AP Psych Unit 2

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

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

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

EEG

An 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

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

PET scan

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

MRI

a 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

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

motor neurons

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

sensory neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

automatic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). 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

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Neurons

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Soma

cell body

Dendrites

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Axons

Carry impulses away from the cell body

myelin sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Synapse

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

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

action potential

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

sodium-potassium pump

a carrier protein that uses ATP to actively transport sodium ions out of a cell and potassium ions into the cell

Reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

inhibition

a feeling that makes one self-conscious and unable to act in a relaxed and natural way

Agonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

Antagonist

Does not mimic neurochemicals and blocks neural pathways

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

Pancreas

Regulates the level of sugar in the blood

Thyroid

regulates metabolism

pituitary gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

testes and ovaries

reproductive hormones

(endocrine system)

dual processing

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

frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

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

Phineas Gage

railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality and behavior; case played a role in the development of the understanding of the localization of brain function

Prosopagnosia

inability to recognize faces

feature receptors

nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement

hemispheric specialization

The control of distinct neurological functions by the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

brain lateralization

specialization of function in each hemisphere

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

Epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

Broca's area

Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Wernicke's area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Gazzinga

Split brain research

Sperry

split brain in mice - two hemispheres seemed to learn despite being separated

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

parallel processing

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

Noniceptors

sensory receptors that detect hurtful temperatures, pressure, or chemicals

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Pons

part of the brain stem that is responsible for dreaming and sleep

reticular formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Cerebrum

Largest part of the brain; responsible for voluntary muscular activity, vision, speech, taste, hearing, thought, and memory.

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction, associated with Alzheimer's

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.

Endorphins

"morphine within"--natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory