Chapter 2 - Neuroscience and Behavior
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77 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Biological Psychology | Specialized branch of psychology that studies the relationship between behavior and bodily processes and systems; also called biopsychology or psychobiology. |
| Neuroscience | The study of nervous system, especially the brain. |
| Neuron | Highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical form; a nerve cell. |
| Glial Cells | Support cells taht assist neurons by providing structural support, nutrition, and removal of cell wastes; manufacture myelin. |
| Sensory Neuron | Type of neuron that conveys information to the brain from specialized receptor cells in sense organs and internal organs. |
| Interneuron | Type of neuron that communicates information fro one neuron to the next. |
| Cell Body | Processes nutrients and provides energy for the neuron to function; contains the cell's nucleus; also called the soma. |
| Dendrites | Muliple short fibers that extend from the neuron's cell body and recieve information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells. |
| Axon | The long, fluid-filled tube taht carries a neuron's messages to other body areas. |
| Myelin Sheath | A white, fatty covering wrapped around the axons of some neurons that increases their commmunication speed. |
| Action Potential | A brief electrical impulse by which information is transmitted along the axon of a neuron. |
| Stimulus Threshold | The minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron. |
| Resting potential | State in which a neuron is prepared to activate the communicate its message if it recieves sufficient stimulation. |
| All-or-none Law | The principle that either a neuron is sufficiently stimulated and an action potential occurs or a neuron is not sufficiently stimulated and an action potential does not occur. |
| Synapse | The point of communication between two neurons. |
| Synaptic gap | The tiny space between the axon terminal of one neuron and teh dendrite of an adjoining neuron. |
| Axon Terminals | Branches at the end of the axon that contain tiny pouches, or sacs, called synaptic vesicles. |
| Synaptic Vesicles | Tiny pouches or sacs in the axon terminals that contain chemicals called neurotransmitters. |
| Neurotransmitters | Chemical messengers manufactured by a neuron. |
| Synaptic Transmission | The process through which neurotransmitters are released by one neuron, cross the synaptic gap, and affect the adjoining neurons. |
| Reuptake | The process by which neurotransmitter molecules detach from a postsynaptic neuron and are reabsorded by a pre-synaptic neuron so that they can be recycled and used again. |
| Acetylcholine | Neurotransmitter that causes muscle contraction and is involved in memory function. |
| Dopamine | Neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of bodily movement, thought processes, and rewarding sensations. |
| Serotonin | Neurotransmitter involved in sleep and emotions. |
| Norepinephrine | Neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory; also a hormone manufactured by adrenal glands. |
| GABA | Neurotransmitter that usually communicated an inhibitory message. |
| Endorphins | Neurotransmitters that regulate pain perceptions. |
| Nervous System | The primary internal communication netwoek of the body; divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. |
| Nerves | Bundles of neurons axons that carry information in the peripheral nervous system. |
| Central Nervous System | Division of nervous system that consist of the brain and spinal cord. |
| Spinal Reflexes | Simple, automatic behaviors taht are processed in the spinal cord. |
| Peripheral nervous system | Division of the nervous system that includes all the nerves lying outside the central nervous system. |
| Somatic Nervous System | Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that communicates sensory information to the central nervous system and carries motor messages from the central nervous system to the muscles. |
| Autonomic Nervous System | Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary functions. |
| Sympathetic Nervous System | Branch of the autonomic nervous system that produces rapid physical arousal in response to perceived emergencies or threats. |
| Parasympathetic Nervous System | Branch ot eh autonomic nervous system that maintains normal bodily functions and conserves the body's physical resources. |
| Endocrine System | System of glands located throughtout the body that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. |
| Hormones | Chemical messagers secreted into the bloodstream primarily by endocrine glands. |
| Pituitary Gland | Endocrine gland attached to the base of the brain that secretes hormones that affect the function of other glands as well as hormones that act directly on physical processes. |
| Adrenal Glands | Pair of endocrine glands that are involved in the human stress response. |
| Adrenal Cortex | The outer portion of the adrenal glands. |
| Adrenal Medulla | The inner portion of the adrenal glands; secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine. |
| Gonads | The endocrine glands that secrete hormones that regulate sexual characteristics and reproductive processes; ovaries in females and testes in males. |
| Phrenology | A discredited pseudoscientific theory of the brain that claimed that personality characteristics, moral character, and eintelligence could be determined by examining the bumps on a person's skull. |
| Cortical Localization | The notion that different functions are located or localized in differeent areas of the brain: also called localization of function. |
| Electroencephalograph | An instrument that produces a graphic record of the brain's electrical activity by using electrodes placed on the scalp. |
| Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) | An invasive imaging technique that provides color-coded images of brain activity by tracking the brain's use of radioactively tagged compound, such as glucose, oxygen, or a drug. |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | A noninvasive imaging technique that produces highly detailed images of the brain using electromagnetic signals generated by the brain in response to magnetic fields. |
| Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) | A noninvasive imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to map brain activity by measuring changes in the brain's blood flow and oxygen levels. |
| Cognitive Neuroscience | The study of the neural basis of cogitive process that integrates contributions from psychology, neuroscience, and computer science. |
| Neurogensis | The development of new neurons. |
| Brainstem | A region of the brain made up of the hindbrain and the midbrain. |
| Hindbrain | A region at the base of the brain that contains several structures that regulate basic life functions. |
| Medulla | A hindbrain structure that controls vital life functions such as breathing and circulation. |
| Pons | A hindbrain structure that connects the medulla to the two sides of the cerebellum; helps corrdinate and integrate movements on each side of the body. |
| Cerebellum | A large, two-sided hindbrain structure at the back of the brain; responsible for muscle coordination and maintaining posture and equilibrium. |
| Reticular Formation | A network of nerve fibers located in the center of the medulla that helps regulate attention, arousal, and sleep; also called the reticular activating system. |
| Midbrain | The middle and smallest brain region, involved in processing auditory and visual sensory information. |
| Sustantia nigra | An area of the midbrain that is involed in motor control and contains a large concentration of dopamine-producing neurons. |
| Forebrain | The largest and most complex brain region, which contains centers for complex behaviors and mental processes; also called cerebrum. |
| Cerebral Cortex | The wrinkled outer portion of the forebrain, which contains the most sophisticated brain centers. |
| Cerebral hemispheres | The nearly symmetrical left and right halves of the cerebral cortex. |
| Corpus Callosum | A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and acts as a communications link between them. |
| Temporal Lobe | An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information. |
| Occipital Lobe | An area at the back of each cerebral hemisphere that is the primary receiving area for visual information. |
| Parietal Lobe | An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex located above the tempral lobe that processes somatic sensations. |
| Frontal Lobe | Thelargest lobe of each cerebral hemisphere; processes voluntary muscle movements and is involved in thinking, planning and emotional control. |
| Hippocampus | A curved forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and is involved in learning and forming new memories. |
| Thalamus | A forebrain structure that processes sensory information for all senses, except smell, and relays it to the cerebral cortex |
| Hypothalamus | A peanut-sized forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and regulates behaviors related to survival, such as eating, drinking, and sexual activity. |
| Amygdala | An almond-shaped forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and is involved in emotion and memory. |
| Cortical Localization | The notion that different functions are located or localized in different areas of the brain; also called localization of function. |
| Lateralization of function | The notion that specific psychological or cognitive functions are processed primarily on one side of the brain. |
| Aphasia | The partial or complete inability to articulate ideas or understand spoken or written language because of brain injury or damage. |
| Split-brain | A surgical procedure that involves cutting the corpus callosum. |
| Functional Plasticity | The brain's ability to shift function from damaged to undamaged brain areas. |
| Structural Plasticity | The brain's ability to change its physical structure in response to learning, active practice, or environmental influences. |
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