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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| What is phrenology | The study of bumps on the skull and their relationship to mental abilities and character traits. |
| What significant idea did phrenology yield | The brain might have different areas that do different things, known as localization of function. |
| What does biological psychology encompass | Neuroscience, behavior genetics, neuropsychology, and evolutionary psychology. |
| What is the primary function of neurons | To communicate signals throughout the body. |
| What is an action potential | A neural impulse that travels down an axon like a wave. |
| How does an action potential maintain its strength | The axon regenerates an impulse at each point along the way. |
| What is resting potential in a neuron | The electrical potential difference maintained by a neuron when it is not actively transmitting a signal. |
| What causes the resting potential in a neuron | Negatively charged proteins inside the cell and a higher concentration of positively charged sodium ions outside the cell. |
| What is the threshold in neuronal communication | The level of stimulation required to trigger an action potential. |
| What is the all-or-none response in neurons | A neuron either fires an action potential or it does not, regardless of the intensity of the stimulus. |
| What is a synapse | The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. |
| What occurs during the refractory period | The neuron resists the production of further action potentials immediately after firing. |
| What are neurotransmitters | Chemicals used to send signals across the synaptic gap. |
| What is reuptake in the context of neurotransmitters | The process of recycling neurotransmitters by taking them back into the sending neuron after they have stimulated the receiving neuron. |
| What role do dopamine pathways play | They are involved in focusing attention and controlling movement. |
| What role do serotonin pathways play | They help regulate mood. |
| What is an agonist molecule | A molecule that fills the receptor site and activates it, acting like the neurotransmitter. |
| What is an antagonist molecule | A molecule that fills the lock of a receptor site so that the neurotransmitter cannot activate it. |
| What does the peripheral nervous system (PNS) do | It gathers and sends information to and from the rest of the body. |
| What are the two main components of the Central Nervous System (CNS) | The brain and spinal cord. |
| What is the primary function of sensory neurons | To carry messages into the CNS from the body's tissues and sensory receptors. |
| What role do motor neurons play in the nervous system | They carry instructions out from the CNS to the body's tissues. |
| What are interneurons and where are they located | Interneurons process information between sensory input and motor output and are located in the brain and spinal cord. |
| How do nerves differ from neurons | Nerves consist of neural cables containing many axons, while neurons are individual nerve cells. |
| What are the two divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System | The sympathetic nervous system (arouses the body) and the parasympathetic nervous system (calms the body). |
| What is the function of the adrenal glands | They produce hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which respond to stress. |
| What is the role of the pituitary gland in the endocrine system | It is the 'master gland' that regulates other glands and produces hormones like growth hormone and oxytocin. |
| What does the phrase 'neurons that fire together, wire together' imply | It suggests that interconnected neurons strengthen their connections through repeated activation. |
| What is a reflex action and how is it demonstrated | A reflex action is an automatic response to a stimulus, such as pulling away from a fire, triggered by interneurons in the spine. |
| What does an EEG measure | An EEG records the electrical waves sweeping across the brain's surface. |
| How does a PET scan function | A PET scan traces where a radioactive form of glucose goes in the brain during a task to show active areas. |
| What distinguishes MRI from fMRI | MRI provides structural images of the brain, while fMRI reveals brain activity by showing changes in blood flow. |
| What are the main functions of the brainstem | The brainstem controls basic functions such as heartbeat and breathing. |
| What is the role of the thalamus in the brain | The thalamus acts as the 'sensory switchboard,' routing sensory messages to the cortex. |
| What does the reticular formation regulate | It enables alertness and filters incoming sensory information. |
| What functions does the cerebellum serve | The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movement and is involved in nonverbal learning and memory. |
| What are the primary functions of the limbic system | It coordinates emotions, basic drives, and the formation of episodic memories. |
| What is the function of the hippocampus | The hippocampus processes conscious, episodic memories and works with the amygdala for emotionally charged memories. |
| What role does the amygdala play in emotion | The amygdala processes emotions, especially fear and aggression. |
| What reaction does electrical stimulation of a cat's amygdala provoke | Aggressive reactions. |
| What is the primary function of the hypothalamus | Regulates body temperature, ensures adequate food and water intake, and is involved in sex drive. |
| How does the hypothalamus interact with the endocrine system | It directs the endocrine system via messages to the pituitary gland. |
| What is the structure of the cerebral cortex | It consists of an outer grey 'bark' structure and inner white matter with axons linking parts of the brain. |
| What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex | Frontal lobes, parietal lobes, occipital lobes, and temporal lobes. |
| What is the role of the frontal lobes | Involved in speaking, muscle movements, planning, judgment, and impulse control. |
| What is the function of the sensory strip in the brain | It deals with information from touch stimuli. |
| What does the occipital lobe process | Visual information. |
| What is the significance of Phineas Gage's case study | It demonstrated that damage to the frontal lobes can result in personality changes and loss of impulse control. |
| What abilities are managed by the temporal lobe association areas | Recognizing faces and processing auditory information. |
| What is whole-brain association activity responsible for | Complex activities such as memory, language, attention, and consciousness. |
| What does brain plasticity refer to | The brain's ability to form new connections and restore some functions after damage. |
| What are the main differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain | The left hemisphere is involved in language and logical reasoning, while the right hemisphere is associated with intuition and big-picture thinking. |
| What is the corpus callosum | A band of axons connecting the two hemispheres of the brain. |
| What happens when the corpus callosum is severed | Each hemisphere operates independently, leading to divided awareness and inability to coordinate visual fields. |
| What is the role of lesions in brain research | Lesions are used to study brain functions by surgically destroying brain tissue, although modern techniques can achieve similar insights without surgery. |
| What is the future of brain research focused on | Understanding whether every part of the mind's functioning can be mapped to brain activity. |