1
Q
Central Nervous System (CNS)
A
the brain and spinal cord
2
Q
spinal cord
A
a column of nerves that transmits information between the brain and the peripheral nervous system
3
Q
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
A
the parts of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord
4
Q
spinal nerves
A
major nerves that carry sensory and motor messages in and out of the spinal cord
5
Q
neuron
A
a cell in the nervous system that transmits information
6
Q
nerve
A
a bundle of neuron axons
7
Q
cranial nerves
A
major nerves that leave the brain without passing through the spinal cord
8
Q
somatic nervous system (SNS)
A
a network linking the spinal cord with the body and sense organs
9
Q
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
A
the collection of axons that carry information to and from internal organs and glands
10
Q
sympathetic nervous system (sympathetic branch)
A
the division of the autonomic nervous system that coordinates arousal
11
Q
parasympathetic nervous system (parasympathetic branch)
A
the division of the autonomic nervous system that quiets the body and conserves energy
12
Q
dendrites
A
neuron fibers that relieve incoming messages
13
Q
axon
A
a fiber that carries information away from the cell body of a neuron
14
Q
axon terminals
A
bulb-shaped structures at the ends of axons that form synapses with the dendrites and cell bodies of other neurons
15
Q
resting potential
A
the electrical charge of an inactive neuron
16
Q
threshold
A
in neurons, the point at which a nerve impulse is triggered
17
Q
action potential
A
a brief change in a neuron’s electrical charge
18
Q
ion channels
A
tiny openings through the axon membrane
19
Q
negative after-potential
A
a drop in the electrical charge below the resting potential
20
Q
myelin sheath
A
insulating material that covers some axons
21
Q
saltatory conduction
A
the process by which action potentials traveling down the axons of neurons coated with myelin jump from gap to gap in the myelin layer
22
Q
synapse
A
a microscopic space over which messages pass between two neurons
23
Q
synaptic transmission
A
the chemical process that carries information from one neuron to another
24
Q
neurotransmitter
A
A chemical that moves information from one nervous-system to another
25
receptor site
an area on the surface of neurons and other cells that is sensitive to neurotransmitters or hormones
26
neuropeptides
brain chemicals, such as enkephalins and endorphins, that regulate the activity of neurons
27
neural network
interlinked collection of neurons that processes information in the brain
28
reflex arc
the simplest behavior, in which a stimulus provokes an automatic response
29
sensory neuron
a cell in the nervous system that transmits information from the sense organs to the central nervous system
30
motor neuron
a cell in the nervous system that transmits commands from the brain to the muscles
31
neuroplasticity
the capacity of the brain to change in response to experience
32
neurogenesis
the production of new brain cells
33
Computer tomographic (CT) scan
a computer-enhanced X-ray image of the brain or body
34
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
an imaging technique that results in a three-dimensional image of the brain or body, based on its response to a magnetic field
35
localization of function
the research strategy of linking specific structures in the brain to specific psychological or behavioral functions
36
neurological soft signs
behavioral sings of nervous system dysfunction, including clumsiness, and awkward gait, poor hand-eye coordination, and other perceptual and motor problems
37
electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)
direct electrical stimulation and activation of brain tissue
38
electrode
any device (such as a wire, needle, or metal plate) used to stimulate or destroy nerve tissue electrically or to record its activity
39
ablation
in biopsychology, the surgical removal of tissue from the surface of the brain
40
deep lesioning
removal of tissue within the brain by the use of an electrode
41
electroencephalograph (EEG)
a device that records electrical activity in the brain
42
positron emission tomography (PET)
a high-resolution imaging technique that captures brain activity by attaching radioactive particles to glucose molecules
43
functional MRI (fMRI)
a MRI technique that records activity levels in various areas of the brain
44
cerebral cortex
the thin, wrinkled outer covering of the brain in which high-level processes take place
45
corticalization
an increase in the relative size of the cerebral cortexx
46
cerebral hemispheres
the left and right sides of the cerebral cortex; interconnected by the corpus callosum
47
lateralization
differences between the two sides of the body, especially differences in the abilities if the brain hemispheres
48
handedness
a preference for the right of left hand in most activities
49
dominant hemisphere
a term usually applies to the side of a person’s brain that produces language
50
split-brain operation
a surgical procedure that involves cutting the corpus callosum
51
lobes of the cerebral cortex
areas on the left and right cortex bordered by major fissures or defined by their functions
52
frontal lobes
areas of the cortex associated with movement, the sense of self, and higher mental functions
53
prefrontal area (prefrontal cortex)
the very front of the frontal lobes; involved in the sense of self, executive functions, and planning
54
executive functions
the higher-level mental processes that allow is to regulate and coordinate out own thought processes
55
association areas (association cortex)
all areas of the cerebral cortex that are not primarily sensory or motor in function
56
aphasia
a speech disturbance resulting from brain damage
57
Broca’s area
a language area related to gamer and pronunciation
58
primary motor ares (primary motor cortex)
a brain area associated with the control of movement
59
mirror neurons
neurons that become active Ethan a motor action is carried out and when another organism is observed performing the same action
60
autism spectrum disorder
a lifetime disorder whose primary features are impaired communication and social interaction
61
parietal lobes
areas of the cortex in which body sensations register
62
primary somatosensory ares (primary somatosensory cortex)
a receiving area for body sensations
63
temporal lobes
areas of the cortex that include the sites where hearing registers
64
primary auditory ares (primary auditory cortex)
the part of the temporal lobe that first receives input from the ears
65
Wernicke’s area
a temporal lobe brain ares related to language comprehension
66
occipital lobes
cortical areas at the back of the brain that play a role in visual processing
67
primary visual ares (primary visual cortex)
the part of the occipital lobe that first receives input from he eyes
68
visual agnosia
an inability to identify seen objects
69
facial agnosia
an inability to perceive familiar faces
70
subcortex
a term referring to all brain structures below the cerebral cortex
71
hindbrain
a primitive part of the brain that comprises the medulla, pons, and cerebellim
72
midbrain
a structure that connects the hindbrain with the forebrian
73
forebrain
a brain structure, including the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus, and cortex, that governs higher-order mental processes
74
medulla
the structure that connects the brain with the spinal cord and controls vital life functions
75
pons
an area of the hindbrain that acts as a bridge between the medulla and other structures
76
reticular formation (RF)
a collection of cells and fibers in the medulla and pons involved in arousal and attention
77
cerebellum
the structure in the hindbrain involved in controlling coordination and balance
78
thalamus
a brain structure that relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex
79
hypothalamus
a small area of the brain that regulates emotional behaviors and basic biological needs
80
limbic system
a set of brain structures that play important roles in regulation emotion and memory
81
amygdala
a part of the limbic system associated with the rapid processing of emotions; especially fear
82
hippocampus
part of the limbic system associated with storing memories
83
endocrine system
a network of glands that release hormones into the bloodstream
84
hormones
a chemical released by the endocrine glands
85
pituitary gland
the master gland of the endocrine system that controls the action of all other glands
86
Growth Hormone
a hormone, secreted by the pituitary gland, that promotes body growth
87
oxytocin
a hormone, released by the pituitary gland that plays a broad role in regulating pregnancy, parenthood, sexual activity, social bonding, trust, and even reducing stress reactions
88
pineal gland
a gland in the brain that helps regulate body rhythms and sleep cycles
89
melatonin
a hormone released by the pineal gland in response to daily cycles of light and dark
90
thyroid gland
an endocrine gland that helps regulate the rate of metabolism
91
epinephrine (adrenaline)
an adrenal hormone that tends to arouse the body; epinephrine is associated with fear
92
norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
both a brain neurotransmitter and an adrenal hormone that tends to across the body, norepinephrine is associated with anger
93
adrenal glands
endocrine glands that arouse the body, regulate salt balance, adjust the body to stress, and affect sexual functioning
94
self-regulation
the ability to consciously exert self-control
Psychology
flashcards
Decks in class (19)
# Cards
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Chapter 1: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science92
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Chapter 2: Brain and Behavior94
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Chapter 3: Human Development75
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Chapter 4: Sensation and Perception77
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Chapter 5: States of Consciousness64
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Chapter 6: Conditioning and Learning70
-
Chapter 7: Memory60
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Chapter 8: Cognition, Language, and Creativity53
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Chapter 9: Intelligence42
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Chapter 10: Motivation and Emotion61
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Chapter 11: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality62
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Chapter 12: Personality111
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Chapter 13: Health, Stress, and Coping57
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Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders51
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Chapter 15: Therapies65
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Chapter 16: Social Thinking and Social Influence49
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Chapter 17: Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior53
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Chapter 18: Applied Psychology60
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Statistical Literacy30
