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Ch. 3
n/a
76
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
10/03/2010

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
acetylcholine
Definition
in both cenral and peripheral nervous system. causes muscle contractions. loss of it can cause alzheimers
Term
action potential
Definition
nerve impulse activated in a neuron that travels down the axon and causes neurotransmitters to be released
Term
afferent
Definition
carrying signals to the brain
Term
all or none law
Definition
once the excitory inputs reach the threshold, a uniform action potential occurs despite increases in intensity
Term
amygdala
Definition
part of limbic system that controls emotion, aggression, and formation of emotional memory
Term
association cortex
Definition
where processes such as planning and decision making occur
Term
auditory cortex
Definition
part of temporal lobes that receives and processes info from both ears
Term
brocas area
Definition
region of brain that translates thought into speech or signs
Term
soma
Definition
cell body of a neuron
Term
CNS
Definition
brain and spinal cord
Term
cerrebellum
Definition
region of brain attached to brain stem. controls motor coordination, posture, and balance, as well as ability to learn how to control body movements
Term
cerebral cortex
Definition
outer surface of the cerebrum, which is the portion that regulates higher cognitive and emotional functions
Term
cerebral hemispheres
Definition
the two halves of the cerebrum, connected by the corpus collosum
Term
ct scan
Definition
allows for 3d x-rays of the brain
Term
dendrites
Definition
branched fibers that receive incoming signals
Term
dopamine
Definition
high levels cause schizophrenia, low levels cause parkinsons
Term
EEG
Definition
tracing of the brain's electric activity. used to show brain's response to stimuli
Term
efferent
Definition
signal leaving the brain
Term
endorphins
Definition
group of chemicals classified as neuromodulators. a substance that modifies the activites of the postsynaptic neuron. control emotional behaviors
Term
excitory input
Definition
information entering a neuron causing it to fire
Term
firing
Definition
an action potential is produced when the stimulation in the neuron surpasses the threshold level
Term
forebrain
Definition
portion of brain containing limbic system and hypothalamus. Controls the body's natural needs and drives (e.g. hunger). also partially responsible for memory, motivation, and some complex thinking
Term
frontal lobe
Definition
motor control, cognitive activities such as planning, decision making, goal setting
Term
fMRI
Definition
combines benifits of MRI and PET scan by detecting magnetic changes in flow of blood cells to brian
Term
Glia
Definition
cells that hold neurons together and ease transmission between neurons. also remove dead neurons and prevent poisons in the blood from reaching the brain
Term
Walter Hess
Definition
Pioneered the use of electrical stimulation to probe structures deep in the brain
Term
Walter Hess
Definition
Pioneered the use of electrical stimulation to probe structures deep in the brain
Term
hippocampus
Definition
part of limbic system involved in the acquisition of explicit memory
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
brain structure that regulates motivated behavior (e.g. eating and drinking) and homestasis
Term
inhibitory inputs
Definition
information entering a neuron that signals it not to fire
Term
institutional dwarfism
Definition
children in orphanages who don't receive a mother's attention and touch are smaller than others of their age
Term
interneurons
Definition
brain neuron that relays messages from sensory neurons to other interneurons or motor neurons
Term
left hemisphere
Definition
numerical computation, direct fact retrieval, language skills, right visual field, logic, right side of body
Term
limbic system
Definition
regulates emotional behavior, basic motivational urges, some memory, and major physiological functions
Term
lock and key
Definition
way in which neurotransmitters in the synapse bind with the receptor sites on the dendrite
Term
lock and key
Definition
way in which neurotransmitters in the synapse bind with the receptor sites on the dendrite
Term
MRI
Definition
brain imaging technique that scans the brain using magnetic fields and radio waves
Term
motor cortex
Definition
region of cerebral cortex which contrals the action of voluntary muscles
Term
motor neurons
Definition
neuron that caries messages away from the CNS and toward the muscles
Term
myelin sheath
Definition
insulating material surrounding axons. increases speed of transmission
Term
neuron
Definition
nerve cell. receives, processes, or transmits information to other cells
Term
neurotransmitter
Definition
chemical which crosses the synapse between neurons and stimulates the postsynaptic neuron
Term
occipital lobe
Definition
rear region of brain. contains the visual cortex
Term
parasympathetic division
Definition
subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that monitors the routine operation of the body's internal functions.
Term
parietal lobe
Definition
region behind the frontal lobe and above the lateral fissure which contains somatosensory cortex. it processes sensory inputs from various body areas
Term
peripheral nervous system
Definition
part of nervous system composed of nerves that connect the body's sensory receptors, muscles, glands, etc. to the CNS
Term
PET scan
Definition
brain imaging that uses the radioactivity emitted by cells during different cognitive or behavioral activites
Term
plasticity
Definition
changes in the performance of the brain. for example, creation of new synapses, changing functions of existing synapses
Term
postsynaptic
Definition
neuron which receives the signal from the synapse
Term
presynaptic
Definition
neuron that sends the chemical signal across the synapse
Term
receptor site
Definition
the postsynaptic membrane which contains the "locks" of the lock and key mechanism
Term
refractory period
Definition
during absolute refractory period, the neuron cannot fire. During relative refractory period, the neuron will only fire if the stimulus is greater than what would ordinarily be necessary
Term
resting potential
Definition
slight polarization of the fluid inside the neuron in comparison to the fluid outside. this provides the electrochemical means for a nerve cell to produce an action potential
Term
reuptake
Definition
when the neurotransmitter released by a presynaptic cell is reabsorbed into the neuron
Term
right hemisphere
Definition
Spatial skills, left side of body, left visual field,
Term
sensory neurons
Definition
neurons responsible for converting external stimuli from the environment into internal stimuli that can be carried to the CNS
Term
serotonin
Definition
envolved in arousal and other autonomic pricesses.
Term
somatic nervous system
Definition
subdivision of peripheral nervous system that connects the CNS to the skeletal muscles and skin
Term
somatosensory cortex
Definition
region of parietal lobes that processes sensory input from various body areas
Term
Sperry
Definition
psychologist who discovered that information perceived in the right goes to the left side of brain and vice versa. Tested on split brain patients
Term
synapse
Definition
gap between one neuron and another through which neurotransmitters travel
Term
synaptic transmission
Definition
relaying info across synapse
Term
temporal lobe
Definition
responsible for the process of hearing. located below the lateral fissure, on the sides of each cerebral hemisphere
Term
temporal lobe
Definition
responsible for the process of hearing. located below the lateral fissure, on the sides of each cerebral hemisphere
Term
temporal lobe
Definition
responsible for the process of hearing. located below the lateral fissure, on the sides of each cerebral hemisphere
Term
terminal buttons
Definition
ends of axons that store chemicals and release neurotransmitters into the synapse
Term
thalamus
Definition
attached to the reticular formation. Channels incoming sensory info to the appropriate area of the cerebral cortex where it will be processed.
Term
thalamus
Definition
attached to the reticular formation. Channels incoming sensory info to the appropriate area of the cerebral cortex where it will be processed.
Term
threshold
Definition
chemical level that neuron must reach to fire
Term
threshold
Definition
chemical level that neuron must reach to fire
Term
thalamus
Definition
attached to the reticular formation. Channels incoming sensory info to the appropriate area of the cerebral cortex where it will be processed.
Term
threshold
Definition
chemical level that neuron must reach to fire
Term
terminal buttons
Definition
ends of axons that store chemicals and release neurotransmitters into the synapse
Term
visual cortex
Definition
region of the occipital lobes in which visual info is processed
Term
visual fields
Definition
left visual field goes to right hemisphere and vice versa
Term
Wernicke's area
Definition
region of the brain that allows fluent speech and comprehension
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