Psychology-Bio Ch. 2
Terms
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- cells that form the myelin sheath; insulate and support neurons by holding them together, removing waste product, and prevent harmful substances from passing through the bloodstream into the brain
- glial cells
- the condition of a neuron when the inside is negatively charged relative to the outside/ vice versa
- polarization/ depolarization
- electrical charge across a neuron membrane due to excess positive ions concentrated an outside and excess negative ions on the inside
- resting potential
- the firing of a nerve cell
- action potential
- a shift in the eletrical charge in a tiny area of a neuron
- graded potential
- the level an impulse must exceed to cause a neuron to fire
- treshold of excitation
- a period after firing when the neuron is returning to its normal polarized state and will fire only when it reaches the treshold of excitation
- relative refractory period
- a period after firing when a neuron will not fire again no matter how strong imcoming messages may be
- absolute refractory period
- tiny sacs in a terminal button that release chemicals into synapse
- synaptic vesicles
- locations on the receptor neuron in which specific neurotransmittersd fits like a key in a lock
- receptor sites
- the ability of the brain to change in response to experience
- plasticity
- relays and translates incoming messages from sense receptors(except smell); regulate the activity of brain centers in the cortex
- thalamus
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directly controls emotional behavior, stress, coordinating activity of the nervous system
4F'S: FIGHT, FLEE, FEED,AND MATE - hypothalamus
- handles motor skills, reflexes, movement, and a sense of equillibrium
- cerebellum
- controls sleep patterns, connects spinal cord to midbrain, and arousal
- pons
- attached to spinal cord, controls unconscious systems: breathing circulation, muscle tone, and heart rate
- medulla
- controls smooth actions in regards to Parkinson's disease; hearing and sight; pain
- midbrain
- part of the cerrebral cortex that is responsible for voluntary movement; attention, goal-directed behavior and appropriate emotional behavior
- frontal lobe
- part of the cerebral cortex that receives sensory info from throughout the body
- parietal lobe
- part of the cerebral hemisphere that recieves and interprets visual info
- occiptal lobe
- part of the cerebral hemisphere that helps regulate hearing, balance and equillibrium and certain emotions and motivations
- temporal lobe
- a thick band of nerve fibers that connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain
- corpus callosum
- specializes in verbal tasks: logic, rationale, and analysis
- left hemisphere
- specializes in visual/spatial tasks: face recognition, perception and expression of emotion
- right hemisphere
- a net like bundle of neurons running thru the brain; sends alert messages; arouse higher parts of the brain
- reticular formation
- ring of structures that play a role in learning and emotional behavior includes: amygdala and hippocampus that form new memories
- limbic system
- used to study a single neuron; to understand the dyanmics of action potential, effects of drugs and processes that occur
- microelectrode techniques
- used to study the activity of millions of neurons; provide size and rhythm of neural activity
- macroelectrode techniques
- used to study structural images: creates 3D picture without surgery
- CAT or CT
- used to create more precise pictures of a brain; where brain is exposed to radiowaves and hydrogen atoms in the brain release energy
- MRI
- tool where electrodes are placed on the scalp; electrodes record brain activity, then converted to color images, the images how distribution of wave activity
- EEG
- measure the strength of the magnetic field; used to determine which parts do the most work, where electric signals are not affected by bone
- MEG/MSI
- uses radioactive energy to map brain activity
- PET/SPECT
- branch of the autonomic nervous system; it prepares the body for quick action in a emergency
- sympathetic division
- branch of the autonomic nervous system; it calms and relaxes the body
- parasympathetic division
- short fiber that branch out from the cell body and pick up incoming messages
- dendrites
- soma
- cell body
- single long fiber extending from cell body; it carries outgoing messages
- axon
- white fatty tissue covering found in some axons
- myelin sheath
- electrically charged particles found both inside and outside the neuron
- ions
- principle that the action potential in a neuron does not vary in strength; the neuron either fires at full strength or not at all
- all or none law
- chemicals released by the synaptic space and affect adjacent neurons
- neurotransmitters
- division of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord
- the central nervous system
- the outer surface of the two cerebral hemispheres that regulate most complex behavior
- cerebral cortex
- a complex cable of axons that connect the brain to the rest of the body; permits some reflex movements and carry messages to and from the brain
- spinal cord
- the part of the peripheral nervous system that carries messages from the senses to the central nervous system and between the central nervous system and the skeletal muscles
- somatic nervous system
- the part of the peripheral nervous system that carries messages between the central nervous system and the internal organs
- autonomic nervous system
- glands of the endocrine system that release hormones into the bloodstrean
- endocrine glands
- endocrine gland located below the voice box; it produces the hormone thyroxin
- thyroid gland
- 4 tiny glands embedded in the thyroid; secretes parathormone
- parathyroid gland
- a gland located in the center of the brain that appears to regulate activity levels over a course of a day
- pineal gland
- organ between the stomach and small intestine; secretes insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels
- pancreas
- gland located on the underside of the brain and produces the most hormones
- pituitary gland
- the reproductive glands(testes and ovaries)
- the gonads
- two endocrine glands located above the kidneys
- the adrenal glands