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MrsVanDyke Chapter 3
Biology / Neuroscience
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Biopsychology | The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and mental processes |
| Neuroscience | A relatively new disciplinary field that focuses on the brain and its role in psychological processes |
| Evolution | The gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environments |
| Natural Selection | The driving force behind evolution, by which the environment "selects" the fittest organisms |
| Genotype | An organizm's genetic makeup |
| Phenotype | An organism's physical characteristics |
| DNA | A long, complex molecule that encodes genetics characteristics. |
| Gene | Segment of a chromosome that encodes the directins for the inherited physical and metal characteristics of an organism |
| Chromosome | Tightl coiled threadlike structure along which the genes are organized, like beads on a necklace |
| Sex Chromosome | The X and Y chromosomes that determine our physical sex characteristic |
| Neuron | Cell specialized to receive and trasmit information to other cells in the body--also called nerve cells |
| Sensory Neuron | Nerve cell that carries messages from sense receptors toward the central nervous system. |
| Motor Neuron | Nerve cell that carries messages away from the central nervous system toward the muscles ad glands. Also called an efferent neuron |
| Interneuron | A nerve cell that relays messages between nerve cells, especially in the brain and spinal cord |
| Dendrite | A branched fiber that extends outward from the main cell body and carries information into the neuron |
| Soma | The part of a cell containing the nucleus, which includes the chromosomes. Also called the cell body |
| Axon | In a nerve cell, an extended fiber that conducts information from the soma to the terminal buttons. Information travels along the axon in the form of an electric charge called the action potential |
| Resting Potential | The electrical charge of the axon in its inactive state, when the neuron is ready to "fire" |
| Action Potential | The nerve impulse caused by a change in the electrical charge across the cell membrane of the axon |
| All-or-None Principle | Refers to the fact that the action potential in the axon occurs either full-blown or not at all |
| Synapse | The microscopic gap that serves as a communication link between neurons |
| Terminal Buttons | Tiny bulblike structures at the end of the axon, which contain neurotransmitters that carry the neuron's message into the synapse |
| Synaptic Transmission | The relaying of information across the synapse by means of chemical neurotransmitters |
| Synaptic Vesicle | A small "container" holding neurotransmitter molecules that then connects to the presynaptic membrane, releasing the neuro transmitter into the synapse |
| Neurotransmitters | Chemical messengers that relay neural messages across the synapse. Many are also called hormones |
| Plasticity | The nervous system's ability to adapt or change as the result of experience |
| Glial Cells | Cells that bind the neurons together |
| Nervous System | The entire network of neurons in the body, including the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and their subdivisions |
| Central Nervous System | The brain and the spinal cord |
| Reflex | A simple, unlearned response triggered by stimuli--such as the knee--jerk set off by tapping the tendon just below the kneecap |
| Peripheral Nervous System | All parts of the nervous system lying outside the central nervous system |
| Somatic Nervous System | A division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information to the central nervous system and also sends voluntary messages to the body's skeletal muscles |
| Autonomic Nervous System | The portion of the peripheral nervous system that sends communications between the central nervous system and the internal organs and glands |
| Sympathetic Division | The part of the autonomic nervous system that sends messages to internal organs and glands that help us respond to emergency situations |
| Parasympathetic Division | The part of the autonomic nervous system that monitors the routine operations of the internal organs and returns the body to calmer functioning after arousal by the sympathetic division |
| Endocrine System | The hormone system -- Body's chemical messengers system |
| Hormone | A chemical messenger used by the endocrine system |
| Pituitary Gland | "Master Gland" that produces hormones including the secretions of all other endocrine glands, as well as a hormone that influences growth. Attached to hypothalamus from which it takes orders |
| Agonist | Drug or other chemical that enhances or mimics the effects of neurotransmitters |
| Antagonist | Drug or other chemical that inhibits the effects of neurotransmitters |
| Neural Pathway | Bundle of nerve cells that follow generally the same route and employ the same neurotransmitter |
| Electroencephalograph (EEG) | Device for recording brain waves, typically electrodes placed on the scalp |
| CT Scanning (Computerized Tomography) | A computerized imaging technique that uses X rays passed through the brain at various angles and then combined into an image |
| PET Scanning (Position Emission Tomography) | An imaging technique that relies on the detection of radioactive sugar consumed by active brain cells |
| MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) | An imaging that relies on cells' responses in a high-intensity magnetic field |
| fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) | A type of MRI that reveals which parts of the brain are most active during various mental activities |
| Brain Stem | The most primitive of the brain's three major layers. Contains the Medulla, pons, and reticular formation |
| Medulla | A brain-stem structure that controls breathing and heart rate |
| Pons | A brain-stem structure that regulates brain activity during sleep and dreaming |
| Reticular Formation | A pencil-shaped structure forming the core of the brain stem that keeps the brain alert and attentive to new stimulation |
| Thalamus | The brain's central "relay station", situated just atop the brain stem |
| Cerebellum | The "little brain" attached to the brain stem responsible for coordinated movements |
| Limbic System | The middle layer of the brain, involved in emotion and memory; includes the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other structures |
| Hippocampus | A component of the limbic system, involved in establishing long-term memories |
| Amygdala | A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression |
| Hypothalamus | A limbic structure that serves as the brain's blood-testing laboratory, constantly monitoring the blood to determine the condition of the body |
| Cerebral Cortex | The thin gray-matter covering the crebral hemispheres, consisting of a 1/4 - inch layer dense with cell bodies of neurons |
| Frontal Lobes | Cortical regions at the front of the brain that are especially involved in movement and in thinking |
| Motor Cortex | A narrow vertical strip of cortex in the frontal lobes, lying just in front of the central fissure; controls voluntary movement |
| Parietal Lobes | Cortical areas lying toward the back and top of the brain; involved in touch sensation and in perceiving spatial relationships (the relationships of objects in space) |
| Somatosensory Cortex | A strip of the parietal lobe lying just behind the central fissure; involved with sensations in touch |
| Occipital Lobes | The cortical regions at the back of the brain, housing the visual cortex |
| Visual Cortex | The visual processing areas of cortex in the occipital and temporal lobes |
| Temporal Lobes | Cortical lobes that process sound, including speech; probably involved in long-term memories |
| Association Cortex | Cortical regions throughtout the brain that combine information from various other parts of the brain |
| Cerebral Dominance | The tendency of each brain hemisphere to exert control over different functions, such as language or perception of spatial relationships |
| Corpus Callosum | The band of nerve cells that connects the two cerebral hemispheres |
Created by:
MrsVanDyke
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