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McCrary Unit 5
Biology unit from AP Psychology class, 18-19
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| biological psychology | scientific study of the links between biological(genetic, neural, hormonal) and psych. processes. Some biological psycho. call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psycho., or biopsychologists |
| 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 towards 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 |
| ion | electrically charged atom used in exchanging energy in mental processes |
| resting potential | the natural positive/outside, negative/inside state of an axon |
| depolarization | when a neuron fires and positively charged atoms flow through the cell membrane, depolarizing and causing another axon chamber to open |
| refractory period | a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired |
| excitatory and inhibitory signals | two types of signals neurons receive, mostly excitatory(pushing an accelerator) and also inhibitory(pressing a brake) |
| threshold | the level of stimulation(excitatory > inhibitory) required to trigger a neural impulse/action potential |
| all-or-none-response | a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing |
| synapse | the junction between the axon tip of the nesting neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron |
| synaptic gap | the one-millionth of an inch that separates the axon terminal or a neuron to the receiving neuron |
| neurotransmitters | chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. when released by the sending neuron they travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether the neuron will generate a neural impulse |
| reuptake | a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron |
| acetylcholine | one of the best understood neurotransmdittersthat plays a role in learning and memory |
| dopamine | a neurotransmitter affecting movement, learning, attraction, emotion, oversupply linked to schizophrenia while undersupply linked to tremors, decreased mobility in parkinson's disease |
| serotonin | neurotransmitters affecting hunger, mood, sleep, arousal, undersupply linked to depression; antidepressants raise serotonin |
| norepinephrine | helps control alertness/arousal, undersupply can depress mood |
| GABA(gamma aminobutyric acid) | a major inhibitory transmitter, undersupply linked to tremors, seizures, insomnia |
| glutamate | a major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory, oversupply overstimulates brain, migraines, seizures, MSG |
| endorphins | "morphine within" natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control/pleasure |
| agonist | a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response |
| antagonist | a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response |
| nervous system | the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems |
| central nervous system(CNS) | the brain and spinal chord |
| peripheral nervous system(PNS) | sensory/motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body |
| Nerves | 'bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and some organs |
| afferent neurons | sensory neurons; neurons that carry incoming info from sensory neurons to the brain/spinal chord |
| efferent neurons | motor neurons; neurons carrying outgoing info from the brain/spinal chord to to the muscles/glands |
| interneurons | neurons within the brain/spinal chord that communicate/intervene between sensory and motor outputs |
| autonomic nervous system(ANS) | division of the PNS that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs(heart, etc,) its sympathetic division arouses, parasympathetic division calms |
| somatic nervous system | the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles |
| sympathetic nervous system | division of the ANS that energizes the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations |
| parasympathetic nervous system | the division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy |
| reflex | a simple, automatic response to sensory stimuli, such as the knee jerk response |
| endocrine system | the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secretes hormones into the bloodstream |
| hormones | chemical messages that are manufactured by the endocrine glands' travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues |
| adrenal gland | a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones(epinephrine/norepinephrine) 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 gland regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands |
| lesion | tissue destruction. a brain lesion is naturally/experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue |
| electroencephalogram (EEG) | an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp |
| CT(computed tomography) scan | a series of x ray photos taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of a slice of a brain's structure(CAT scan) |
| Position emission scan(PET scan) | a visual representation of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a task |
| MRI(magnetic response imaging) | a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy |
| fMRI(functional MRI) | a technique for revealing blood flow, and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. FMRI scans show brain functions as well as its structure |
| brainstem | the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions |
| medulla | the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing |
| thalamus | the brain's sensory control center located on top of brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transports replies to the cerebellum/medulla |
| reticular formation | a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal |
| cerebellum | the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordination, movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning/memory |
| limbic system | neural system(hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives |
| amygdala | two lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system, linked to emotion |
| hypothalamus | a neural structure lying below(hypo) the thalamus, it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp) helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion/rewards |
| cerebral cortex | the intricate fabric of connected neural cells covering the hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives |
| glial cells | cells o the nervous system that support, nourish, protect neurons; the may also play a role in learning, memory |
| frontal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead, involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making judgements |
| parietal lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head towards rear, info for touch and body position |
| occipital lobes | portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head, includes areas that receive information from the visual fields |
| temporal lobe | portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly around the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear |
| motor cortex | the area of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements |
| somatosensory cortex | area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch/movement sensations |
| association areas | areas of the cerebral cortex not included in primary motor/sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking |
| prefrontal cortex | an association area which is in the forward part of the frontal lobe, controls/enables judgement, planning, processing of new memories |
| Phineas Gage | railroad worker who massively damaged frontal lobes, mental abilities intact but not personality |
| plasticity | the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage, building new pathways from experiences |
| corpus callosum | the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them |
| split brain | a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers(mainly corpus callosum) connecting them |
| right hemisphere | one hemisphere of the brain adept at making inferences, modular speech, orchestrates our sense of self |
| left hemisphere | one hemisphere of the brain that processes language and making quick, literal, interpretations |
| consciousness | our awareness of ourselves/environment |
| cognitive neuroscience | the interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition(perception, thinking, memory, language) |
| dual processing | the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious/unconscious tracks |
| behavior genetics | the study of the relative power/limits of growth and environmental influence on behavior |
| environment | every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us |
| chromosomes | threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes |
| DNA(deoxyribonucleic acid) | a complex molecule containing the genetic info that makes up chromosomes |
| genes | biochemical units of heredity making up chromosomes, segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins |
| genome | complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes` |
| identical twins(monozygotic) | twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms |
| fraternal twins(dizygotic) | twins who develop from separate fertilizes eggs, genetically no closer than brothers or sisters but share the same fetal environment |
| molecular genetics | the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes |
| heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals that can be attributed to genes. the heritability of a trait may vary depending on the range of populations and environments studied |
| interaction | the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor(environmental, etc.) depends on another factor |
| epigenetics | the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur w/o a DNA change(heredity) |
| evolutionary psychology | the study of the evolution of behavior/mind using principles of natural selection |
| natural selection | principle that among the range of inherited trait variations those contributing to reproduction and survivial will most likely be passed down to succeeding generations |
| mutation | a random error in gene replication that leads to a change |
Created by:
abyrd6067
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