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Psychology Chapter 2
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Nervous System | An extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body |
| Neuroscience | - Deals with the structure of neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue - Relationship to behavior and learning |
| Neuron | The basic cell that makes up the nervous system and receives and sends messages within that system |
| Parts of a neuron | Dendrites: branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons Soma: the cell body of neuron, responsible for maintaining the life of the cell Axon: tube-like structures that carries the neural message to other cells |
| Glial cells | Grey fatty cells that provide support for the neurons to grow on and around, deliver nutrients to neurons, and produce myelin to coat axons |
| Myelin | Fatty substances produced by certain glial cells that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse. They also clean up waste products and dead neurons |
| Ions | Charged particles |
| Inside neuron | Negatively charged |
| Outside neuron | Positively charged |
| Resting potential | The state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse |
| Action potential | The release of the neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical charge within the axon. Also allows positive sodium ions to enter the cell |
| All-or-none | A neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all |
| Axon terminals | Rounded areas at the end of the branches at the end of the axon. Also responsible for communicating with other nerve cells |
| Synaptic vesicles | sack-like structures found inside the axon terminal containing chemicals |
| Neurotransmitter | Chemical found in the synaptic vesicles which, when released, has an effort on the next cell |
| Synapse/Synaptic gap | Microscopic fluid-filled space between the rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals of one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell |
| Receptor sites | Holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glans, which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters |
| Excitatory neurotransmitter | neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to fire |
| Inhibitory neurotransmitter | neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to stop firing |
| Acetylcholine | - Messenger at every junction between a motor and a muscle - Has inhibitory effect on muscle fibers in the heart - Involved in learning and memory, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep - Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain |
| Serotonin | - Inhibitory effect at most receptor sites - Regulates mood, sleep, impulsivity, aggression, and appetite - Deficiency of serotonin associated with suicide, anxiety, depression, and impulse violence - Antidepressants increase ________ levels |
| GABA | - Main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain - Decreases nervous system arousal - Helps induce relaxation and sleep and calm anxiety - contributes to motor control, vision, and other cortical functions |
| Glutamate | - Most common neurotransmitter in the brain - Always excitatory - Involved in learning, memory formation, and nervous system development - Excess results in over-activation and neuronal damage and possibly cell death occurring after a stroke. |
| Dopamine | - Has both excitatory and inhibitory effects - Deficiency of _______ related to Parkinson's disease - involved in mood, movement and learning - Oversensitivity to dopamine related to some causes of schizophrenia |
| Epinephrine | - Affects metabolism of glucose - Affects release of energy stored in muscles and used for exercise |
| Endorphins | - Interacts with receptors in the brain to reduce perception of pain - Lead to feelings of euphoria, modulations of appetite, release of sex hormones, enhancement of the immune response |
| Sensory neuron | A neuron that carries information form the senses to the central nervous system. Also called an afferent neuron |
| Motor neuron | A neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body. Also called an efferent nuron |
| Interneuron: | Found in the center of the spinal cord that receives information from the sensory neurons and sends commands to the muscles through the motor neurons. Also make up the bulk of the neurons in the brain |
| Neuroplasticity | The ability to constantly change both the structure and function cells in response to experience or trauma |
| Peripheral nervous sytem | All nerves and neurons that are not contained in the brain and spinal cord but that run through the body itself |
| Somatic nervous system | Division of the PNS consisting of nerves that carry information form the senses to the CNS and from the CNS to voluntary muscles of the body |
| Sensory pathway | Nerves coming from the sensory organs to the CNS consisting of sensory neurons |
| Autonomic nervous System | Division of the PNS consisting of nerves that control all of the involuntary muscles, organs, and glans |
| Sympathetic division (fight-or-flight system) | Part of the ANS that is responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal |
| Parasympathetic division | Part of the ANS that restores the body to normal functioning after arousal and is responsible for the day-to-day reactioning. Also increases digestive functions, slows heart rate, and constricts pupils |
| Computed tomography (CT) | brain imaging method using computer-controlled X-rays of the brain |
| Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | brain-imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce detailed images of the brain |
| Electroencephalogram (EEG) | records electric activity of the brain below specific areas of the skull |
| Positron emission tomography (PET) | Radioactive sugar is injected into the subject and a computer compiles a color-coded image of brain activity of the brain; lighter colors indicate more activity |
| Medulla | First large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain. Responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate |
| Pons | Larger swelling above the medulla that connects the top of the brain to the bottom. Plays a part in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination, and arousal |
| Reticular formation (RF) | area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond. Responsible for selective attention |
| Limbic system | A group of several brain structures located under the cortex and involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation |
| Thalamus | Part of the limbic system located in the center of the brain. Relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the propter areas of the cortex |
| Hypothalamus | Small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland. Responsible for motivational behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex. |
| Hippocampus | Curved structure located within each temporal love. Responsible for the formation for long-term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects |
| Endocrine glands | glands that secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream by endocrine glands |
| Hormones | chemicals released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands |
| Pituitary gland | gland located in the brain the secretes human growth hormone and influences all other hormone-secreting glands (also known as the master gland) |
| Pineal gland | Endocrine gland located near the base of the cerebrum that secreted melatonin |
| Thyroid gland | endocrine gland found in the neck that regulates metabolism |
| Pancreas | endocrine gland that controls the levels of sugar in the blood |
| Gonads | The sex glands; secrete hormones that regulate sexual development and behavior as well as reproduction |
| Ovaries | the female gonads |
| Testes | the male gonads |
| Adrenal glands | endocrine glands located on top of each kidney. Also secrete over thirty different hormones to deal with stress, regulate salt intake. They also provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual changes that occur during adolescence |
| Left Hemisphere | Controls the right hand Spoken language Written language Mathematical Calculations Logical thought processes Analysis of detail Reading |
| Right Hemisphere | Controls the left hand Nonverbal Visual-spatial perception Music and artistic processing Emotional thought and recognition Processes the whole Pattern Recognition Facial recognition |
Created by:
Brysont11
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