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Psychology 100 Ch. 3
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| neurons | nerve cell specialized for communication |
| dendrites | portion of a neuron that receives signals |
| axon | portion of neuron that sends signals |
| Synaptic vesicle | spherical sac containing neurotransmitters |
| Neurotransmitter | chemical messenger specialized for communication from neuron to neuron |
| Synapses | Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically |
| Synaptic cleft | a gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal |
| Glial cell | Cell in the nervous system that plays a role in the formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, and enhances learning and memory |
| Myelin sheath | Glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of the neuron's signal |
| Resting potential | electrical charge difference across the neuronal membrane when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited |
| Threshold | membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential |
| Action Potential | electrical impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters |
| Absolute refractory period | time during which another action potential is impossible, limits the maximal firing rate |
| Receptor site | location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter |
| Reuptake | Means of recycling neurotransmitters |
| Endorphin | Chemical in the brain that plays a specialized role in pain reduction |
| Plasticity | Ability of the nervous system to change |
| neurogenesis | Creation of new neurons in the adult brain |
| Stem Cell | A cell, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized cell |
| Central Nervous System | Part of nervous system containing the brain and spinal cord that controls the mind and behavior |
| Peripheral Nervous System | Nerves in the body that extend outside the central nervous system |
| Cerebral ventricals | pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, which provide the brain with nutrients and cushion against injury |
| Cerebral cortex | Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing and higher brain functions |
| Forebrain | Forward part of the brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities |
| Cerebral hemispheres | Two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serve distinct yet highly integrated functions |
| Corpus Callosum | large band of fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres |
| Frontal lobe | forward part of cerebral cortex responsible for motor function, language, memory, and planning |
| Motor Cortex | Part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement |
| Prefrontal cortex | Part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language |
| Broca's area | Language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production |
| Parietal Lobe | Upper middle part of the cerebral cortex lying behind the frontal lobe that's specialized for touch and perception |
| Temporal Lobe | Lower part of cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory |
| Wernicke's area | Part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech |
| Occipital Lobe | Back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision |
| Primary Sensory Cortex | Region of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses |
| Association Cortex | Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions |
| Basal ganglia | Structures in the forebrain that help to control movement |
| Limbic System | Emotional center of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, and memory |
| Thalamus | Gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex |
| Hypothalamus | Part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant internal state |
| Amygdala | Part of limbic system that plays key roles in fear, excitement, and arousal |
| Hippocampus | Part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory |
| Cerebellum | Brain structure responsible for our sense of balance |
| Brain stem | Part of teh brain between the pinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons, and medulla |
| Midbrain | Part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound |
| Reticular activating system | Brain area that plays a key role in arousal |
| Pons | Part of the brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum |
| Medulla | Part of the brain stem involved in basic functions, such as heartbeat and breathing |
| Hindbrain | Region below the midbrain that contains the cerebellum, pons, and medulla |
| Spinal cord | Thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between the brain and the body |
| Interneurons | Neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby |
| Reflexes | An automatic motor response to a sensory stimuli |
| Autonomic nervous system | Part of the nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which (along with the limbic system) participates in emotion regulation |
| Somatic nervous system | Part of the nervous system that conveys information between the central nervous system and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement |
| Sympathetic nervous system | Division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight |
| Parasympathetic nervous system | Division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion |
| Endocrine System | System of glands and hormones that controls secretion of blood-borne chemical messages |
| Hormones | Chemicals released into the bloodstream that influences particular organs and glands |
| Pituitary gland | Master gland that , under the control of the hypothalamus, directs the other glands of the body |
| Adrenal glands | Tissue located on top of the kidneys that releases adrenaline and cortisol during states of emotional arousal |
| Electroencephalograph | Recording of brain's electrical activity at the surface of the skull |
| Computed Tomography | A scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct three-dimensional images |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure |
| Positron emission tomography | Imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain |
| Functional MRI | technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level |
| Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) | technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function |
| Magnetoencephalography | Technique that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain |
| Lateralization | Cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other |
| Split-brain surgery | Procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures |
| Chromosomes | Slender thread inside a cell's nucleus that carries genes |
| Gene | genetic material composed of DNA |
| Genotype | Genetic makeup |
| Phenotype | Observable traits |
| Fitness | Organism's capacity to pass on their genes |
| Evolutionary psychology | A field that strikes to explain psychological traits as naturally selected adaptions |
| Heritability | Percentage of the variability in a trait across individuals that is the result of genes |
| Family studies | Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families |
| Twin study | analysis of how traits differ in identical versus fraternal twins |
| Adoption Study | Analysis of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives |
| Epigenetics | A field that examines how environmental influences affect the expression of genes |
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