Ciccarelli's Psychology Chapter 2
Terms
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- What is a neuron?
- nerve cell
- Parts of the neuron:
- Dendrites, axon, axon terminals, soma, Myelin sheath, synaptic knobs,
- dendrites
- branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons
- soma
- the cell body of the neuron responsible for maintaining the life of the cell
- axon
- tube-like structure that carries the neural message to other cells
- glial cells
- grey fatty cells that provide support for the neurons to grow on and around, deliver nutrients etc.
- myelin
- fatty substances produced by certain glial cells that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse.
- axon terminals
- branches at the end of the axon
- synaptic knob
- rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals
- synaptic vessels
- saclike structures found inside the synaptic knob containing chemicals
- neurotransmitter
- chemical found in the synaptic vesicles that, when released, has an effect on the next cell
- synapse(synaptic gap)
- microscopic fluid-filled space between the synaptic knob of one call and the dendrites of surface of the next cell
- receptor sites
- holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters
- excitatory neurotransmitter
- Turns cells on - neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to fire
- inhibitory neurotransmitter
- turns cells off - neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to stop firing
- agonists
- chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell
- antagonists
- chemical substances that block or reduce a cell’s response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.
- resting potential
- the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse
- action potential
- the release of the neural impsulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical charge within the axon
- amino acids, manoamine, acetylcholine, neuropeptide
- the major classes of neurotransmitters
- acetylcholine
- stimulates the muscles to contract/also involved with memory
- GABA-gamma aminobutyric acid(type of amino acid)
- (the traffic cop)the most common inhibitory neurotransmitter; reduces overall arousal and tempers ones emotions
- seratonin(type of manoamine)
- regulates people's moods/anxiety
- dopamine(type of manoamine)
- causes ordinary pleasures(joy)
- manoamine
- affects emotions
- epinephrine(type of manoamine)
- adrenaline
- norepinepherine(type of manoamine)
- makes one more alert during "fight-flight" mode
- reuptake
- process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles
- what is the central nervous system?
- composed of brain and spinal cord.
-
sensory neurons(afferent)
REFLEX ARC - carry message FROM senses TO the spinal cord
-
motor neurons(efferent)
REFLEX ARC - carry message FROM the spinal cord TO muscles and glands
-
interneurons
REFLEX ARC - connect the sensory neurons to the motor neurons(and make up the spinal cord and the brain itself)
- stem cells
-
cells that can make any other cell -
special cells found in all the tissues of the body that are capable of manufacturing other cell types when those cells need to be replaced due to damage or wear and tear. - peripheral nervous system
- all the nerves and neurons that are not contained in the brain and spinal cord.
- somatic nervous system(cns)
- system consisting of the brain and spinal cord
- eeg-electroencephalograph
- mchine designed to record the brain wave patterns produced by electrical activity of the surface of the brain
- deep lesioning
- interstion of a thin, insulated wire into the brain through which an electrical current is sent that destroys the brain cells at the tip of the wire
- EEGs, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans.
- methods of studying the brain
- medulla
- responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing and heart rate.
- pons
-
connects top of brain to bottom... just above the medulla. plays a part in sleep, dreaming, left-right body coordination and arousal
directly above medulla - reticular formation(RF)
- an area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond that is responsible for selective attention
- cerebellum
- part of the lower brain located behind the pons that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement
- thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, & amygdala
- main 4 parts of the limbic system
- thalamus
- relay station for sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex
- hypothalamus
- just below and in front of thalamus. regulates body temp, thirst, hunger, sleeping and waking, sex and emotions. right below is the pituitary gland.
- hippocampus
- curved structure in each temporal lobe, responsible for the formation of long-term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects.
- amygdala
- brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear.
- brain cortex
- outermost covering of the brain consisting of densely packed neurons, responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input.