Biological Psychology
a branch of psych concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Neuron
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Dendrite
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; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next
Action potential
a neural impulse, generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane
Synapse
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons
Acetylcholine
a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction
endorphins
natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Dopamine
neurotransmitter;influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
Serotonin
affects mood, hunger, sleep arousal; neurotransmitter
Norepinephrine
helps control alertness and arousal; neurotransmitter(undersupply can depress mood)
GABA
major inhibitory neurotransmitter (undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.
Glutamate
a major excitatory neurotransmitter
Agonist
can mimic effects of a neurotransmitter
nervous system
the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
hte sensory and motor neurons that connect central nervous system to the rest of the body
Nerves
neural cables containing many axons. they connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
Motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous sytem to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Somatic 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. Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms
Sympathetic nervous system
the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Parasympathetic nervous system
division of the auto. ner. system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Reflex
a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response
neural networks
interconnected neural cells;
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. the adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinphrine (noradrenaline) which help to arouse the body in times of stress
Pituitary gland
the endo. system's most influential gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endo. glands
Lesion
tissue destruction
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface
PET
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI
a tech. that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce comp. generated images that distinguish among diff. types of soft tissue
fMRI
a tech. for revealing blood flow
Brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells; the brainstem is resp. for automatic survival functions
Medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Reticular fomation
a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an imp. role in controlling arousal
Thalamus
the brain's sensory switchboard, directs msgs to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex
cerebellum
processes sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
limbic system
a doughnut-shaped system of neural structs; asso. with fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex
Amygdala
linked to emotion; part of the limbic system
hypothalamus
directs several maintenance act. (eating, drinking, body temp.); helps govern the endo. system via the pituitary gland
cerebral cortex
intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the crebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and info processing center
glial cells
cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons
frontal lobes
the portion of the cerebral cortex; involved in pseaking and muscle movemnts and in making plans and judgments
Parietal lobes
recieves sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes
includes the visual areas, located in the lack of the head
temporal lobes
lies above the ears, receives auditory info
Motor cortex
rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
sensory cortex
registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
aphasia
impairment of language
Broca's area
controls language expression, directs muscle movements involved in speech
Wernicke's area
controls language recpetion; involved in language comprehension and expression
Plasticity
the brain's capacity for modification
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying msgs between them
split brain
the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers between them