Psych Midterm Hard Terms
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60 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Dendrites | Projection that picks up impulses from other neurons |
| Axon | Nerve fiber projecting from the cell body that carries nerve impulses. |
| Axon hillock | Connects cell body of a neuron to the axon. |
| Axon terminal | Releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft |
| Synaptic vesicles | Reuptakes neurotransmitters |
| Glial Cell | Glue |
| Myelin Sheath | Fatty coat that insulates the axons of some nerve cells, speeding transmission of impulses. |
| Blood-Brain Barrier | Separation of circulating blood and the brain extracellular fluid in the CNS. |
| Receptor Binding - lock & key (NT to receptor, chemical) | Hormone or neurotransmitter affects target cells by binding to specific receptor molecules, which are often located in the cell membrane. |
| Plasticity | The nervous system's ability to change |
| Neurogenesis, Synaptogenesis, Pruning | Creation of new neurons in the adult brain; creation of new synapsi; killing off of unnecessary neurons. |
| Action Potential - all stages (resting potential, depolarization, hyperpolarization, threshold, refractoryperiod, how sodium and potassium are involved) | Resting: no activity; depolarization: change in cell membrane's potential; hyperpolarization: makes cell membrane more negative; threshold: when the electrical charge inside the neuron reaches a high enough level relative to the outside. |
| Synapse and Synaptic Cleft | Terminal point of axon branch which releases neurotransmitters; a gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal |
| Neurotransmitters - molecules / chemicals, endogenous (inside) | Endogenous chemicals that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse. |
| GABA | Main inhibitory neurotransmitter |
| Glutamate | Main excitatory transmitter |
| Serotonin | Mood and temperature regulation, aggression, sleep cycles |
| Dopamine | Motor function and reward |
| Norepinephrine | Brain arousal, mood, hunger, and sleep |
| Acetylcholine | Muscle contraction (PNS), cortical arousal (CNS) |
| Endorphins | Pain reduction |
| Anandamide | Pain reduction, increase in appetite |
| Psychoactive Drugs - exogenous, how they mimic NTs | Foreign, therefore exogenous; mimics normal processes. |
| Inhibitory | Activation of the receptor causes hyperpolarization and depresses action potential generation. |
| Excitatory | Excitatory: depolarizes membrane and promotes action potential generation. |
| Agonist | Promotes action (muscles) |
| Antagonist | Opposes action (muscles) |
| Central Nervous System | CNS: composed of brain and spinal cord. |
| Peripheral Nervous System | Nerves that extend outside of the CNS |
| Forebrain | The most highly developed area of the human brain |
| Midbrain | Plays important role in movement |
| Hindbrain | Consists of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla |
| Frontal lobe | Language, memory, executive function: oversees other mental operations |
| Parietal lobe | Spacial systems |
| Temporal lobe | Hearing, understanding language, autobiographical memory |
| Occipital lobe | Very rear of brain; vision center |
| Somatosensory Cortex | Temperature, body position, and pain |
| Broca's Aphasia | Inability to form speach |
| Wernike's Aphasia | Nonsensical speach |
| Anterograde Amnesia | Inability to form new memories after a traumatic event. |
| Cerebrum | Controls all voluntary action |
| Cerebellum | Motor control, coordination, language, and emotion |
| Basal Ganglia | Movement & planned action |
| Basal Forebrain | Selective attention |
| Thalamus | Sensory relay station |
| Cerebellum | Balance |
| Medulla | Breathing, heart rate |
| Pons | Communication center between the two brain hemispheres; triggers dreams |
| Autonomic | Regulates emotion and internal physical states. |
| Somatic Nervous System | Carries messages from CNS to muscles throughout body |
| Sympathetic nervous system | Active during arousal, especially a crises. |
| Parasympathetic Division | Active during rest and digestion. |
| Limbic System | Interconnected brain regions: thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus |
| Hypothalamus | Hunger |
| Amygdala | Fear |
| Cingulate Cortex | Emotion |
| Hippocampus | Memory |
| Phrenology | Pseudoscience of bumps on head meaning traits. Gave rise to idea of brain specialization of processes. |
| Structural neuroimaging | Shows structure of brain and intercranial disease |
| Functional neuroimaging | Used to diagnose metabolic diseases and lesions on a finer scale |
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