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Test 3
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49
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
04/17/2006

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Term
Neurons
Definition
Individual cells in the nervous system that recieve, integrate and transmit information.
>permits communication
> most- communicates with other neurons
some-recieve signals from outside nervous system or carry message from the nervous system to the muscles thtat move the body
Term
Soma
Definition
cell body- contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells
Term
dendrites
Definition
parts of the neurons that are specialized to recieve information... branch like
Term
axon
Definition
long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Term
Action potential (nerve impulse)
Definition
very brief shift in a neuron's electrical charge that travels along an axon-reflected in voltage pike-charge races down axon
Term
terminal buttons
Definition
are small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
secreted chemicals... serve as messenger that activate neighboring neurons. stored in small sacs called synaptic vessicles. released when a vesicle fuses with the membrane of the presynaptic cell and its contents spill into the synaptic cleft. bind at receptor sites.
Term
reuptake
Definition
most inhibitory or exitatory effects are reabsorbed into presynaptic neuron through a process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane.
Term
Antagonist
Definition
a chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter. ie. curare blocks the action at the same ACh synapses that are fooled by nicotine.
Term
dopamine (DA)
Definition
is a neurotransmiter of monoamine. it is sued by neurons that control voluntary movements. the degernation of such neurons apparently causes parkinson's disease. contributes to pleasurable emotions. overactivity at DA synapses associated with schizophrenia. Cocaine and amphetamines elvate activty at DA synapses
Term
serotonin and behavior
Definition
regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, agression. Abnormal levels may contribute to depression and obsessive compulsive disorder
prozac and similar antidepressant drugs affect serotoni circuits
Term
norepinephrine
Definition
type of neurotransmitter that contributes to modulation of mood and arousal. cocaine and amphetamines elevate activity at NE synapses
Term
resting potential
Definition
difference in flow rate leads to slightly higher concentration of negatively charged ions inside the cell. It is a stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive.
Term
The All-or-None Law
Definition
refers to neural impulse... action potentials are all the same size--- neurons can convey information about the strength of a stimulus by vaying the rate at which they fire action potentials. in general... the stronger the stimulus will cause a cell to fire a more rapid volley. neurons transmit neural impulses at different speeds.
Term
synapse
Definition
a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another..
Term
synaptic transmission
Definition
1) synthesis and storage
2) release
3) binding
4) inactivation or removal
5) reuptake of neurotransmitters
SSRBIR
Term
Agonist
Definition
a chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter... nicotine is an Ach _____
Term
acetycholine (Ach)
Definition
activates motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles; contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal,and memory. some ACh receptors stimulated by nicotine
Term
Endorphins
Definition
resemble opiate drugs in structure and effects; contribute to pain relief and perhaps to some pleasurable emotions
Term
Autonomic nervous system
Definition
apart of the peripheral nervous system. nerves to heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles and glands
Term
central nervous system
Definition
consists of the brain and spinal cord
Term
cerebellum
Definition
apart of the hindbrain;coordinates fine muscle movement, balance
Term
Reticular formation and functions ARAS
Definition
runs through the hindbrain and the midbrain. contributes to the modulation of muscle reflexes, breathing, and pain perception... best known for regulation of shleep and wakefulness and contributes to arrousal
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
apart of the forebrain;regulates basic and biological needs, such as hunger, thirst and sex
Term
Amygdala
Definition
apart of the limbic system(forebrain); involved in learning of fear responses
Term
"pleasure centers" (ESB and reinforcement)
Definition
the limbic system. in an electrical stimulation of a rat brain, olds and milner used an apparatus when they discovered selfstimulation enters in the brain. wire delivering stimulation is suspended so rat can press lever to get stimulation.heaviest concentration seems to be where the medial forebrain bundles passes through the hypothalamus
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
is the convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum. Cerebrum: is the largest and most complez part of the brain, it includes areas that are repsonsible for learning, remembering, thinking and consciousness
>primary visual cortex is the white matter in the occipital lobe
Term
Occipital lobe
Definition
primary visual cortex located in the cerbrum(forebrain)
Term
parietal lobe
Definition
primary somatosensory cortex located in the cerebrum (forebrain)
Term
prefontal cortex
Definition
the portion of the frontal lobe to the front of the motor cortex. the area disproportiontely large in humans. contributes to memory and reasoning abot objects and events... houses "exectube control system". ppl who damage this have deficits in planning,paying attn.cerebrum(forebrain)
Term
Methods used in neuropsychology
Definition
split brain surgery: bundle of fibers that connect 2 hemispheres is severed
perceptual asymmetries:left-right imbalances in speed of processing are studies in normal subjects
Term
frontal lobes: cognition and emotions
Definition
largest lobe of the human brain; controls movement of muscles; th eprimary motor cortex... language(brocas area)
Term
Broca's area-aphasia
Definition
left side of fronta lobe, plays an important role in the production of speech. a____ caused by damage to temporal and frontal lobes by tumor... are able to comprehend speech but have great difficulty expressing their thoughts. speak in short phrases that include only nouns and verbs
Term
Parietal lobe: visuospatial functions
Definition
the parietal lobe is the primary somatosensory cortex. forward of the occipital lobe and registers the sense of touch. involved in integrating visual input.
Term
occipital lobe
Definition
at the back of the head, includes cortical area where most visual signals and visual processing begins. primary visual cortex.
Term
temporary lobe
Definition
"near the temples" lies below the parietal lobe. audiotory processing-primary auditory cortex. if damaged can affect ability to comprehend speech
Term
hippocampus
Definition
located in the limbic system. this brain to sustain significant damge to alzheimers.contributes to memory. hm's memory loss was attributed to removal of this. hippocampal adjacent to parahippcoampal. this region is the one of the first areas of the
Term
retrograde amnesia
Definition
a person loses memories for events that occured prior to the injury
Term
anterograde amnesia
Definition
a person loses memories for events that occur after the injury
Term
korsakoff amnesia
Definition
a psychotic condition characterized by impairment of memory and leaning, apathy and degenration of the white brain matter.
Term
split brain surgery
Definition
bundle of fibers (corpus callosum) that connect two hemispheres is severed to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures.
Term
experiments on split brain patients
Definition
gazznigambogen and sperry presented visual stimuli such as pictures, symbols and words in a single visual field, so that the stimuli would be sent to only one hemisphere.
>subjets were not able to name and dscribe the same objects when they were flashed in the left visual field and sent to the right hemisphere.
> an object placed out of view in the right hand could be named(communicates with left hem). LANGUAGE IS HOUSED IN THE LEFT HEMISPHERE
Term
medial forebrain bundle functions
Definition
heaviest concentration of self-stimulation shites is where this passes throught the hypothalamus. it is rich in dopamine-releasing neurons.
Term
fissure
Definition
4. Anatomy A normal groove or furrow, as in the liver or brain, that divides an organ into lobes or parts
Term
gyri
Definition
Any of the prominent, rounded, elevated convolutions on the surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres
Term
HM
Definition
he had surgery to relieve debilitating epileptic seixures and his ability to form long term memories was wiped out but short term was fine. he doesnt recognize doctros treating him or routes... memory loss is attributed to hippocampus loss
Term
consolidation
Definition
is a hypothetical process involving the gradual conversion of information into durable memory codes stored in long-term memory.
Term
wernike area-aphasia
Definition
major language center in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere.which may result from damage to the temporal lobe, speak in long, garbled sentences (word salad) and have poor speech comprehension.... problem with comprehension of language
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