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Intro Psych
Exam2: terms
80
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
10/23/2007

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Term
neurons
Definition
the basic building blocks of the nervous system
Term
receptors  
Definition

large protein molecules embedden in the cell's membrane;

each particular type of receptor and its matching neutransmitter fit together like a "lock & key" 

Term
dendrites
Definition

Greek for "tree".

specialized receiving units (like antennae) that collect messages from neighboring neurons & send them on to the cell body 

Term
soma
Definition
the cell body, containts the biochemical structures necessary to keep the neuron alive
Term
glial cells  
Definition

Greek for "glue"

Functions:

to surround neurons & hold them in place 

to supply nutrients & oxygen to neurons

to absorb toxins & waster materials that would damage or kill neurons 

Term
Myelin sheath
Definition

a whitish, fatty insulation layer that surrounds the axon of many neurons, derived from glial cells during development;

causes action potential to travel faster;

damage -> multiple sclerosis: one's own immune system attacks the myelin sheath 

 

Term
axon
Definition
conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles or glands
Term
action potential
Definition
a nerve impulse - an electrical charge that travels along an axon
Term
axon hillock
Definition
where PSPs summate; threshold voltage
Term
ion channels & ions
Definition
regulate the flow of ions (Na+, K+, Cl−) across the membrane in all cells
Term
Terminal buttons
Definition
secrete chemicals called neutransmitters
Term
neurotransmitters
Definition
chemical substances that carry messages across the synaptic spae to other neurons, muscles or glands
Term
Synaptic vessicles
Definition
chambers within the axon terminals, where transmitter molecules are stored
Term
synapse
Definition
a fluid-filled gap btwn the axon terminal button of one neuron & the dendrite of the next neuron
Term
Inactivation/Deactivation
Definition
inactivation (by enzymes) or removal (drifting away) of neutransmitters
Term
reuptake
Definition
neutransmitters are taken back into the terminal button of the pre-synaptic neuron to be recycled & used again
Term
excitatory neurotransmitter
Definition
binds to a receptor causing sodium ions to rush into the soma
Term
inhibitory neurotransmitter
Definition
binds to a matching receptor & causes a negative voltage shift
Term
excitatory post-synaptic potential
Definition
increase the likelihood of an action potential traveling down the axon
Term
inhibitory post-synaptic potential
Definition
decreases the likelihood of an action potential being stimulated in the soma
Term
graded potentials
Definition

post-synaptic potentials

a change in the elctrical potential of a neuron that is proportional to the intensity of the incoming stimulation but not sufficient to produce an action potential

 

Term
temporal summation
Definition
occurs when multiple PSPs follow one another in rapid succession at a single receptor site, the voltage at the axon hillock can reach threshold
Term
spatial summation  
Definition
occurs when multiple PSPs occur in rapid succession at DIFFERENT receptor sites, the voltage at the axon hillock can reach threshold
Term
resting potential (polarization)
Definition
the internal difference of around -70 mV
Term
action potential (depolarization)
Definition

a brief shift in the neuron's electrical charge (-70 mV -> +40 mV) that travels down an axon (sprint!) 

Term
repolarization
Definition
immediately after an action potential electrical charge restored to resting potential
Term
sodium/potassium pump
Definition
Na+/K+-ATPase
Term
absolute refractory period
Definition

the min length of time after an AP during which another AP cannot begin

occurs during repolarization

sodium channels won't open, because the sodium-potassium pumps have not yet moved the sodium back outside the axon 

Term
all-or-none law
Definition
action potentials occur at a uniform & maximum intensity, or they do not occur at all
Term
antagonist
Definition
drugs that block the action of neutransmitters
Term
agonist  
Definition
drugs that mimic the action of neutransmitters
Term
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Definition
involved in normal attention, memory, movement
Term
Alzheimer’s disease
Definition

low levels of ACh

drugs increase ACh activity to improve memory (agonist) 

Term
endorphin
Definition
involved in normal bodily response to pain
Term
morphine
Definition
mutes signals of pain from the body & produces a "high" because it travels into the brain & binds to neurons w/ endorphin receptors -- it mimcs endorphins & is therefore an endorphin agonist
Term
Norepinephrine
Definition
involved in normal attention, learning, memory, wakefulness/arousal, eating
Term
serotonin
Definition
involved in normal emotional states, impulse control, sleep & dreaming
Term
GABA
Definition

involved in normal ability to return the brain from high state of arousal back to normal after an anxiety-provoking event

imbalance:

epileptic seizures

anxiety disorders

drugs: valium & xanax (agonists) 

Term
dopamine  
Definition

involved in normal motivation/feelings of pleasure, motor control, planning

 

Term
Parkinson’s disease
Definition
can occur when levels of dopamine are too low in the basal ganglia
Term
Schizophrenia
Definition
includes psychotic delusions and hallucinations due to too high levels of dopamine activity in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex
Term
antipsychotic drugs
Definition
reduce dopamine to relieve psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia, but can have a side effect of causing motor tremors & depression
Term
Sensory Neurons
Definition
carry input messages from the sense organs to the spinal cord & brain
Term
interneuron  
Definition

perform connective or associative functions within the nervous sytem

far outnumber sensory & motor neurons 

Term
motor neurons
Definition
transmit output impulses from the brain & spinal cord to the body's muscles & organs
Term
Central Nervous System
Definition
contains the brain & the spinal cord, which connects most parts of the peripheral nervous sytem w/ the brain
Term
Spinal cord
Definition
connects the brain to the rest of the nervous system
Term
Peripheral Nervous System
Definition
contains all the neural structures that lie outside of the brain & the spinal cord
Term
nerve  
Definition
a bundle of axons
Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition

division of PNS

conscious sensation & voluntary movement 

Term
afferent nerves
Definition

(somatic)

carry sensory info from body (sense, organs, skin, gut) to CNS 

Term
efferent nerves  
Definition

(somatic)

carry conscious moto commads from CNS to body 

Term
Autonomic Nervous System
Definition

(PNS)

controls automatic, involuntary gut  & skin functions such as heart rate, digestion, perspiration, getting goosebumps & other types of physiological arousal that happen w/ emotion 

Term
sympathetic division
Definition
mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies (heart rate & blood pressure increase, release of hormones that ready the body for exertion, slows digestion)
Term
parasympathetic division
Definition
slows down, restores the body's resources after mobilization (heart rate & blood pressure drop, promotes digestion) - affecting one or a few organs at a time
Term
homeostasis
Definition
a delicately balanced or constant internal state
Term
medulla
Definition

(hindbrain)

regulates vital functions such as breathing & heart rate

damage usually results in death 

Term
pons  
Definition
involved in sleep & arousal
Term
Reticular Formation (RF)
Definition

(hindbrain? midbrain? a poorly-differentiated area...)

acts as a sentry - alerts highers centers that messages are coming in & either sends them forward or blocks them 

plays a role in consciousness, sleep & attention 

Term
cerebellum
Definition

(hindbrain)

Latin "little brain" 

coordinates fine muscle movement (typing, playing an instrument...) & balance

alcohol impacts cerebellum before most other parts of the brain 

Term
tectum
Definition

(midbrain)

the orienting center: receives info so we can react quickly using the twisting & movement centers elsewhere in the brain system 

Term
hypothalamus
Definition

(forebrain)

links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland;

Regulation of basic biological drives related to survival - the four F's:            feeding, fighting, fleeing and mating.

Motivation & emotion... also body temp., circadiam rhythms, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.

Term
pituitary gland
Definition

the master gland of the body

regulates other endocrine glands that release hormones 

Term
thalamus
Definition

(forebrain)

the sensory switchboard

organizes input from sensory organs & routes them to the appropriate areas of the brain 

Term
hippocampus
Definition

(forebrain, limbic system)

forming & retrieving memories 

Term
amygdala
Definition

(forebrain, limbic system)

organizes motivational & emotional responses patterns, particularly those linked to fear & agression 

 

Term
medial forebrain bundle (MFB) & nucleus accumbens
Definition

(forebrain)

We experience pleasure when neurons release dopamine on the nucleus accumbens - "reward centers/circuits" - linked to daily pleasures like eating or addictive drugs like cocaine... 

Term
basal ganglia
Definition

(forebrain)

crucial for planning & producing, movement - translating thoughts into action

signals from cortex are sent to brainstem 

Term
frontal lobe
Definition

(cerebral cortex (cerebrum))

executive functions - goal setting, judgment, strategic planning, interprets social cues & impulse control

damage can lead to subtle but important changes in personality & cognitive ability

the primary motor cortex also controls voluntary body movement 

Term
Pre-frontal cortex
Definition
executive functions - goal setting, judgment, strategic planning, interprets social cues & impulse control
Term
Broca’s Area
Definition

in the frontal lobe

language output (communicating to others)

Term
primary motor cortex
Definition

(frontal lobe)

voluntary body movement 

Term
parietal lobe
Definition
plays important roles in integrating sensory information from various parts of the body
Term
somatosensory cortex
Definition
receives sensory input that give rise to our sensations of heat, touch, cold & to our senses of balance & body movement
Term
occipital lobe
Definition
primary visual cortex - sight!
Term
temporal lobe
Definition
primary auditory cortex: hearing
Term
Wernicke’s area
Definition

(temporal lobe)

language input (understanding)

Term
aphasia
Definition

a loss of the ability to produce and/or comprehend language, due to injury to brain areas specialized for these functions.

It is not a result of deafness or muscle paralysis, and it does not necessarily affect intelligence. 

Term
corpus callosum
Definition

connects the 2 cerebral hemispheres (left & right)

allows information to pass from one to the other 

Term
cerebral laterality
Definition
the degree to which the left or right hemispheres of the cerebral cortex control certain abilities
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