Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Psychology - CH 2
Behavioral Neuroscience
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| STIMULUS | Environmental feature that provokes a response from an organism |
| RECEPTORS | Specialized cells that are sensitive to specific types of stimulus energy |
| CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) | Division of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord |
| PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS) | Division of the nervous system that consists of the neural fibers lying outside of the brain and spinal cord |
| NEURONS | Basic cells of the nervous system |
| SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM | Division of the peripheral nervous system that consists of nerves coming from the receptors to the brain and spinal cord, as well as nerves that go from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles |
| AFFERENT (SENSORY) NERVES | Nerves that carry information from the receptors to the spinal cord and brain |
| EFFERENT (MOTOR) NERVES | Nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles |
| EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY | An area of psychology that is interested in looking for the adaptive benefits of selected human behaviors |
| NATURAL SELECTION | According to Charles Darwin, the process by which inherited characteristics that lead to an advantage in adapting to the environment are more likely to be passed on to subsequent generations through genetic material |
| BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE | A general term encompassing a range of disciplines such as neurology, psychology, and psychiatry that focus on the role of the nervous system, especially the brain, in understanding behavior |
| AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM | Division of the peripheral nervous system involved in the control of bodily functioning through organs and glands |
| SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM | Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for mobilizing the body in times of stress, preparing organisms for fight or flight |
| PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM | Subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for returning the body to a resting or balanced state |
| REFLEX | Automatic behavior in response to a specific stimulus |
| ENDOCRINE SYSTEM | System of glands that produce and secrete chemicals called hormones that can have effects some distance from the gland that secreted the hormone |
| HORMONES | Chemicals produced by the glands of the endocrine system that are carried by the bloodstream to other organs throughout the body |
| PANCREAS | An endocrine gland that lies between the stomach and the small intestine; the primary hormone released, insulin, regulates levels of glucose in the body |
| HYPOTHALAMUS | Gland and brain structure that sends signals to the pituitary gland and contains key centers for fighting, fleeing, sexual activity, and hunger |
| PITUITARY GLAND | Called the master gland because its secretions control many other glands; this endocrine gland is located in the brain below the thalamus and hypothalamus |
| THYROID GLAND | Endocrine gland located just below the larynx that releases hormones including thyroxine, which has widespread effects throughout the body via its effects on metabolic rate |
| GONADS | General term that refers to sex glands in either males (testes) or females (ovaries); they release hormones that affect sexual development |
| OVARIES | Female gonads |
| TESTES | Male gonads |
| ADRENAL GLANDS | Pair of glands located at the top of each of the kidneys; they release a range of hormones including epinephrine and norepinephrine |
| DENDRITE | Short, branchlike structure of a neuron that receives information from receptors and other neurons |
| SOMA | Cell body of a neuron, which contains the nucleus |
| AXON | Elongated part of a neuron that transmits information to other neurons, muscles, and glands |
| TERMINAL BUTTONS | Component of a neuron located at the ends of the axon where neurotransmitters are stored before being released into the synapses |
| MYELIN SHEATH | Whitish, fatty protein substance, composed of glial cells, that covers some axons and increases the speed of neural transmission |
| GLIAL CELL | Special type of cell found in the nervous system that forms the myelin sheath, which increases the speed of neural conduction by providing insulation of the axons |
| SYNAPSE | Site where two or more neurons interact but do not touch; neurotransmitters are released into the space in order to continue neural impulses |
| NEUROTRANSMITTERS | Chemical substances that are stored in terminal buttons and released into the synapse between two neurons to carry signals from one neuron to the next |
| AGONISTS | Drugs that enhance the effects of a particular neurotransmitter |
| ANTAGONISTS | Drugs that oppose or inhibit the effects of a particular neurotransmitter |
| NEUROMODULATORS | Chemicals that may have a widespread or general effect on the release of neurotransmitters |
| ENDORPHINS | Substances produced by the body that block pain; these substances are opium-like chemicals |
| RESTING STATE | Electrical charge (270mV) of a neuron when it is not firing |
| ACTION POTENTIAL | Reversal in electrical charge of a neuron that occurs when the neuron fires |
| ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH (EEG) | Device that monitors and records electrical activity of the brain in the form of a graphic representation of brain waves |
| POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET) | Imaging technique that involves monitoring the metabolic activity of the brain |
| COMPUTERIZED AXIAL TOMOGRAPHY (CT or CAT) | Imaging technique that involves the production of a large number of X-rays interpreted by a computer |
| MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) | Imaging technique that involves the use of radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce a signal that can be interpreted by a computer |
| FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (fMRI) | A modification of the standard MRI procedure that allows both structural and temporal images of the brain to be gathered |
| HINDBRAIN | Oldest of the three main divisions of the brain; its major structures are the medulla, pons, and cerebellum |
| MEDULLA (MEDULLA OBLONGATA) | Structure located in the hindbrain that regulates automatic responses such as breathing, swallowing, and blood circulation |
| PONS | Structure of the hindbrain that connects the two halves of the brain; has nuclei that are important for sleep and arousal |
| CEREBELLUM | Structure of the hindbrain that coordinates muscular movements |
| MIDBRAIN | Major division of the brain that contains fibers known as the reticular formation |
| BRAIN STEM | The oldest part of the brain; begins at the top of the spinal cord and contains brain centers responsible for basic survival activities |
| RETICULAR FORMATION | Nerve fibers passing through the midbrain that control arousal |
| FOREBRAIN | Major division of the brain that consists of subcortical structures and the cerebral cortex |
| CORPUS CALLOSUM | Wide band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain |
| CEREBRAL CORTEX (CEREBRUM) | The convoluted (wrinkled) outer layer of the brain |
| LIMBIC SYSTEM | System of interconnected subcortical structures that regulates emotions and motivated behaviors, such as hunger, thirst, aggression, and sexual behavior |
| THALAMUS | Subcortical structure that relays incoming sensory information to the cerebral cortex and other parts of the brain |
| FRONTAL LOBES | The largest lobes of the cortex; they contain a motor strip, Broca's area (speech), and areas responsible for decision making |
| PARIETAL LOBES | Lobes located behind the frontal lobes and containing the sensory cortex |
| TEMPORAL LOBES | Lobes responsible for hearing and understanding speech (Wernicke's area) |
| OCCIPITAL LOBES | Lobes located at the back of the brain that are responsible for processing visual stimuli |
| APHASIA | General term for problems in understanding or producing spoken or written language |
| APRAXIA | Deficits in nonverbal skills |
Created by:
young_kurt
Popular Psychology sets