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Psych 3 vocab
Key terms from chapter 3 of open stax! WOOHOO REVIEW!!
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Action Potential | Electrical signal moving down neuron's axon |
| Adrenal Gland | Sits atop kidneys and secretes hormones used in stress response |
| Agonist | Drug that strengthens or mimics effects of neurotransmitter |
| All-or-None | When incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to create the result |
| Allele | the version of a gene presented |
| Amygdala | Structure in limbic system that makes us feel emotion and tie it to memories |
| Antagonist | Drug that blocks or hinders normal activity of a neurotransmitter |
| Auditory Cortex | Strip of cortex in temporal lobe that processes sound |
| Autonomic Nervous System | Controls internal organs and glands |
| Axon | Major extension of the soma |
| Biological Perspective | Psychological disorders are connected to imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems |
| Broca's Area | Region in left hemisphere that helps with language production |
| Central Nervous System | Brain and Spinal Cord |
| Cerebellum | Structure behind brain that deals with balance, movement, motor skills and some types of memory. |
| Cerebral Cortex | Surface of brain associated with highest mental capabilities, including consciousness, thought, emotion, reasoning, language and memory. |
| Chromosome | Long, winded strand of genetic information like DNA |
| Computerized Tomography Scan | CT Scan. Imaging technique where computer takes multiple x-rays of an area. |
| Corpus Callosum | Thick band of neural fibers connecting brain's two hemispheres |
| Dendrite | Branch-like extensions of soma that receive incoming signals from other neurons |
| Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) | Double-Helix molecule made of nucleotide base pairs. |
| Diabetes | Disease related to insufficient insulin production |
| Dominant Allele | Allele who's phenotype will be expressed whenever it is present in a pair. Shown as an uppercase letter. Ex. A. |
| Electroencephalography | (EEG) Recording electrical activity in the brain through electrodes on the scalp. |
| Endocrine System | Glands that produce hormones (chemicals with a biological purpose) |
| Epigenetics | Study of gene-environment interactions (ex. gene expression/different phenotypes from one genotype) |
| Fight or Flight Response | Activation of sympathetic division of ANS. Accesses energy reserves and heightened sensory capabilities to allow one to fight off threat or run away. |
| Forebrain | Largest part of the brain. Contains cerebral cortex, thalamus, limbic system, and other structures. |
| Fraternal Twins | Twins developed from separate eggs and different sperm. Genetics vary as much as regular siblings. |
| Frontal Lobe | Part of cerebral cortex. Involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion and language. Controls motor cortex. |
| Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) | MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time like blood flow or oxygen levels! |
| Gene | Sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls one or more physical characteristics |
| Genetic Environmental Correlation | View that genes affect our environment, and our environment affects the expression of our genes. (Ex. Michael Jordan's son growing up w. basketball, and thus being skilled at basketball) |
| Genotype | One's genetic makeup |
| Glial Cell | Nervous System Cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including insulation, communication and waste management |
| Gonad | Secretes sexual hormones to aid reproduction |
| Gyrus (Gyri) | Bumps or ridges on cerebrum |
| Hemisphere | A side of the brain |
| Heterozygous | Set of two different alleles (ex. Aa, Bb) |
| Hindbrain | Part of brain containing medulla, pons and cerebellum. Located at the back of the skull. |
| Hippocampus | Structure in temporal lobe that helps with learning and memory |
| Homeostasis | Biological equilibrium where levels of temp, hormones, etc. are at optimal level. |
| Homozygous | Two of the same allele (Ex. AA, bb). |
| Hormone | Chemical released by endocrine glands for a biological purpose |
| Hypothalamus | Forebrain structure regulating sexual hormones and other homeostasis processes including temperature, appetite and blood pressure; serves as an interface between nervous and endocrine systems. |
| Identical Twins | Developed from same sperm and same egg |
| Lateralization | Each hemisphere of brain being associated with specific functions |
| Limbic System | Collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory |
| Longitudinal Fissure | Deep groove in brain's cortex |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | Magnetic fields used to produce a picture of tissue |
| Medulla | Hindbrain structure controlling automated processes like breathing, heart rate and blood pressure |
| Membrane Potential | Difference in charge across the membrane |
| Midbrain | Division of brain located between forebrain and hindbrain, containing reticular formation |
| Motor Cortex | Part of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement |
| Mutation | A sudden, permeant change in a gene- leads to genetic variability |
| Myelin Sheath | Fatty substance that insulates axons |
| Nervous System | System of billions of neurons that control thoughts, responses and movements. Made of CNS and PNS (Central and Peripheral). |
| Neuron | Nervous system signaling cell |
| Neuroplasticity | Nervous system's ability to change |
| Neurotransmitter | Chemical messenger of the nervous system- the ligand. |
| Nodes of Ranvier | Open spaces in myelin sheath that encase the axon |
| Occipital Lobe | Part of cerebral cortex responsible for visual processing- contains primary visual cortex |
| Pancreas | Secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar |
| Parasympathetic Nervous System | Associated with routine, daily operations of the body |
| Parietal Lobe | Part of cerebral cortex that processes sensory and perceptive information- contains primary somatosensory cortex |
| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | Connects brain and spinal cord to muscles, organs and senses. Made up of nerves. |
| Phenotype | The physical expression of genes |
| Pituitary Gland | Secretes hormones regulating fluid levels and messenger hormones directing the activity of other glands |
| Polygenic | Multiple genes affect the given trait |
| Pons | Hindbrain structure connecting brain to spinal cord- regulates brain activity during sleep. |
| Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan | Injecting individual with mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to regions of the brain |
| Prefrontal Cortex | Area in frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functions like judgement, reasoning and impulse control |
| Psychotropic Medication | Drugs treating psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance |
| Range of Reaction | Genes set the boundaries for how we can operate, and environment interacts with genes to determine where in that range we fall. |
| Receptor | Protein on cell surface where neurotransmitters attach |
| Recessive Allele | Allele expressed only in pairs of two recessives (ex. bb) |
| Resting Potential | State of readiness of a neuron membrane's potential between signals |
| Reticular Formation | Midbrain structure that regulates sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness and motor activity |
| Reuptake | Neurotransmitter pumped back into neuron that released it |
| Semipermeable membrane | Membrane that allows small, nonpolar molecules to pass through, while stopping larger, charged molecules |
| Soma | Cell body of neuron |
| Somatic Nervous System | Relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS |
| Somatosensory Cortex | Processes sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature and pain |
| Substantia Nigra | Midbrain structure where dopamine is produced- involved in the control of movement |
| Sulcus (sulci) | Depressions or grooves in cerebral cortex |
| Sympathetic Nervous System | Involved in stress-related activities and functions |
| Synaptic Cleft | Synaptic Vesicle |
| Temporal Lobe | Part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language- contains primary auditory cortex |
| Terminal Button | Axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles (ends of axon that contain neurotransmitters) |
| Thalamus | Sensory relay for the brain for all senses except for smell |
| Theory of evolution by natural selection | Organisms better suited for their environment will survive and reproduce |
| Threshold of excitation | Level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active |
| Thyroid | Secretes hormones regulating growth, metabolism and appetite |
| Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) | Midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addiction |
| Wernicke's Area | Important for speech comprehension |
Created by:
aims2willi