposing sides of the body
Term
corpus callosum
Definition
the thick band of nerve fibers that connect the two cerebrak hemispheres and makes possible the transfer if information and the synchrnization if activity between the hemospheres
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
the gray convoluted covering of the cerebral hemisphere that is responsible for the higher mental processes of language memory and thinking three types of areas
sensory input area
motor area
association areas
Term
association areas
Definition
areas of the cerebral cortex that houses memories and are involved in thought perception and language
Term
lateralization
Definition
the specialization of one of the cerebral hemispheres to handle a particular function
Term
left hemisphere
Definition
the hemisphere that controls the right side of the body coordinates complex movements and language functions reasoning, numerical skills
Term
right hemisphere
Definition
controls left side of the body and visual spatial perception, music processing, emotional thinking
Term
split-brain operation
Definition
a surgical procedure performed to treat severe cases of epilepsy in which the corpus callosum is cut separating separating the cerebral hemispheres
Term
motor cortex
Definition
the strip of tissue at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary body movement and participates in learning and cognitive events
Term
associated areas
Definition
in the occipital lobes, involved in the interpretaion of visual stimuli, holds memories of past visual experiences and allows us to recognized familiarity
Term
primary visual cortex
Definition
the area at the rear of the occipital lobes where the vision registers in the cerebral cortex
Term
primary auditory cortex
Definition
the part of each temporal lobe where the hearing registers in the cerebral cortex
Term
pruning
Definition
developing brain eliminates unnecessary or redundant synapses
Term
plasticity
Definition
the capacity of the brain to adapt to changes such as brain damage
Term
hormone
Definition
a chemical substance that is manufactured and released in one part of the body and affects other parts of the body
Term
gonads
Definition
the sex glands
Term
genes
Definition
segments of dna located on chromosomes and are the basic units for the transmition of hereditary traits
Term
chromosomes
Definition
rod-shapped structures in the nuclei of body cells contain genes and carry all genetic information necessary to make a human being
Term
genotype
Definition
an individual's genetic makeup
Term
phenotype
Definition
an individual's actual characteristics
Term
dominant recessive pattern
Definition
a single dominant gene causes a tait to be expressed but two for a recessive
Term
multifactorial inheritance
Definition
a trait is influenced by both genes and environmental factors
Term
behavioral genetics
Definition
a field of research that uses twin studies and adoption studies to investigate the relative effects of heredity and environment on behavior
Term
monoamines
Definition
seratonin, norepinephrine, dopamine
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