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Psychology- Chapter Two
the definitions from chapter two.
58
Psychology
Undergraduate 3
08/30/2012

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Term
biological psychology?
Definition
the scientific study of links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. (Some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, etc.
Term
neuron?
Definition
nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.
Term
dendrite?
Definition
the neuron's bushy extension that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
Term
Axon?
Definition
the neuron's extension that passes messages through its branching terminal fibers that form junctions with other neurons, muscles, or glands.
Term
Action potential?
Definition
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
Term
threshold?
Definition
a level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
Term
Synapse?
Definition
(SIN-aps) junction between the axon tip of sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.
Term
Neurotransmitters?
Definition
chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitter travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Term
Endorphin
Definition
"morphine within" natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.
Term
Nero-T: Acetylcholine (ACh)
Definition
enables muscle action, learning, and memory.
Term
Nero-T: Dopamine
Definition
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion.
Term
Serotonin?
Definition
affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.
Term
Nero-T: Norepinephrine
Definition
helps control alertness.
Term
Nero-T: Endorphins
Definition
lessen pain, boost mood.
Term
Nervous system?
Definition
the body's speedy, electochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system.
Term
CNS Central nervous system?
Definition
the brain and spinal cord. Body's decision maker.
Term
Peripheral nervous system PNS
Definition
the sensory and motor neutrons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
Term
Nerves?
Definition
bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands and sense organs.
Term
sensory neurons?
Definition
neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and the spinal cord.
Term
motor neurons?
Definition
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
Term
inter-neurons?
Definition
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally 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. also called the 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 (such as the heart) it's sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
Term
Sympathetic nervous system?
Definition
the division of 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 response to a sensory stimulus, such as a knee jerk response.
Term
endocrine system?
Definition
the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Term
hormones?
Definition
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.
Term
adrenal glands?
Definition
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (einephrine and norepinphrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.
Term
pituitary glands?
Definition
the endocrine system's most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Term
lesion
Definition
tissue destruction. a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
Term
brain-stem?
Definition
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain=-stem is responsible for the automatic survival functions.
Term
Electro-ence-phalogram 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 radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
Term
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan
Definition
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
Term
fMRI (functional MRI)
Definition
a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.
Term
medulla
Definition
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.
Term
Thalamus
Definition
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brain-stem, it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
Term
reticular formation
Definition
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.
Term
cerebellum
Definition
the little brain at the rear of the brain-stem; functions includes some nonverbal learning, processing sensory input, and coordinating movement output and balance.
Term
limbic system
Definition
neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothlamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
Term
amygdala
Definition
two limabean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp.), and helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked dot emotion and reward.
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center.
Term
frontal lobes
Definition
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements in making plans and judgments.
Term
parietal lobes
Definition
portion of the cerebral cortex lying on the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
Term
occipital lobes
Definition
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; areas that receive information from visual fields.
Term
temporal lobes
Definition
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; receives information from the opposite ear.
Term
motor cortex
Definition
area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
Term
sensory cortex
Definition
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movements 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, speaking, remembering. thinking, and interesting information.
Term
aphasia
Definition
impairment of language, usually caused by left-hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impaired hearing) or Wernicke area (impaired understanding)
Term
Broca's area
Definition
controls language expression; an area of the frontal lobe, in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.
Term
Wernicke's area
Definition
controls language reception; a brain area, left temporal lobe location, involved in language comprehension and reception.
Term
plasticity
Definition
the brains ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.
Term
neurogenesis
Definition
the formation of new neurons
Term
corpus callosum
Definition
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
Term
split brain
Definition
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.
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