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Personality
Chapter 8
59
Psychology
Undergraduate 3
12/14/2008

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Term
anatomy
Definition
research that examines the function of different parts of the brain and try to determine the timing and physical location of various brain processes
Term
biochemistry
Definition
research that examines the effects of fundamental chemicals, neurotransmitters and hormones, on brain processes
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
the chemicals that allow one neuron to affect, or communicate with, another
Term
hormone
Definition
a biological chemical that affects parts of the body some distance from where it is produced
Term
afferent nerves
Definition
nerves that report what the body is doing and feeling; sensory
Term
efferent nerves
Definition
nerves that direct the actions of all the organs and muscles; motor
Term
interneurons
Definition
neurons that connect nerves to each other; the brain contains the largest bundle
Term
thalamus
Definition
an area of the brain that helps process information from the senses and transmit it to other parts of the brain
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
a complex structure near the lower center of the brain that has direct connections to many other parts of the brain and is involved in the production of psychologically important hormones; thought to be important for mood and motivation
Term
amygdala
Definition
a structure located near the base of the brain that is believed to play a role in emotion, especially negative emotions such as anger and fear
Term
hippocampus
Definition
a complex structure deep within the brain, behind the hypothalamus, that plays an important role in memory processes
Term
cortex
Definition
the outside portion of an organ; in the context of this book, the reference is to the outer layers of the brain
Term
frontal (cerebral) cortex
Definition
the front part of the cortex of the brain; divided left and right into two "lobes," this part of the brain is associated with cognitive functioning such as planning, foresight, and understanding
Term
3 sources of knowledge about the brain
Definition
brain damage, brain stimulation, brain imaging
Term
substantia nigra
Definition
an area of the brain that produces symptoms of depression when stimulated
Term
electroencephalography (EEG)
Definition
a technique of measuring brain electrical activity by placing electrode sensors on the outside of the skull
Term
magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Definition
a technique for using delicate magnetic sensors on the outside of the skull to detect brain activity
Term
tomography
Definition
any of several techniques for making detailed x-rays of a predetermined plane section of a solid object while blurring out the images
Term
computed tomography (CT scans)
Definition
a series of X-ray images of the body. The body is X-rayed from many directions and the results are analysed by a computer. The computer generates images of cross-sections (slices) of the body. CT scans show details of the shape and location of soft tissues, as well as bones and blood
Term
positron emission tomography (PET)
Definition
a technique for creating images of brain activity by injecting a radioactive tracer into the blood and then finding with a scanner where in the brain the blood is metabolized
Term
functional magnetic resonance imagery (fMRI)
Definition
a technique for imaging brain activity by using a powerful magnet to help detect blood flow in the brain
Term
neural context
Definition
the theory that function of activity in one part of the brain may depend upon what other parts of the brain are doing
Term
ascending reticular activating system (ARAS)
Definition
a part of the upper brain stem through which information flows into the brain and stimulates it
Term
somatic marker hypothesis
Definition
neurologist Antonio Damasio's idea that the bodily (somatic), emotional component of thought is a necessary part of problem solving and decision making
Term
capgras syndrome
Definition
a rare disorder in which a person holds a delusional belief that an acquaintance, usually a spouse or other close family member, has been replaced by an identical looking impostor; believed to stem from injuries to the right frontal lobe
Term
corpus callosum
Definition
the thick bundle of nerve fibers connecting the right and left halves of the brain
Term
anterior cingulate (AC)
Definition
the front part of a brain structure that runs from the front to the back of the brain in the middle, just above the corpus callosum; believed to be important for the experience of normal emotion and self-control, appears important for computing mismatches between expected and actual states of the world
Term
posterior cingulate
Definition
the rear part of a brain structure that runs from the front to the back of the brain in the middle, just above the corpus callosum; believed to be important for processing information about time and space and in reacting rapidly to threatening situations
Term
prefrontal leucotomy
Definition
modest lobotomy originally performed by Antonio Egas Moniz: surgical interruption of nerve tracts to and from the frontal lobe of the brain; often results in marked cognitive and personality changes
Term
C-system
Definition
circuit including the lateral prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, the medial temporal lobe and the posterior parietal cortex; involved in effortful, reflective thinking about the self and others
Term
X-system
Definition
circuit including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the lateral temporal cortex; involved in effortless, reflexive social thought
Term
humors
Definition
the ancient Greek theory that a person's health and personality were determined by the balance of four basic fluids in the body: blood (optimism), phlegm (apathy), yellow bile/choler (anger), and black bile (depression). A dominance of any fluid would cause extremes in behavior
Term
neurons
Definition
cells of the nervous system that are involved in transmitting sensations from the body to the brain, analyzing them with feelings, memories and plans in the brain, and sending behavioral instructions back to the body
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
the chemicals that allow one neuron to affect, or communicate with, another
Term
synapse
Definition
the space between two neurons across which impulses are carried by neurotransmitters
Term
norepinephrine
Definition
the main neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system; in the brain it is associated with responses to stress
Term
dopamine
Definition
a neurotransmitter in the brain that plays in imporant role in positive affect and response to reward
Term
serotonin
Definition
a neurotransmitter within the brain that plays in important role in the regulation of emotion and motivation
Term
central nervous system
Definition
the brain and spinal cord
Term
peripheral nervous system
Definition
the system of nerves throughout the boy, not including the brain and spinal cord
Term
endorphins
Definition
the body's own pain-killing chemicals, which operate by blocking the transmission of pain messages
Term
monoamine oxidase (MAO)
Definition
an enzyme which, in the brain, breaks down certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine
Term
epinephrine
Definition
a neurotransmitter in the brain and also a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland as part of the body's response to stress
Term
fight-or-flight response
Definition
the idea that if a threat is one that you have a realistic chance of overcoming you will stand and fight, but if the situation seems hopeless you will run away; caused by stress due to an "adrenaline rush" brought about by a rise in epinephrine and norepinephrine levels
Term
tend-and-befriend response
Definition
a behavioural pattern exhibited by human beings and some animal species when under threat. It refers to protection of offspring (tending) and seeking out of the social group for joint protection (befriending)
Term
oxytocin
Definition
a hormone that may have specific effects in women of emotional attachment and calming
Term
reward deficiency syndrome
Definition
a failure of the system that normally confers satisfaction, resulting in behavior such as overeating, heavy cigarette smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, gambling, and hyperactivity.\'caThe syndrome has been linked to dysfunction of dopamine receptors
Term
serotonin
Definition
a neurotransmitter within the brain that plays an important role in the regulation of emotion and motivation
Term
serotonin depletion
Definition
insufficient serotonin levels; symptoms include irrational anger, hypersensitivity to rejection, chronic pessimism, obsessive worry, and fear of risk taking
Term
Prozac
Definition
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, designed to make negative emotions disappear less severe while leaving positive emotions unaffected
Term
cosmetic psychopharmacology
Definition
the use of drugs to improve cognition in normal healthy individuals, for the purpose of enhancement rather than treatment of a formal pathology
Term
hormone
Definition
a biological chemical that affects parts of the body some distance from where it is produced
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
a complex structure near the lower center of the brain that has direct connections to many other parts of the brain and is involved in the production of psychologically important hormone; thought to be important for mood and motivation
Term
gonads
Definition
the glands, testes in men and ovaries in women, that produce the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen, respectively
Term
testosterone
Definition
the male hormone which is released by both the adrenal gland and the testicles, promotes the development of male characteristics
Term
estrogen
Definition
a group of hormones produced by the ovary, placenta, and testes that also stimulate secondary sexual characteristics in males and females; plays an important role in a woman's menstrual cycle
Term
adrenal cortex
Definition
the outer layer of the adrenal gland, atop te kidneys, that secretes several behaviorally important hormones
Term
anabolic steroids
Definition
synthetic testosterone thats effects include not only speedier muscle development but also a whole host of troublesome side effects including erratic and uncontrolled aggressiveness and sexuality
Term
cortisol
Definition
the body's natural stress-fighting and anti-inflammatory hormone released into the bloodstream by the adrenal cortex; part of the body's preparation of action
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