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Themes and Variations Ch 3
definitions
61
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
09/26/2012

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Term
Neurons
Definition
Individual cells; receive, transmit, and integrate information
Term
Terminal buttons
Definition
Small knobs that secrete neurotransmitters
Term
Resting potential
Definition
When cell is inactive; stable negative charge
Term
Action potential
Definition
Brief shift in the neuron's electrical charge that travels along the axon
Term
Absolute refractory period
Definition
Minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential CANNOT begin
Term
Postsynaptic potential (PSP)
Definition
Voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane
Term
Reuptake
Definition
Neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane
Term
Agonist
Definition
Chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter
Term
Antagonist
Definition
Chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter
Term
Peripheral Nervous System
Definition
Made up of all those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord
Term
Somatic Nervous System
Definition
Made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors
Term
Afferent nerve fibers
Definition
Axons that carry info inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body
Term
Efferent nerve fibers
Definition
Axons that carry info OUT from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body
Term
Autonomic Nervous System
Definition
Made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands
Term
Sympathetic Division
Definition
Branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies
Term
Parasympathetic Division
Definition
Branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources
Term
Central Nervous System
Definition
Consists of the brain and the spinal cord
Term
Lesioning
Definition
involves destroying a piece of the brain
Term
Amygdala
Definition
Part of limbic system involved in emotion and aggression
Term
Cerebrum
Definition
Responsible for sensing, thinking, learning, emotion, consciousness, and voluntary movement
Term
Corpus callosum
Definition
Bridge of fibers passing info between the two cerebral hemispheres
Term
Thalamus
Definition
Relay center for cortex; handles incoming and outgoing signals
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
Structure that coordinates fine muscle movement, balance
Term
Reticular formation
Definition
Group of fibers that carry stimulation related to sleep and arousal thru brainstem
Term
Pons
Definition
Involved in sleep and arousal
Term
Spinal cord
Definition
Responsible for transmitting info between brain and rest of the body; handles simple reflexes
Term
Medulla
Definition
Responsible for regulating largely unconscious functions such as breakthing and circulation
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
Part of limbic system involved in learning and memory
Term
Pituitary Gland
Definition
"Master" gland that regulates other endocrine glands
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
Responsible for regulating basic biological needs: hunger, thirst, temperature control
Term
Limbic System
Definition
Loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas
Term
Cerebral Cortex
Definition
Intricately folded outer layer of the cerebrum
Term
Cerebral hemispheres
Definition
Right and left halves of the cerebrum
Term
Corpus Callosum
Definition
Structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres
Term
Occipital lobe
Definition
Includes primary visual cortex
Term
Parietal lobe
Definition
Primary somatosensory cortex (registers touch)
Term
Temporal lobe
Definition
Includes primary auditory cortex
Term
Frontal lobe
Definition
Includes primary motor cortex
Term
Mirror neurons
Definition
Neurons activated by performing an action or by seeing another monkey or person perform the same action
Term
Neurogenesis
Definition
Formation of new neurons
Term
Perceptual asymmetries
Definition
Left-right imbalances between the cerebral hemispheres in the speed of visual or auditory processing
Term
Pituitary gland
Definition
Releases a great variety of hormones that fan out around the body, stimulating actions in the other endoctrine glands
Term
Oxytocin
Definition
A hormone released by the pituitary gland, which regulates reproductive behaviors
Term
Psychophysics
Definition
The study of how physical stimuli are translated into psychological experience
Term
Sensation
Definition
Stimulation of sense organs
Term
Perception
Definition
Selection, organization, and interpretation of sensory input
Term
Absolute threshold
Definition
Minimum stimulus intensity that an organism can detect for a specific type of sensory input
Term
Absolute threshold
Definition
Minimum stimulus intensity that an organism can detect for a specific type of sensory input
Term
Just Noticeable Difference (JND)
Definition
Smallest difference in stimulus intensity that a specific sense can detect
Term
Subliminal perception
Definition
Registration of sensory input without conscious awareness
Term
Sensory adaptation
Definition
Gradual decline in sensitivity to prolonged stimulation
Term
Cones
Definition
Specialized receptors that play a key role in DAYLIGHT vision and COLOR vision
Term
Rods
Definition
Specialized visual receptors that play a key role in NIGHT vision and PERIPHERAL vision
Term
Visual agnosia
Definition
Inability to recognize objects
Term
Prosopagnosia
Definition
Inability to recognize familiar faces
Term
Bottom-up processing
Definition
A progression from individual elements to the whole
Term
Top-down progressing
Definition
A progression from the whole to the elements
Term
Subjective contours
Definition
Involves the perception of contours where none actually exist
Term
Depth perception
Definition
Involves interpretation of visual cues that indicate how near or far away objects are
Term
Hermann von Helmholtz
Definition
Proposed that specific sound frequencies vibrate specific portions of the basilar membrane, producing distinct pitches; PLACE THEORY
Term
Frequency theory
Definition
Perception of pitch corresponds to the rate, or frequency, at which the entire basilar membrane vibrates
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