AP Psych- Brain Unit
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Created by:
mnussbaum93 on November 18, 2008
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69 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 dendrites | the bushy branching extensions of a neuron that receives messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body (class demonstration where everybody stood in a line, one person had hairspray, etc. |
| axon | two extensions of a neuron ending in branching terminal fibers though which messages pass to other neurons to muscles/ glands |
| myelin sheath | a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of neurons, helps speed impulses |
| action potential | a neural impulse- a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. generated by movement of a positively charged atoms (class experiment where we all stood in a line and people were assigned different parts of the axon... etc.) |
| synapse | junction between axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron |
| resting potential/refractory period | a resting pause |
| excitatory/inhibitory signals | the level of stimulation required to trigger neuron impulses |
| threshold | same as excitatory or inhibitory signals |
| all-or-none response | a neuron doesn't "kind of" fire, it fires |
| neurotransmitters | chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. when released by the neuron, they travel across the synapse and bind the receptor sites |
| agonists | excite by mimicking neurotransmitters and stopping reuptake |
| antagonists | inhibit by blocking receptors |
| reuptake | terminal button holds onto chemical to make sure that too much doesn't go through |
| nerves | the electrical cables that bundled axons connect to the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs (part of the PNS) |
| sensory neurons | neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the CNS |
| interneurons | CNS neurons that internally communicate and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs |
| motor neurons | neurons that carry outgoing information from the CNS to muslces and glands |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body |
| somatic nervous system | the division of PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles (also called the skeletal nervous system) |
| automatic nervous system | part of PNS that controls glands and the muscles of the internal organs (like the heart) |
| sympathetic nervous system | division of automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations |
| parasympathetic nervous system | the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy |
| central nervous system (CNS) | the brain and spinal cord |
| reflexes | automatic response to sensory stimulus (for example, when we touch fire, we pull away BEFORE we realize that we're in pain) |
| neural networks | interconnected neural cells |
| brainstem | the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull |
| medulla | the base of the brainstem (controls heartbeat and breathing) |
| reticular formation | a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal (green playdo) |
| thalamus | the brains sensory switchboard that directs messages to sensory receiving areas in cortex |
| cerebellum | the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem. processes sensory imput and coordinates movement and balance |
| limbic system | assiciated with emotions (fear and aggression) and drives (hunger, thirst, and sex) |
| hippocampus | related to making NEW memories |
| amygdala | related to emotions such as aggression and fear |
| pons | area known as dream center and sleep wake cycle |
| lesion | tissue destruction (naturally or experimentally) |
| Electroencephalogram (EEG) | an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across our brains surface |
| CT scan | an x-ray of the brain |
| Position emission tomography scan (PET scan) | a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task |
| MRI scan | uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue |
| fMRI scan | reveals blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans (shows the function) |
| cerebral cortex | intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that cover the cerebral hemispheres (bodys ultimate control and information processing center) |
| frontal lobe | portion of the cerebral cortex lying below the forehead, involved in speech , muscle movement, and planning judgements |
| glial cells | cells in nervous system that support , nourish, and protect neurons |
| parietal lobe | at the top of the head and towards the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position |
| occipital lobe | at the back of the head; includes all visual areas which receive visual information from opposite visual fields |
| temporal lobes | right above ears; includes auditory information primarily from opposite ears |
| hypothalamus | a neural structure lying below the thalamus, directs several maintenance activities (like eating, drinking, etc.) |
| motor cortex | an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movement |
| sensory cortex | area at the front of parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations |
| association areas | not involved in primary motor/sensory functions, involved in mental functions like learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking |
| aphasia | impairment of language |
| Broca's area | controls language-area in frontal lobe, directs muscle movement involved in speech |
| Wernicke's area | controls language reception (in teh left temporal lobe) |
| corpus callosum | large band of neural fibers connecting two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them |
| hemispheric specialization | right handed people are controlled by the opposite lateral side of the brain for motor control |
| hormones | chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands |
| adrenal glands | a pair of endocrine glands above the kidneys (helps arouse body in times of stress) |
| pituitary gland | most influential gland, located in core of the brain; it releases hormones (ex. triggers sex glands to release sex hormones) |
| endocrine system | the bodys slow chemical communication system |
| acetylcholine | chemical that enables muscle action, learning MEMORY, aggression |
| dopamine | chemical released with attention, learning, motion, emotion, REWARDS |
| serotonin | chemical involved in mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal |
| GABA | moderates neuron firing, involved in movement and regulation of anxiety |
| endorphins | control pain and pleasure (released when exercise) |
| glutamate | the main excitatory transmitter involved in schizophrenia |
| lateralization | another word for hemispheric specialization |
| right hemisphere | hemisphere of brain that specializes in visual-spatial processing and quick thinking (abstract) |
| left hemisphere | hemisphere of brain that specializes in speaking, calculating, logic, language processing (concrete) |
| plasticity | brain's capacity for modification after damage |
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