Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Psychology AP Test Review Part 3
continue
57
Psychology
11th Grade
05/11/2009

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
biological psychology
Definition
a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior. (AKA behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists)
Term
neuron
Definition
a nerve cellp; the basic building block of the nervous system
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, thru which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Term
myelin sheath
Definition
a layer of fatty tissue segmentall encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next
Term
action potential
Definition
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. Generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane
Term
threshold
Definition
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Term
synapse
Definition
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiveing neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
Term
acetylcholine
Definition
a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction
Term
endorphins
Definition
morphine within---natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Term
nervous system
Definition
the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Term
central nervous system (CNS)
Definition
the brain and spinal cord
Term
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Definition
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body
Term
nerves
Definition
neural "cables" containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Term
sensory neurons
Definition
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
Term
motor neurons
Definition
neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands
Term
interneurons
Definition
central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Term
somatic nervous system
Definition
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. AKA Skeletal nervous system
Term
autonomic nervous system
Definition
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (ex. heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms
Term
sympathetic nervous system
Definition
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Term
parasympathetic nervous system
Definition
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Term
reflex
Definition
a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
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 show analogous learning
Term
endocrine
Definition
the body's slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Term
hormones
Definition
chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
Term
adrenal glands
Definition
a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. Secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress
Term
pituitary gland
Definition
the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Term
lesion
Definition
tissue destruction. A naturally or experimentally cuased 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
PET (Positron emission 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. Show brain anatomy
Term
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)
Definition
a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Show brain function
Term
brainstem
Definition
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Term
medulla
Definition
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Term
reticular formation
Definition
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Term
thalamus
Definition
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Term
cerebellum
Definition
the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Term
limbic system
Definition
a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippoampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
Term
amygdala
Definition
two lima bean-sized neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and are linked to emotion
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center
Term
glial cells (glia)
Definition
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
Term
frontal lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muslce movements and in making plans and judgements
Term
parietal lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Term
occipital lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
Term
temporal lobes
Definition
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from the opposite ear
Term
motor cortex
Definition
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
Term
sensory cortex
Definition
the area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Term
association areas
Definition
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Term
association areas
Definition
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Term
aphasia
Definition
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding)
Term
Broca's area
Definition
controls language expression---an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muslce movements involved in speech
Term
Wernicke's area
Definition
controls langauage reception---a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe
Term
plasticity
Definition
the brain;s capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damgage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development
Term
corpus callosum
Definition
large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Term
split brain
Definition
a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them
Supporting users have an ad free experience!