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Ch 2 Psychology
Ch 2 Psychology Terms and Definitions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Nervous System | An extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body |
| Neuron | The basic cell that makes up the nervous system, which receives and sends messages within that system |
| Dendrites | Branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons |
| Soma | The cell body of the neuron, responsible for maintaining the life of the cell |
| Axon | Long tube-like structure 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, produce myelin to coat axons, and clean up waste products and dead neurons |
| Myelin | Fatty substances produced by certain glial cells that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse. |
| Action Potential | The release of the neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical charge within the axon |
| Resting Potential | The state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse |
| All-Or-None | Referring to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all |
| Axon Terminals | Branches at the end of the axon |
| Neurotransmitter | Chemical found in the synaptic vesicles which, when released, has an effect on the cell |
| Synaptic Vesicles | Sack-like structures found inside the synaptic knob containing chemicals |
| 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 |
| Reuptake | Process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles |
| Excitatory Neurotransmitter | Neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to fire |
| Inhibitory Neurotransmitter | Neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to stop firing |
| Agonists | Chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell |
| Antagonists | Chemical substances that block or reduce a cell's response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters |
| Acetylcholine | The first transmitter to be discovered. Found to regulate memories in the CNS and the action of skeletal and smooth muscles in the PNS |
| GABA | Abbreviation for gamma-aminobutyric acid, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain |
| Serotonin | Neurotransmitter involved in pain disorders and emotional perceptions, is also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) |
| Dopamine | Neurotransmitter that regulates movement, balance and walking and is involved in the disorders schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease |
| Endorphin | Neurotransmitter that is found naturally in the body and works to block pain and elevate mood. It is chemically similar to morphine and its name is sort for "endogenous morphine" |
| Central Nervous System (CNS) | Part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord |
| Spinal Cord | A long bundle of neurons that carries messages to and from the body to the brain and that is responsible for very fast, life-saving reflexes |
| Sensory Neuron | A neuron that carries information from the senses to the central nervous system. Also called afferent neuron |
| Motor Neuron | A neuron that carries messages from the central nervous system to the muscles of the body. Also call efferent neuron |
| Interneuron | A neuron found in the center of the spinal cord that receives information from the sensory neurons and sends commands to the muscles through motor neurons. Interneurons also make up the bulk of the neurons in the brain |
| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | All nerves and neurons that are not contained in the brain and spinal cord but run through the body itself |
| Somatic Nervous System | Division of the PNS consisting of nerves that carry information from the senses to the CNS and from the CNS to the voluntary muscles of the body |
| Autonomic Nervous System | Division of the PNS consisting of nerves that control all of the involuntary muscles, organs, and glands |
| Sympathetic Division | Part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal. Also known as the fight-or-flight system |
| Parasympathetic Division | Part of the autonomic system that restores the body to normal functioning after arousal and is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the organs and glands. Sometimes referred to as the rest-and-digest system |
| Brainstem | Section of the brain that connects directly to the spinal cord and regulates vital functions such as breathing, the heart, reflexes and level of alertness |
| Cortex | Outermost covering of the brain consisting of densely packed neurons, responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input |
| Medulla | The first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain, which is responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate |
| Pons | The larger swelling above the medulla, which connects the top of the brain to the bottom, and plays a part in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination, and arousal |
| Reticular Formation | An area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond, responsible for selective attention |
| Cerebellum | Part of the lower brain located behind the pons that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement |
| 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, this structure relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex, and processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper area |
| 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 lobe, responsible for the formation of long term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects |
| Amygdala | Brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear |
| Cerebral Hemispheres | The two sections of the cortex on the left and right sides of the brain |
| Corpus Callosum | Thick band of neurons that connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres |
| Occipital Lobes | Sections of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere, containing the visual centers of the brain |
| Parietal Lobes | Sections of the brain located at the top and back of each cerebral hemisphere, containing the centers for touch, taste, and temperature sensations |
| Temporal Lobes | Areas of the corex located just behind the temples, containing the neurons responsible for the sense of hearing and meaningful speech |
| Frontal Lobes | Areas of the cortex located in the front and top of the brain, responsible for higher mental processes and decision making, as well as the production of fluent speech |
| Association Areas | Areas within each lobe of the cortex responsible for the coordination and interpretation of information, as well as higher mental processing |
| Broca's Area | Association area of the brain located in the frontal lobe that is responsible for language production and language processing |
| Wernicke's Area | Association area of the brain in the temporal lobe that has been found to be involved in the comprehension of spoken language |
| Endocrine Glands | Glands that secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream |
| Hormones | Chemicals released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands |
| Pituitary Gland | Gland located in the brain that 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 secretes melatonin |
| Thyroid Gland | Endocrine gland found in the neck that regulates metabolism |
| Pancreas | Endocrine gland that controls the levels of sugar in the blood |
| Adrenal Glands | Endocrine glands located on the top of each kidney that secrete over thirty different hormones to deal with stress, regulate salt intake, and provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual changes that occur during adolescence |
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