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Unit 3 Psych
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Biological Psychology | - Scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, hormonal, neural) and psychological processes |
| Phrenology | - Franz Gall suggested that the bumps of the skull represented mental ability and character traits - Theory incorrect, proposed different mental abilities were modular |
| Neuron | - Individual nerve cells - Basic building block of the nervous system - Body's information system is built from billions of interconnected neruons |
| Cell Body | - Life support center for the neuron |
| Dendrite | - Branching extensions of the cell body - Dendrites to terminal branches |
| Axon | - Long single extension of a neuron covered with Myelin Sheath - Dendrites to terminal branches |
| Myelin Sheath | - To insulate and speed up messages through hormones |
| Terminal Branches | - Branched ending of axons - Transmitting messages to other neurons |
| Threshold | - When neuron is stimulated by pressure, heat, light or chemical messages, the electrical charge inside the axon can reach a tipping point known as __________ - More positive than the resting potential |
| Action Potential | - Neural impulse - Brief electrical charge that travels down an axon generated by the movement of positively charged atoms (ions) in and out of channels in the axon's membrane |
| Depolarization | - Occurs when positive ions (Na+) enter the neuron making it more susceptible to fire an action potential |
| Hyperpolarization | - Occurs when negative ions (K-) enter the neuron making it less susceptible to fire |
| Refractory Period | - After neuron has fired an action potential it pauses for a short period to recharge itself to fire again |
| Sodium/Potassium Pump | - Pumps positive ions out from inside of the neuron, making it ready for another action potential |
| All or None Law | - When depolarizing current exceeds the threshold a neuron will fire, below the threshold it will not |
| Intensity | - ________of the action potential remains the same, throughout the length of the axon |
| Synapse | - a junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron, thereby influencing it to generate an action potential |
| Neurotransmitters | - (chemicals) released from the sending neuron, travels across the synapse and binds to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, influencing it to generate an action potential |
| Reuptake | - neurotransmitters in the synapse are reabsorbed into the sending neurons through the process of ______ - this process applies brakes on neurotransmitters |
| Serotonin | - ______ pathways are involved with mood, hunger and sleep regulation - lack of ________ has been linked to clinical depression |
| Acetylcholine | - function is motor movement, memory and learning - lack of __________ has been linked to Alzheimer's disease |
| Dopamine | - function is motor movement and alertness - lack of _________ is associated with Parkinson's disease - overabundance is associated with schizophrenia |
| Norepinephrine | - helps control alertness and arousal - undersupply can depress mood |
| Gaba | - a major inhibitory neurotransmitter - undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, insomnia |
| Glutamate | - a major excitatory neurotransmitter - involved in memory - oversupply can overstimulate brain, producing migraines or seizures |
| Endorphins | - involved in pain control - many of most addictive drugs drugs deal with _________ |
| Agonists | - mimics a neurotransmitter - blocks the reuptake of a neurotransmitter |
| Antagonists | - can be a drug that inhibits(slows down) neurotransmitter - MAY look like a neurotransmitter - Occupies a receptor site - NOT similar enough to stimulate the receptor |
| Nervous System | - consists of all the nerve cells - it's the body's speedy, electrochemical communication system |
| Central Nervous System | - the brain and spinal cord - carries sensory info via afferent (sensory) nerve fibers from receptors throughout the body to the brain - conducts info via efferent (motor) nerve fibers from the brain to muscles and glands |
| Peripheral Nervous System | - the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body |
| Sensory Neurons (afferent) | - carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord for processing |
| Motor Neurons (efferent) | - carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands |
| Interneurons | - neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicates internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs |
| Somatic Nervous System | - skeletal part of Peripheral Nervous System - voluntary actions |
| Autonomic | - second part of Peripheral Nervous System - non-voluntary actions - regulation of internal organs - constriction of blood vessels - regulates bladder, stomach, and heart |
| Sympathetic | - arousal part of the body (Fight/Flight)- speed up |
| Parasympathetic | - calms body (Feed/Breed)- slows down |
| Neural Networks | - interconnected neurons from networks in the brain - these networks are complex and modify with growth and experience |
| Endocrine System | - the body's "slow" chemical communication system - communication is carried out by hormones synthesized by a set of glands - similar to nervous system, hormones work a lot slower than neurotransmitters |
| Hormones | - chemicals synthesized by the endocrine glands and secreted in bloodstream - affects the brain and many other tissues of the body |
| Pituitary Gland | - "master gland" - releases hormones that regulate other glands |
| Thyroid Gland | - regulate metabolic and calcium rate |
| Parathyroid | - helps regulate the level of calcium in the body |
| Adrenal Glands | - consists of __________medulla and cortex - secretes hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) during stress and emotions - _______ cortex regulates salt and carbohydrate metabolism |
| Gonads | - sex glands are differentially placed in men and women - regulate bodily development and maintain reproductive organs in adults |
| Lesion | - experimentally destroys brain tissue to study animal behaviors after such destruction |
| EEG | - an amplified recording of the electrical waves sweeping across brain's surface, measured by electrode placed on scalp - measures electrical currents and brain activity |
| PET Scan | - scan a visual display of brain activity that detects a radioactive form of glucose while the brain performs a given task - patients drink radioactive glucose and image shows areas of brain activity |
| MRI | - uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of brain tissue |
| CT/CAT Scan | - uses x-ray equipment from different angles |
| Hindbrain | - consists of structures in the top part of the spinal cord |
| Brainstem | - oldest part of the brain - beginning where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull - responsible for automatic survival functions |
| Medulla | - base of the brainstem - controls heartbeat and breathing |
| Cerebellum | - "little brain" - attached to the back of the brainstem - helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance |
| Midbrain | - between the hindbrain and the forebrain - integrates some type of sensory information and muscle movements |
| Reticular Formation | - a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal - part of the midbrain |
| Forebrain | - controls what we think of as thought and reason |
| Thalamus | - the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem - directs messages to the sensory areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla |
| Limbic System | - doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebrum - associated with fear, aggression and drives for food and sex |
| Hippocampus | - looks like a seahorse - vital to memory system - surgery or injury: the person would become unable to process new memories |
| Amygalda | - two almond shaped neural clusters - linked to emotion, fear, aggression and anger |
| Hypothalamus | - lies below the thalamus - directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, emotions) - |
| Reward Deficiency Syndrome | - addictive disorders (substance abuse/binge eating) may stem from malfunctions in the reward system - crave whatever provides that missing pleasure |
| Cerebral Cortex | - fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres - body's ultimate control and information processing center |
| Glia Cells | - cells in the nervous system that support, nourish and protect neurons - may play a role in learning and thinking |
| Motor Cortex | - back of the frontal lobes - controls voluntary movements |
| Sensory Cortex | - receives information from skin surface and sense organs - parietal cortex |
| Somatosensory Cortex | - area at the front of the parietal lobes - registers and processes body touch and movement sensations |
| Association Areas | - areas of the cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor or sensory functions - involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking - can't be electrically probed |
| Four Lobes | - each brain hemisphere is divided into Frontal, Parietal, Temporal and Occipital |
| Frontal Lobe | - judge, plan and process new memories - higher level thinking - controls personality, social control, attention and planning - Motor Cortex |
| Parietal Lobe | - located on the top and rear of head - Contains the sensory cortex (part of brain that registers and processes tactile (touch) information) (phantom limb) and body position |
| Temporal Lobe | - located on sides of the head, above ears - receives and processes auditory information - damage: Impaired hearing or deafness - includes Wernicke's area (left hemisphere): part of brain involved in understanding language |
| Occipital Lobe | - located in the back of the head - contains the visual cortex - damage: Partial or complete blindness |
| Aphasia | - an impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage to Broca's area or to Wernicke's area |
| Broca's Area (Damage) | - Frontal lobe - impaired and disrupts speaking - can usually understand what words mean and follow commands, but have trouble with motor or output aspects of speech - reading ability is impaired, aware of what’s happening |
| Wernicke's Area (Damage) | - Temporal lobe - impaired understanding - disrupts understanding of other’s speech and production of meaningful language - unable to tell others what they want and think |
| Angular Gyrus | - Parietal Lobe - trouble understanding written languages or pictures because visual information is not processed and transmitted to Wernicke's Area |
| Hearing | - auditory cortex and Wernicke's area |
| Seeing | - visual cortex and angular gyrus |
| Speaking | - Broca's area and the motor cortex |
| Plasticity | - brain is sculpted by our genes but also our experiences - neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change with learning - plasticity also refers to the brain's ability to modify itself after some type of injury or illness |
| Neurogenesis | - brain often attempts self repair by reorganizing existing tissues - sometimes attempts to mend itself by producing new neurons |
| Splitting the Brain | - procedure in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers between them |
| Corpus Callosum | - large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carries messages between them |
| Split Brain Patients | - with the corpus callosum severed, objects in the right field CAN be named, objects in the left field CANNOT be named |
| Handedness | - inherited - modern studies point that right hand is preferred - suggested that genes and/prenatal factors influence handedness |
Created by:
mayasharma
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