Biological Psychology
Branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Neuron
Nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system
Sensory Neurons
Carry information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
Motor Neurons
Carry information from nervous system to muscles and organs
Interneurons
Carry signals between neurons
Synapse
Junction between axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons
Acetylcholine, Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Dopamine, Endorphins
5 neurotransmitters that cause mental disorder and physical behavioral changes we study in psychology
Acetylcholine
Neurotransmitter responsible for muscle movement and memory storage; dysfunctions include alzheimer's disease, convulsions, and paralysis.
Norepinephrine
Neurotransmitter responsible for attention and arousal. Low levels cause mood disorders, learning disorders, sleep disorders, and ADHD
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter that regulates emotion, sleeping, and dreaming; low levels cause sleep disorders, depression, obsession, compulsion (OCD)
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter that controls perception/cognition, reward/reinforcement; low levels cause schizophrenia and addictions
Endorphins
Neurotransmitter which controls regulation of pain and pleasure
Nervous System
Body's entire network of neurons including the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and their subdivisons
Reflex
Simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
Lesion
Tissue destruction
EEG (Electroensephalogram)
Amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface; these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
CT Scan ( computed tomograph)
Series of xray photos taken from different angles, combined by computer into composite representation of a slice through the body; actual ionizing radiation
PET Scan (positition emission tomograph)
Visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
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 the brain
Dendrites
the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Myelin Sheath
a layer of fatty tissue encasing a neuron's axon that speeds transmission
Action Potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. the action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane
Threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Brainstem
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Thalamus
the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Midbrain
Underneath the thalamus; reticular formation keeps us aroused
Pons
Activates dreams by sending neural signals to the brain; holds brain hemispheres together.
Reticular Formation
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal
Cerebellum
Little brain" attached to rear of brainstem; helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance
Limbic System
A doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.
Hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion
Pituatary Gland
the endocrine system's most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Amygdala
part of the limbic system; influences emotions such as aggression, fear, and self-protective behaviors
Hippocampus
a neural center located in the limbic system that helps process memories for storage
Cerebral Cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center
Frontal Lobe
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
Parietal Lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; includes the sensory cortex
Occipital Lobe
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field
Motor Cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
Sensory Cortex
the area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Temporal Lobe
the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primarily from the opposite ear
Aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to wernicke's area (impairing understanding)
Broca's Area
Area of left temporal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.
Association Areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
Wernicke's Area
controls language reception-a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression;usually in the left temporal lobe
Plasticity
the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development
Corpus Callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Split Brain
a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them
Endocrine System
the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
Adrenal glands
a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys; secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress.
Central Nervous System
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Nerves
neural "cables" containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Skeletal Nervous System
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
Sympathetic Nervous System
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Parasympathetic Nervous System
the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Neural Networks
interconnected neural cells. With experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Disease that attacks the Myelin Sheath resulting in poor conduction of nerve impulses and difficulty in movement.
Sensation
Process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energy.
Perception
Process of organizing and interpreting sensory information enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.