Flashcards: Biological Psychology
About these flashcards
Created by:
nfenton on November 22, 2008
Subjects:
Groups:
TPHS AP Psychology, Mr. Rost-psychology, Patriot AP Psych
Log in to favorite or report as inappropriate.All 145 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 biological psychology | branch of psychology concerned with links between biology and behavior. (also called behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists.) |
| action potential | neural impulse; brief electrical charge that travels down axon. Generated by movement of positively charged atoms (Na and K) in and out of channels in axon's membrane. |
| axon | extension of neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands. |
| dendrite | bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward cell body. |
| myelin sheath | insulating layer of segmented fatty tissue encasing axons of many neurons; enables vastly greater speed of neural impulses |
| neuron | nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system. |
| threshold | min level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse. excitatory neurotransmitters > inhibitory and at this minimum level |
| neurotransmitters | chemical messengers that traverse synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by sending neuron, they travel across synapse and bind to receptor sites on receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse. |
| synapse | junction between axon tip of sending neuron and dendrite or cell body of receiving neuron. |
| acetylcholine | neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction. |
| endorphins | "morphine within"—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. |
| central nervous system (CNS) | brain and spinal cord. |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | sensory and motor neurons that connect central nervous system (CNS) to rest of the body. |
| autonomic nervous system | part of peripheral nervous system, which controls glands, and muscles of internal organs (such as heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms. |
| interneurons | central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs. |
| efferent neurons | neurons that carry outgoing info from central nervous system to muscles and glands. |
| parasympathetic nervous system | division of autonomic nervous system that calms body, conserving its energy. |
| afferent neurons | neurons that carry incoming info from sense receptors to central nervous system. |
| somatic nervous system | division of peripheral nervous system that controls body's skeletal muscles. Also called skeletal nervous system. |
| sympathetic nervous system | division of autonomic nervous system that arouses body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. |
| reflex | nerve response that goes to brain only after movement has occurred - simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as knee-jerk response |
| endocrine system | body's "slow" chemical communication system; set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. |
| hormones | chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another. |
| adrenal glands | pair of endocrine glands just above kidneys. Secrete hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and nor-epinephrine (nor-adrenaline), which help to arouse body in times of stress. |
| pituitary gland | endocrine system's most influential gland. Under influence of hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. |
| electroencephalogram (EEG) | amplified recording of waves of electrical activity that sweep across brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on scalp. |
| lesion | tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue. (Myers Psychology 8e p. 068) |
| fMRI | a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. MRI scans show brain anatomy; fMRI scans show brain function. (Myers Psychology 8e p. 069) |
| MRI | technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within brain. |
| PET | visual display of brain activity that detects where radioactive form of glucose goes while brain performs a given task. |
| brainstem | oldest and central core of brain, beginning where spinal cord swells as it enters skull; responsible for automatic survival functions. |
| medulla | base of brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing. |
| reticular formation | nerve network in brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal. also screens out unneeded sensory information |
| amygdala | two lima bean sized neural clusters that are components of limbic system and are linked to emotion especially fear |
| cerebellum | "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance. |
| limbic system | doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at border of brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus. |
| thalamus | brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of brainstem; it directs messages to sensory receiving areas in cortex and transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla. |
| hypothalamus | neural structure lying below thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion. |
| cerebral cortex | intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers cerebral hemispheres; body's ultimate control and info-processing center. |
| glial cells | cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they make myelin and are linked to memory and chronic pain |
| frontal lobes | portion of cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments. |
| occipital lobes | portion of cerebral cortex lying at the back of head; includes visual areas, which receive visual info from opposite visual field. |
| parietal lobes | portion of cerebral cortex lying at the top of head and toward rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position. |
| temporal lobes | portion of cerebral cortex lying roughly above ears; includes auditory areas, each of which receives auditory info primarily from opposite ear. |
| motor cortex | strip of cortex at back of frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. |
| sensory cortex | strip of front of parietal lobes that processes body touch and movement sensations. |
| association areas | all areas of cerebral cortex are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking. |
| aphasia | impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's or Wernicke's areas |
| Broca's area | controls language expression - area of frontal lobe, usually in left hemisphere, that direct muscle movements involved in speech. |
| Wernicke's area | controls language reception - brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; in left temporal lobe. |
| plasticity | brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) |
| corpus callosum | large band of neural fibers connecting two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them. |
| split brain | condition in which two hemispheres of brain are isolated by cutting connecting fibers (mainly those of corpus callosum) between them. a treatment for severe epilepsy |
| soma | cell body of neuron |
| axon terminal | endpoint of neuron where neurotransmitters are stored |
| resting potential | electrical charge across cell membrane of a resting neuron in which the fluid interior of axon is negative 70 milivolts |
| depolarization | sodium rushes into neuron through membrane, potassium ruses out; results in a change in charge to a positive charge |
| refractory period | period after firing when a neuron will not fire again no matter how strong the incoming message until axon gates are closed and resting potential is restored |
| excitatory neurotransmitter | chemical secreted at terminal button that causes neuron on other side of synapse to fire |
| inhibitory neurotransmitter | chemical secreted at terminal button that prevents (or reduces ability of) neuron on other side of synapse from firing |
| reuptake | process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane |
| schizophrenia | disease in part explained by excessive dopamine and enlarged ventricles |
| Parkinson's disease | disease in part explained by too little dopamine |
| Alzheimer's disease | destruction of acetylcholine neurons leads to memory losses of this disease |
| ventricles | series of interconnected cavities within cerebral hemispheres and brainstem filled with cerebrospinal fluid |
| gyrus | raised fold or elevation in the surface of the brain |
| sulcus | narrow grooves in tissue on surface of the brain |
| gray matter | bodies of nerve cells that make up outer surface of brain - responsible for higher level functions |
| white matter | nerve cells below surface of cortex which connect to inner parts of brain |
| blood brain barrier | protects brain by preventing substances from entering its tissues |
| norepinephrine | neurotransmitter that in addition to serotonin is responsible for mood |
| GABA | major inhibitory neurotransmitter |
| glutamate | excitatory neurotransmitter that like achetlcholine is involved in memory |
| trephination | operation that removes a circular section of bone from the skull which dates back to prehistoric times |
| frontal lobotomy | surgery that is now illegal which cut fibers in frontal lobe. Left patient apathetic, withdrawn |
| phrenology | now abandoned study of the shape of skull as indicative of strengths of different faculties |
| traumatic brain injury | blow to head or a penetrating head injury that damages brain |
| Phineas Gage | railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality and behavior; case played a role in development of the understanding of localization of brain function |
| evoked potential | EEGs resulting from a response to a specific stimulus |
| forebrain | top of brain which includes thalamus, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex; responsible for emotional regulation, complex thought, memory aspect of personality |
| midbrain | Region between the hindbrain and forebrain |
| hindbrain | posterior portion of brain including cerebellum and brainstem |
| meninges | protective membrane (one of 3) that envelops brain and spinal cord |
| pia mater | innermost meningeal layer; bound firmly to the underlying neural tissue |
| arachnoid mater | middle layer of the meninges |
| dura mater | thick, tough, outermost membrane of meninges |
| cerebrum | large part of brain that controls senses and thinking |
| fissure | long narrow slit or groove that divides brain into lobes |
| homunculus | map of body represented in primary motor (or somatosensory) cortex with an exaggerated human form |
| Roger Sperry | scientist who won Nobel Prize for work with SPLIT BRAIN patients |
| lateralization | localization of function on either right or left sides of brain |
| phantom limb | sensations that appear to originate in a limb that has been amputated |
| androgen | male sex hormones that produce or stimulate development of male characteristics |
| estrogen | female steroid sex hormones that are secreted by the ovary and responsible for typical female sexual characteristics |
| progesterone | hormone produced by the ovaries which acts with estrogen to bring about the menstral cycle. |
| behavioral genetics | study of how genes and environment interact to influence psychological activity |
| chromosomes | threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes. |
| zygote | fertilized egg |
| homozygous condition | two genes in a specific pair are the same |
| heterozygous condition | situation that occurs when two genes in a specific pair are different |
| dominant allele | gene (allele) whose trait always shows up in organism when allele is present |
| recessive allele | gene(allele) masked when a dominant gene is present |
| genotype | genetic makeup of an organism |
| phenotype | physical traits that appear in individual as a result of its gentic make up. |
| polygenic traits | traits controlled by two or more genes |
| twin studies | studies of identical and fraternal twins to determine relative influence of heredity and environment on human behavior |
| monozygotic | developed from a single fertilized egg-identical twins |
| dizygotic | derived from two separately fertilized eggs - fraternal twins |
| teratogens | agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm |
| gender identity | one's sense of being male or female |
| gender typing | acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role |
| evolutionary psychology | study of evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection |
| natural selection | natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment |
| agonists | drugs which mimic activity of neurotransmitters |
| antagonists | drugs that block function of a neurotransmitter |
| hippocampus | neural structure in limbic system associated with memory and learning |
| nucleus accumbens | dopamine activated area which is brain's pleasure center |
| auditory cortex | area in temporal lobe that interprets nerve impulses as sound. |
| visual cortex | area in occipital lobe this is main center for interpreting visual info |
| cerebellum | "little brain" attached to the rear of brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance |
| pons | part of brain involved in sleep and arousal |
| pituitary gland | the master gland of the endocrine system growth hormone |
| thyroid | endocrine gland in neck that secretes thyroxin, controls metabolic rate |
| parathyroid | endocrine gland embedded in the thyroid that maintains calcium levels in blood |
| thyroxin | hormone that controls metabolic rate |
| epinephrine | affect sympathetic nervous system in stress response also known as adrenaline |
| pancreas | part of endocrine system that produces insulin |
| gonads | reproductive glands-male, testes; female, ovaries |
| testosterone | male sex hormone |
| afferent neurons | Neurons that transmit messages from sense organs to central nervous system. |
| neurogenesis | formation of new neurons later in life |
| gender roles | behaviors & attitudes expected by society of people because they are male or female |
| social learning theory | theory that suggests we learn social behaviors (gender roles) by watching and imitating others |
| gender schema theory | theory that children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male and female and that they adjust behavior accordingly |
| mirror neurons | frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so |
| -70 millivolts | charge of the INSIDE of a resting neuron |
| repolarization | another name for refractory period - where voltage and distribution of ions in and outside axon must be returned to that of resting potential |
| refractory period | period after firing when a neuron will not fire again no matter how strong the incoming message may be until ion balance is restored to resting potential |
| selective permeability | axon allows some molecules to pass through while keeping others out - allows action potential with use of gates and the Na K pump |
| nucleus accumbens | dopamine activated area which is brain's pleasure center |
| repolarization | the process of an axon returning to its resting potential charge during the refractory period |
| cerebral spinal fluid | solution that fills the hollow cavities of brain and circulates around brain and spinal cord. Provides nourishment, cushions, and removes wastes. |
| nodes of ranvier | Tiny gaps along the myelin sheath covering an axon; help speed transmission of action potention |
| basal ganglia | system of sub cortical structures important for initiation of planned movement - above thalamus but under cortex |
| nucleus accumbens | dopamine activated area which is brain's pleasure center |