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Biopsych Unit 1
vocabulary
118
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
09/26/2011

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Term

Biopsychology

[image][image]Wikipedia: Scholarly or scientific investigation or inquiry.

Definition
Scientific study of the biology of behavior.
Term
Comparative Approach
Definition
Study of biological processes by comparing different species.
Term
between-subjects design
Definition
Different group of subjects is tested under each condition.
Term
within-group design
Definition

Same group of subjects under each condition

[image][image]Wikipedia: The symbol for the element sulfur.

Term
Physiological Psychology
Definition
Division of biopsychology that studies the neural mechanisms of behavior through the direct manipulation of the brain in controlled experiments.
Term
Psychopharmacology
Definition
focuses on manipulation of neural activity and behavior with drugs.
Term
Neuropsychology
Definition
Study of psychological effects of brain damage in human patients.
Term
Psychophysiology
Definition
division of biopsychology that studies the relatio between physiological activity and psychological processes in human subjects.
Term
Cognitive Neuroscience
Definition

Studies neural bases of cognition.

 

Term
Cognition
Definition
Higher processes such as thought, memory, attention and complex perceptual processes.
Term
Comparative Psychology
Definition
Deals generally with the biology of behavior, rather than with specific neural mechanisms of behavior.
Term
Converging Operations
Definition
Different approaches to a single problem in such a way that strengths of one approach compensate for weaknesses of another approach.
Term
Scientific Inference
Definition
Empirical method used by biopsychologits and other scientists to study the unobservable.
Term
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Definition
Measures muscle tension, eye movement, and other indicators from the ANS.
Term
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Definition
Division of the nervous system that regulates the body's inner environment.
Term
Chordates
Definition
animals with dorsal nerve cords
Term
spandrels
Definition
behaviors or structures that are incidental nonadaptive evolutionary by-products.
Term
exaptations
Definition
characteristics evolved to perform one function and were later co-opted to perform another.
Term
convergent evolution
Definition
similarities between analogous structures that result from species of similar solutions to the same environmental demands.
Term
cerebrum
Definition
cerebral hemispheres in brain.
Term
convolutions
Definition
folds on the cerebral surface.
Term
Polygyny
Definition
Male forms bonds with more than one female.
Term
Polyandry
Definition
Female forms mating bonds with more than one male.
Term
Sensitive Period
Definition
Term
CNS
Definition

division of the nervous system located within the brain and skull.

[image][image]Wikipedia: skull definition: the skeleton of the head of a vertebrate forming a bony or cartilaginous case that encloses and protects the brain and chief sense organs and supports the jaws.

Term
PNS
Definition

Nervous system outside of the brain and skull.

[image][image]Wikipedia: spinal cord definition: the cord of nervous tissue that extends from the brain lengthwise along the back in the vertebral canal, gives off the pairs of spinal nerves, carries impulses to and from the brain, and serves as a center for initiating and coordinating many reflex acts.

Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition
part of PNS that interacts with the external environment.
Term
afferent nerves
Definition
carries sensory signals from the skin, skeletal muscles, joints, eyes, ears and etc. to the CNS.
Term
Autonomic Nervous System
Definition
part of the PNS that regulates the body's internal environment.
Term
Sympathetic Nerves
Definition
autonomic motor nerves that project from the CNS in the lumbar (small of the back) and thoracic (chest area) regions of the spinal cord.
Term
Parasympathetic Nerves
Definition
Autonomic motor nerves that project from the brain and sacral (lower back) region of the spinal cord.
Term
Cranial Nerves
Definition
12 pairs of nerves which project from the brain.
Term
meninges
Definition
3 protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Term
Dura mater
Definition
Tough outer meninx (meninges) membrane.
Term
arachnoid
Definition
Middle meninx layer (spiderweblike membrane).
Term
subarachnoid space
Definition

Beneath arachnoid and it contains many blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid.

Wikipedia: The symbol for the element boron.

Term
pia matter
Definition
Innermost meninx which adheres to the surface of the CNS.
Term
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Definition
Protects CNS and it fills the subarachnoid space, the central canal of the spinal cord and the cerebral ventricles.
Term
central canal
Definition
central channel that runs the length of the spinal cord.
Term
cerebral ventricles
Definition
4 large internal chambers of the brain: 2 large ventricles, 3rd ventricle and 4th ventricle.
Term

blood-brain barrier

 

Definition
mechanism that impedes passage of toxic substances from the blood into the brain.
Term
multipolar neuron
Definition

Neuron with more than two processes extending from it's cell body.

 

Term
unipolar neuron
Definition
One process extending from the cell body.
Term
bipolar neuron
Definition
Two processes extending from it's cell body.
Term

glial cells

[image][image]Wikipedia: Any of the cells making up the neuroglia, especially the astrocytes, oligodendroglia, and microglia.

Definition

Cells other than neurons in the nervous system.

[image][image]Wikipedia: also c The symbol for the Roman numeral one hundred.

Term
Oligodendrocytes
Definition
Glial cells that send out extensions that wrap around the axons of some neurons of the CNS.
Term

schwann cells

 

Definition
Glial cells found in the PNS and they can guide axonal regeneration after damage, unlike oligodendrocytes.
Term
Astrocytes
Definition
Largest glial cells that are star-shaped and can be a passage for chemicals from blood to enter the CNS.
Term
Microglia
Definition
Glial cells that respond to injury or desease by engulfing cellular debris and triggering inflammatory respones.
Term
Golgi Stain
Definition
method that stains neural tissue to show the neuron silhouettes.
Term
Nissl Stain
Definition
Stain that reveals specific cells.
Term
Electron Microscopy
Definition
Neuroanatomical technique that provides information about the details of neuronal structures.
Term
Dorsal Horns
Definition
Two dorsal arms of the spinal gray matter.
Term
Ventral Horns
Definition
Two ventral arms of the spinal gray matter.
Term
Brain Stem
Definition
The stem on which the cerebral hemispheres sit.
Term
Myelencephalon
Definition
Most Posterior division of the brain compused of tracts carrying signals between the rest of the brain and the body.
Term
Reticular Formation
Definition
Complex network of around 100 tiny nuclei that occupies the central core of the brain stem.
Term
Metencephalon
Definition
Houses many ascending and descending tracts and part of the reticular formation.
Term
Pons
Definition
Brain stems ventral surface and part of the metencephalon.
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
Large structure on the brain stem's dorsal surface important for sensorimotor structure.
Term
Mesencephalon
Definition
Midbrain composed of the tectum and tegmentum.
Term
Tectum
Definition

Dorsal surface of the midbrain composed of two pairs of bumps called the inferior colliculi and the superior colliculi.

 

Term
Inferior Colliculi
Definition
Posterior pair that has an auditory function.
Term
Superior Colliculi
Definition
Anterior pair that has a visual function.
Term
Tegmentum
Definition
division of the mesencephalon ventral to the tectum containing the periaqueductal gray, the substantia nigra and the red nucleas.
Term
periaqueductal gray
Definition
gray matter situated around the cerebral aqueduct.
Term

cerebral aqueduct

 

Definition
Duct containing 3rd and 4th ventricles, which play a role in mediating pain-reducing effects of opiate drugs.
Term
Diencephalon
Definition
Part of the brain composed of the thalamus and the hypothalamus.
Term
Thalamus
Definition
Large, two-lobed structure that constitutes the top of the brain stem.
Term
massa intermedia
Definition
Joins the two thalamus lobes together.
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
Located below the thalamus and it plays an important role in the regulation of several motivated behaviors.
Term
Pituitary Gland
Definition
Gland that dangles from the hypothalamus.
Term
Optic Chiasm
Definition
Point at which the optic nerves from each eye come together.  Part of the hypothalamus.
Term
Decustralateral
Definition
axons of the optic nerve that cross over to the other side of the brain.
Term
Ipsilateral
Definition
When the axons of the optic nerve stay on the same side of the body.
Term
Mamillary Glands
Definition
Pair of spherical nuclei located on the inferior surface of the hypothalamus.
Term
Telencephalon
Definition
Largest division of the human brain composed of the cerebral hemispheres.
Term
Cerebral Cortex
Definition
Layer of tissue covering the cerebral hemispheres.
Term
Fissures
Definition
Large furrows in a convoluted cortex.
Term
Gyri
Definition
Ridges between fissures and sulci (small furrows).
Term
Longitudinal Fissure
Definition
Largest fissure that can be seen from looking above someone's head.
Term
Cerebral Commissures
Definition
3 Tracts that connect the two cerebral hemispheres.
Term
Neocortex
Definition
90% of the human cerebral cortex, which is a six-layered cortex.
Term
Pyramidal Cells
Definition
Large multipolar neurons with pyramid-shaped cell bodies.
Term
Stellate Cells
Definition
Small star-shaped interneurons.
Term
Columnar Organization
Definition
Neurons in a given vertical column of neocortex often form a mini-circuit that performs a single function.
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
Area of cortex that is not part of the neocortex and it only has 3 layers.
Term
Limbic System
Definition
Circuit of midline structures that circle the thalamus and is involved in the regulation of motivated behaviors.
Term
amygdala
Definition
Almond-shaped nucleus in the anterior temporal lobe that is a part of the limbic system.
Term
Fornix
Definition
Part of the limbic system that encircles the dorsal thalamus.
Term
Septum
Definition
Midline nucleusthat is located at the anterior tip of the cingulate cortex.
Term
Membrane Potential
Definition
the difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of a cell.
Term
microelectrodes
Definition
The intracellular electrodes used record neuron membrane potential.
Term
Resting Potential
Definition
Steady membrane potential of a neuron, which is -70mV.
Term
Ion Channel
Definition
Specialized pores on the neuron membrane.
Term

Depolarize

[image][image]Wikipedia: also d The symbol for the Roman numeral 500.

Definition
To decrease the resting membrane potential.
Term
Hyperpolarize
Definition
To increase the resting membrane potential.
Term
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
Definition

Increases the likelihood that a neuron will fire.
Term
Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials
Definition
Decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire.
Term
Graded Respones
Definition
The amplitude ESPSs and ISPSs are proportional to the intensity of the signals that elicit them.
Term
Threshold of Excitation
Definition
When the sum of depolarizations and hyperpolarizations is sufficient to depolarize the membrane.
Term
Action Potential
Definition
Massive momentary reversal of the membrane potential from -70 to 50 mV.
Term

Voltage-Activated Ion Channels

 

Definition
Ion channels that open or close in response to the changes in the level of membrane potential.
Term
Absolute Refractory Period
Definition
Period after an action potential was initiated where it is impossible to elicit a second one.
Term
Relative Refractory Period
Definition
Period during which it is possible to fire the neuron again, but only by applying higher-than-normal levels of stimulation.
Term
Saltatory Conduction
Definition
The transmission of action potentials in myelinated axons.
Term
Antidromic Conduction
Definition
When an action potential is stimulated at the terminal end of an axon and travels back to the cell body.
Term
Orthodromic Conduction
Definition
Axonal conduction in the natural direction from the cell body to the terminal button.
Term
Dendritic Spines
Definition
Nodules of various shapes that are located on the surfaces of many dendrites.
Term
Exocytosis
Definition
The process of neurotransmitter release.
Term
Ligand
Definition
Any molecule that binds to another.
Term
Ionotropic Receptors
Definition
Receptors that are associated with ligand-activated ion channels.
Term
Metabotropic Receptors
Definition
Receptors that are associated with signal proteins and G proteins.
Term

Autoreceptors

[image][image]Wikipedia: Second messengers are molecules that relay signals from receptors on the cell surface to target molecules inside the cell, in the cytoplasm or nucleus.

Definition
Metabotropic receptors that have to unconventional characteristics: they bind to their neuron's own neurotransmitter molecules and they are located on the presynaptic membrane vs. the postsynaptic membrane.
Term
Gap Junctions
Definition
Narrow Spaces between adjacent neurons that are bridged to fine tubular channels that contain cytoplasm.
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