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Psych ch 3
n/a
77
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
09/14/2010

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Term
Soma
Definition
cell body that contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells
Term
Neurons
Definition
Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit information. -permit communication within the nervous system
Term
Dentrits
Definition
the parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information
Term
Axon
Definition
a long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons of to the muscles or glans
Term
Myelin Sheath
Definition
insulation materials that encases some axons-speeds up transition of signals
Term
Terminal Buttons
Definition
small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters.- the axon ends in a cluster of terminal buttons
Term
Synapse
Definition
A junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another- point which neurons interconnect.
Term
How a message travels
Definition
Information is revived at the dendrites, is passed through the soma and along the axon, and is transmitted to the dendrites of other cells at the meeting points called synapse
Term
Gila
Definition
Cells found through the nervous system that provides various types of support for neurons-supply nourishment, remove waste for neurons, and provide insulation around axon
Term
Resting Potential
Definition
Stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive.
Term
Action Potential
Definition
a very brief shift in a neurons electrical charge that travels along an axon
Term
Absolute Refractory Period
Definition
Minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin- 1 or 2 milliseconds
Term
Synaptic Cleft
Definition
Microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron- signals have to cross this gap
Term
Neurotransmitters
Definition
Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another
Term
Postynaptic Potential
Definition
A voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.
Term
What causes postynaptic potential?
Definition
When a neurotransmitter and a receptor molecule combine reactions in the cell membrane cause postynaptic potential
Term
Exciteatonry (PSP)
Definition
A positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that the postynaptic neuron will fire action potentials
Term
Inhibitory (PSP)
Definition
A negative voltage shift that decreases the likelihood that the postynaptic neuron will fire action potentials
Term
Reuptake
Definition
A process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane- allows synapses to recycle their materials
Term
What are the five key processes involved in communication at synapses
Definition
1.Synthesis and storage 2. release 3. binding 4. inactivation or removal 5. reputake of neurotransmitters
Term
Acetylcholine (ACH)
Definition
The only transmitter between motor neurons and voluntary muscles
Term
Agonist
Definition
A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter
Term
Antagonist
Definition
Chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter
Term
Endorphins
Definition
Internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects.
Term
Peripheral Nervous System
Definition
made up of all those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord
Term
Nerves
Definition
Bundles of neuron fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system
Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition
Made up of all those nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors
Term
Afferent Nerve Fibers
Definition
Axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body
Term
Efferent Nerve Fibers
Definition
Axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body
Term
Automatic Nervous System
Definition
Made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands- involuntary actions
Term
Sympathetic Division
Definition
The branch of the automatic nervous system that mobilizes the bodys resources for emergencies. -fight-or-flight
Term
Parasymaphetic Division
Definition
branch of the automatic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources -stores and saves energy
Term
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Definition
consists of the brain and the spinal cord
Term
Lesioning
Definition
involves destroying a piece of the brain
Term
Electrical Stimulation of the brain (ESB)
Definition
involves sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate it.
Term
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Definition
technique that permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain
Term
hindbrain
Definition
includes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brain stem: medulla and the pons
Term
medulla
Definition
Attaches to the spinal cord -controls unconscious but essential functions.
Term
Pons
Definition
includes a bridge of fibers that connects the brain stem with the cerebellum - sleep and arousal
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
relatively large and deeply folded structure located adjacent to the surface of the brain stem -coordination of movement and equilibrium. Plays a role in the execution of these commands but the actual commands come from a higher brain center
Term
Midbrain
Definition
Segment of the brain that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain. -vision
Term
Forebrain
Definition
Largest and most complex region of the brain, contains a verity of structures, thalamus, hypothalamus,limbic system, and cerebrum,
Term
Thalamus
Definition
structure in the forebrain through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortext, -made up of a number of clusters of somas -each cluster is concerned with relaying sensory information to a particular part of the cortext
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
structure found near the base of the forebrain that is involved in the regulation of basic biological needs -contains various clusters of cells
Term
Limbic system
Definition
A loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortext and deeper subcortical areas. -pleasure center
Term
Cerebral Cortext
Definition
The convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum
Term
Cerebral hemispheres
Definition
the right and left halves of the cerebrum -separated by a split (fissure)
Term
Corpus Callosume
Definition
the major structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.
Term
Occipital loab (back of head)(primary visual cortext)
Definition
most visual signals sent here
Term
Parietal lobe (primary somatosensory cortext)
Definition
receives signals form various regions of the body -involved in integrating visual input and monotering the bodys position in space
Term
temprol lobe (primary auditory cortext)
Definition
auditory processing
Term
frontal lobe (primary motor cortext)
Definition
movement of muscles
Term
Mirror neurons
Definition
neurons that are activated by preforming and action or by seeing another monkey or person preform the same action -found in frontal and parietal lobes
Term
Neurogenesis
Definition
the formation of new neurons
Term
Parietal lobe (primary somatosensory cortext)
Definition
sense and tough
Term
Temprol lobe (primary auditory cortext)
Definition
auditory processing
Term
Forntal lobe (primary motor cortext)
Definition
movement of muscles- effective control function
Term
Mirror neurons
Definition
neurons that are activated by preforming an action or by seeing another money or person preform the same action
Term
Neurogenesis
Definition
the formation of new neurons
Term
Split-brain surgery
Definition
the bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemisphere (the corpus callosum) is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures
Term
Which hemisphere controls which side of the body?
Definition
The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body
Term
What are the characteristics of the left hemisphere?
Definition
usually better at tasks involving verbal processing, such as language, speech, reading, and writing.
Term
What are the characteristics of the right hemisphere?
Definition
exhibits superiority on many tasks involving nonverbal processing, such as most spatial, musical, and visual recognitional tasks
Term
Endocrine System
Definition
Consists of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functions
Term
Hormones
Definition
chemical substances released by the endocrine glands
Term
Pituitary glands
Definition
releases a great variety of hormones that fan out within the body, stimulating actions in the other endocrine glands (growth)
Term
Testosterone
Definition
a male sex hormone produced by the testes; woman secrete smaller amounts of testosterone from the adrenal cortex and ovary
Term
Testosterone
Definition
a male sex hormone produced by the testes; woman secrete smaller amounts of testosterone from the adrenal cortex and ovary
Term
chromosomes
Definition
threadlike strands of DNA molecules that carry genetic information (makes up who we are) -every cell in humans contains 46. -operates in 23 pairs on from each parent
Term
Genes
Definition
DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission. -operate in pairs on from each parent
Term
Polygenic traits
Definition
characteristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes
Term
Family Studies
Definition
researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much they resemble one another on a specific trait
Term
Twin studies
Definition
researchers assess hereditary influences by the comparing the resemblance of identical twins and fraternal twins with respect to a trait
Term
Adoption studies
Definition
assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and their adoptive parents
Term
Fitness
Definition
refers to the reproductive success (number of descendants) an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success in the population (evolutionary theory) -variations in reproductive success are what really fuels evolutionary change
Term
Natural Selection
Definition
Points that heritable characteristics that provide a survival of reproductive and advantage are more likely than alternative characteristics the be passed on to subsequent generations and thus they come to be "selected" overtime -works on population not individual organisms-can effect behavior
Term
Adaption
Definition
an inherited characteristic that increased in a population (through natural selection) because it helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction during the time it emerged -designed to improve organisms chances of reproductive success
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