Biological Psychology
This branch of psychology links biology with behavior.
Phrenology
The theory that studying the bumps on people's heads would reveal their mental abilities and character traits.
Franz Gall
In the early 1800s, he invented the theory of phrenology which became very popular in Europe and the United States.
Neuron
This is a nerve cell, the basic building block of the nervous system
dendrites
These are the bushy extensions on a neuron that have receptor sites for receiving messages and then conducting them to the cell body.
Axon
This long extension of the neuron transmits messages to its end where it branches into terminal fibers that then pass the messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands.
Myelin Sheath
This segmented fatty tissue that covers many axons enables the neural messages to travel faster through the axons.
Action Potential
This is a neural impulse or "firing" of a neuron which is a
brief electrical charge that propels the message through the axon and is caused by the movement of positively charged Sodium atoms in and out of the axon's membrane.
Cell Body
This is the life support part of the neuron.
Neural Impulse
This is the name of the electrical signal which travels down the axon at speeds between 2 and more than 200 miles per hour.
Threshold
This is the level of stimulation that is needed to trigger an action potential.
Terminal branches
These are at the ends of axons and they form junctions with other cells.
Terminal Buttons
Also known as axon terminals, these are tips at the end of axons that secrete neurotransmitters.
Glial Cells
These are the nervous system's support cells by nourishing them, getting rid of their wastes, and providing them with insulation.
All-or-none-response
This principle means that a neuron either fires the impulse when its threshold is stimulated enough, or it won't fire at all.
Refractory Period
This is a time during which the the positive sodium ions (atoms) go back outside the axon into a resting period. Only then when it is polarized again can the neuron send
another message.
Neurotransmitters
These are the chemical messengers that travel through the neuron.
Synapse
This is the junction between the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron.
Synaptic gap
This is another name for the synapse, a tiny space or junction between the neurons.
Acetylcholine (ACh)
This neurotransmitter is involved in learning and memory and also enables muscle movement.
Dopamine
This neurotransmitter influences voluntary movement, learning, attention, and emotion.
Serotonin
This neurotransmitter is involved in mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.
Norephinephrine
This neurotransmitter helps control alertness and arousal.
GABA (gammaaminobutyric acid)
This is an inhibitory neurotransmitter which means it slows down the transmission of other neurotransmitters.
Glutamate
This is an excitatory neurotransmitter which means it increases neural activity and it's involved in memory.
Alzheimer's Disease
This disease, marked by severe memory loss, is related to the deterioration of the neurons that produce ACh.
Parkinsons Disease
This disease, marked by tremors and decreased mobility, is related to a decline in the production of dopamine
Schizophrenia
This mental disease is related to a large increase in the production of dopamine.
Depression
This mental illness is related to an undersupply of serotonin.
Endorphins
These neurotransmitters are called the "morphine within" because they are like natural opiates that reduce pain and increase pleasure.
Agonists
These are drugs that mimic the effects of excitatory neurotransmitters. An example is the venom of a black widow spider which may cause convulsions, even death.
Antagonists
These are drugs that mimic the effects of inhibitory neurotransmitters. An example is Botox, which smooths wrinkles by paralyzing the underlying facial muscles.
Nervous System
This refers to the bodys speedy, electrochemical system of communication.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
This consists of the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
This consists of the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the body.
Somatic Nervous System
This is part of the peripheral nervous system which controls voluntary movements.
Autonomic Nervous System
This is the part of the peripheral nervous system which that automatically controls the working of the internal glands and organs.
Sympathetic Nervous System
This is the part of the autonomic nervous system which arouses or increases bodily functions during times of stress, excitement, or alarm.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
This is the part of the autonomic nervous system which helps restore homeostasis or calm after a period of stress, excitement, or alarm.
Sensory Neurons
These neurons carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the spinal cord and brain
Afferent Neurons
This is another name for sensory neurons which carry incoming messages to the brain and spinal cord.
Motor Neurons
These neurons carry outgoing messages from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
Efferent Neurons
This is another name for motor neurons that carry outgoing messages to the muscles and glands.
Interneurons
These neurons in the central nervous system carry messages between sensory and motor neurons.
Reflex
This is a quick automatic response to a stimulus. Some reflexes are handled by the spinal cord before the brain has a chance to act.
Nerves
These are bundles of axons in the PNS that connect the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs,
Neural Networks
These are working groups of clusters of neurons that get stronger with practice, such as practicing the piano strengthens piano playing,
Endocrine System
This is the bodys "slow" chemical communication system consisting of glands and hormones that travel in bloodstream.
Hormones
These chemical messengers are produced by glands, travel in the bloodstream, and influence reproduction, growth, bodily arousal, and more.
Adrenal Glands
These glands atop the kidneys secrete the hormones epinehprine (adrenalin) and norepinehprine (noradrenalin) which help arouse the body during stressful times.
Pituitary Gland
This gland is called the master gland because it regulates growth and manages the other endocrine glands, but it is controlled by the hypothalamus
Lesion
This refers to destruction of tissues and can occur naturally with an injury or as an experiment in a laboratory setting.
EEG(Electroencephalograph)
This equipment measures the brain's electrical waves by placing electrodes on the scalp.
PET SCAN (Positron Emission Tomography)
This machine provides pictures of areas in the brain which is activity using radioactive glucose.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging
This technique shows the brain's soft tissues and structures by exposing it to magnetic fields and radio waves without using any radioactive materials.
fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
This is an advanced type of MRI that shows the functions of the brains soft tissues.
Brainstem
This oldest part of the brain is a central core that it to the spinal cord and helps regulate automatic survival functions.
Medulla
Located in the base of the brain stem, the medulla controls heartbeat and breathing.
Reticular Formation
This a neural network in the brainstem which helps regulate arousal and alertness.
Thalamus
This is the brains switchboard which sends sensory messages, except the sense of smell, to the correct brain areas where they can be perceived.
Cerebellum
Called "the little brain, it's located in back of the brainstem and helps coordinate movement, balance, and is involved in classical conditioning.
Limbic System
Involved in emotions such as fear and aggression, it consists of the hypothalamus,hippocampus, and amygdala,
Amydala
This structure is located on the ends of the hippocampus and is related to the emotions of fear and anger.
Hippocampus
This structure in the limbic system is related to short-term memory
Hypothalamus
This structure in the limbic helps control the endocrine system as well as hunger,body temperature, and reproduction.
Cerebral Cortex
The special neural covering over the hemispheres,
Clive Wearing
This man had his hippocampus destroyed during a bout with encephalitis. He has no short term memory.
Frontal Lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead which is involved in making decisions, speaking, and muscle movements.
Parietal Lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex that is at the top of the head which receives sensory messages such as touch and body position.
Temporal Lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex near the ears which is involved in processing auditory information.
Occipital Lobe
The portion of the cerebral cortex which is at the back of head and receives information about vision.
Motor Cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal cortex or lobes which controls voluntary movement.
Sensory Cortex
An area at the front of the parietal lobe which processes body touch and movement sensations.
Association Areas
Areas in the cerebral cortex that are involved in learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking, but not directly involved in primary motor and sensory functions.
Brocas Area
This is an association area in the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that controls the muscle movements involved in speech.
Wernickes Area
This is an association area controls language comprehension and is located in the temporal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere.
Aphasia
This is a language impairment due to either damage to Brocas area or Wernicke;s area.
Angular Gyrus
This area sits at the junction of the temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes and is involved in reading.
Plasticity
This is the brains ability to reorganize itself after an injury or surgery.
Split Brain
This occurs when the corpus callosum which links the two hemispheres is cut.
Corpus Callosum
This is a large band of fibers which links the two hemispheres and carries messages between them.
Split Brain Surgery
The purpose of this surgery which cuts the corpus callosum is usually to reduce seizures in people who have epilepsy.
Hemispheric Specialization
This is also called lateralization and refers to the fact that the left and right hemispheres of the brain have some specific functions that exist only in those hemispheres.
Left Brain/Right Brain
This concept refers to the specific functions or hemispheric differences that exist in either the left hemisphere or the right hemisphere.
Thyroid Gland
This gland helps regulate metabolism and growth.
Pancreas
This structure located in the abdomen regulates the level of sugar in the blood and produces a hormone called insulin.
Testes
These glands produce the male sex hormones such as testosterone.
Ovaries
These female glands produce female sex hormones such as estrogen.
Resting Potential
In this state, the cell body of a neuron is negatively charged, and the positive charged ions are outside of the cell body.
Depolarize
When positive ions rush into the negatively charged cell, this happens, meaning the cell is left with a neutral charge
Multiple Sclerosis
This condition occurs from the break down of the myelin sheath that surrounds the axon of a neuron
Excitatory
Neurons that push a message through are called this
Inhibitory
Neurons that block a message from being sent are called this
Opiates
This class of drugs are agonists that act like endorphins to ease pain and make a person feel good
Reuptake
This is the process through which excess neurotransmitters left in the synaptic gap are reabsorbed by the neuron
Botulin
This acts as acetylcholine and causes paralysis. It is used commonly in plastic surgeries to make faces look younger.
Sodium and Potassium
The ions involved in action potential are made up of these two chemicals
Pineal Gland
This is located right below the pituitary gland and is responsible for regulating sleep
CAT Scan
In this type of brain imaging, an Xray is taken of your brain. You can only really see the surface structure of the cerebral cortex
Pons
This is part of the brain stem that helps relay messages to the cerebellum and help regulate sleep
Fissures
These are the wrinkles, or valleys that exist in the brain
Visual cortex
This is located in the occipital lobe and helps regulate and process visual stimuli
Paul Broca
This neurologist discovered part of the left frontal lobe that helps regulate speech
Carl Wernicke
This neurologist discovered part of the left temporal lobe and helps with speech comprehension
Homonculus
This "little person" is used to depict the function of the sensory and motor cortex
Auditory cortex
This is located in the temporal lobe and helps regulate and process hearing
Phineas Gage
This railraod manager had a metal spike shot through his frontal lobe and lived. His ability to make decisions was impaired as a result of his accident.
Phantom Limb Syndrome
This results from brain plasticity. After a person has lost an appendage, the nerves from nearby areas of the brain move in and take over the vacant spot, making it seem as if there is sensation left in the lost limb
Neurogenesis
This is the regrowth of neurons
Stem Cells
These cells found in fetuses are the only ones that have proven successful at regenerating dead neurons
Roger Sperry
This man worked with Michael Gazzaniga to conduct and investigate split brain research
Michael Gazzaniga
This man worked with Roger Sperry to conduct and investigate split brain research