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Psychology Unit 3

TermDefinition
biological psychology the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.
neuron a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
dendrites a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
axon the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
myelin sheath a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next
action potential a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
refractory period a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired
threshold the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
all-or-none response a neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing
synapse the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. the tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or the synaptic cleft
neurotransmitters chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons when released by the sending neuron neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron
reuptake a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
endorphins "morphine within" - natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
agonist a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response
antagonist a molecule that, by binding to receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response
nervous system the body's speedy, electrochemical communication of network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
central nervous system the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
nerves bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
sensory neurons neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
motor (efferent) neurons neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
interneurons neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
somatic nervous system the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles.
autonomic nervous system the part of the peripheral nervous system controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms
sympathetic nervous system the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
parasympathetic nervous system the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
reflex a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
endocrine system the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
adrenal glands a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress
pituitary gland the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Created by: WoodardC18
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