Unit 2: AP Psychology

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage- like node to the next.

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptors sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

A neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and muscle contraction

neurotransmitters linked to reduced pain and increased pleasure

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

composed of the brain and spinal cord.

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

electrical cables formed of bundles of axons that link the CNS with the sensory receptors, muscles and glands

carries the messages from sense receptors towards the central nervous system.

The central nodes of neural circuits, enabling communication between sensory or motor neurons and the central nervous system.

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands.

The part of the peripheral nervous system associated with the voluntary control of body movements via skeletal muscles.

A control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions such as the heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urination, and sexual arousal.

Prepares the body for action and mobilizes energy resources.

One of the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Its general function is to control homeostasis and the body's rest-and-digest response.

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.

A series of connected neurons that allow the processing and transmitting of information.

Tissue destruction

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface.

A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose. goes while the brain performs a certain task.

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computergenerated images of soft tissues

The oldest part and central core of the brain. It connects the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for automatic functions.

The base of the brainstem

Nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.

The thalamus is the brain's sensory switchboard. It directs messages to the sensory areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

Plays a role in motor control and movement including balance, subtle movement, and equilibrium

The overall system of the brain that regulates emotions and controls behavior. Includes the Hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other structures.

A small, almond-shaped cluster of neurons located deep in the temporal lobe.

A limbic structure that serves as the brains blood testing laboratory, constantly monitoring the blood to determine the condition of the body, detects changes in body fluids

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

Surround neurons and provide support for and insulation between them

The part of the brain that controls important cognitive skills in Humans, such as emotional expression; problem solving; memory, language, judgment, and sexual behaviors.

They contain the part of the brain primarily responsible for movement and the sense of touch.

It is the portion of the human brain that functions as a visual processing region—interpreting the information that the eyes perceived.

Primarily involved with auditory perception, however also plays an important role in memory, specific perception such as recognition of objects and peoples faces as well as emotional responses to sensory information and memories.

An area at the rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements.

Impairment of language, usually caused by left. hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding).

An area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

A brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.

The ability of the brain's neural structure or functions to be changed by experience throughout the lifespan.

The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers that connect the brain's left and right hemispheres together

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

Glands secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use (metabolism) by body cells.

body's chemical messengers

An endocrine gland located above the kidney. The adrenal glands help control heart rate and blood pressure and regulate the fight-or-flight stress response.

A gland located at the base of the brain producing hormones that control other glands and which affects metabolism, bone growth and sexual maturity.

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.

Rootlike parts of the cell that stretch out from the cell body. Dendrites grow to make synaptic connections with other neurons.

Drugs that mimic a particular neurotransmitter, activating the same receptors that it does.

Drugs that block a particular neurotransmitter from activating its receptors

Chemical that influences voluntary movement, learning, pleasure, memory,-is implicated in Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia; in Parkinson's disease a causes tremors, muscle spasms, increasing muscular rigidity; recently implicated in ADHD

Associated with mood regulation, sleep, and appetite. It is often referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter because it is believed to contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness.

A neurotransmitter important in controlling alertness, wakefulness, mood, and attention.

An inhibitory neurotransmitter which acts like a brake to excitatory neurotransmitters that lead to anxiety.

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system; important for learning and memory.

A component of the limbic system involved in establishing long term memories

Constitutes the largest part of the human brain. It is also known as the cortex and is responsible for performing a great number of important brain functions, including action and thought processing.

The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein.

The complete set of genetic material in an organism's chromosomes.

Twins who originate from one zygote that splits apart very early in development; also known as identical twins.

Twins that are formed when two separate ova are fertilized by two separate sperm at roughly the same time; also known as fraternal twins

The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.

A statistical measure that expresses a proportion of the observed variability in a trait that is a direct result of genetic variability

The study of heritable changes in gene expression or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

A change in the genetic material of a cell; cause by a mistake during DNA replication

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

A neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing.

A brief time period after an action potential has been initiated during which an axon is either incapable of generating another action potential

The process of the neurotransmitter inactivation by which the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed into the presynaptic neuron from which it had been released,

Produces melatonin, which helps maintain circadian rhythm and regulate reproductive hormones.

The parathyroid glands are attached to the back of the thyroid gland. They produce parathyroid hormone, which plays a key role in regulating the amount of calcium in the blood and within the bones.

Located across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The pancreas plays a role in digestion, as well as hormone production.

Testes in males

Small spheres in presynaptic axon terminals that contain a neurotransmitter, a specialized chemical substance. Neurotransmitters are released in response to electrical activity in the axon.

Areas on the surface of neurons and other cells that are sensitive to neurotransmitters or hormones, locations that uniquely recognize a neurotransmitter.

Cell is returned to its resting negative charge

A part of your brainstem, a structure that links your brain to your spinal cord. It handles unconscious processes and jobs, such as your sleep-wake cycle and breathing.

A group of brain structures linked together, handling complex processes that affect your entire body. While best known for their role in controlling your body's ability to move, experts now know they also play a role in several other functions, such as learning, emotional processing and more.

) A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.

Studied split brain patients

Carried out original studies of human brain laterality and function in split-brain patients,

The state of being aware and having knowledge about one's own thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions at any given moment.

Body processes controlled by your mind that we are not aware of.

Latent parts of the brain that are readily available to the conscious mind, although not currently in use.

Information beyond a person's conscious awareness that affects mental processes

The part of the mind that contains material of which we are unaware but strongly influences conscious behaviors and processes.

His belief in the connection between mind and body led him to develop what has become known as the James-Lange Theory of emotion, which posits that human experience of emotion arises from physiological changes in response to external events.

Out of the 4 stages of sleep, NREM-1, NREM-2, NREM-3, and REM, the third stage is where the brain will emit delta waves. These waves are large and slow, as such, this stage of sleep is also known as slow-wave sleep.