Download Vocab: Unit 3 Handout made by: Jessica Jones and Hanna Cho

Vocab: Unit 3
Handout made by: Jessica Jones and Hanna Cho
Module 9
Biological Psychology: links between biological and psychological processes
Neuron: basic building block of the nervous system
Dendrites: receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon: passes messages through its branches to other neurons
Myelin Sheath: fatty layer encasing the axons of some neurons, enables greater transmission speed
Action Potential: brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Refractory Period: period of inactivity after a neuron has fired
Threshold: level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
All-or-none response: neuron’s reaction of either firing (with full strength) or not firing at all
Synapse: junction between the axon (sending the neuron) and the dendrite (receiving) the gap is called the synaptic
gap
Neurotransmitters: messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons
Reuptake: neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron
Endorphins: natural opiate-like neurotransmitters, linked to pain control and pleasure
Agonist: by binding to a receptor site, it stimulates a response
Antagonist: blocks a response
Module 10
Nervous System: body’s speedy communication network, includes the CNS and the PNS
Central Nervous System: (CNS) The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System: (PNS) sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the body
Nerves: “cables” connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Sensory (afferent) neurons: carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to brain and spinal cord
Motor (efferent) neurons: carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Interneurons: neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate with sensory inputs and motor outputs
Somatic Nervous System: controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Autonomic Nervous System: (ANS) part of PNS, controls glands and muscles of internal organs
Sympathetic nervous system: arouses body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
Parasympathetic nervous system: calms the body, conserving its energy
Reflex: simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus
Endocrine System: set of glands that slowly secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones: chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
Adrenal glands: sit above the kidneys and helps arouse the body in times of stress
Pituitary gland: regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Module 11
Lesion: tissue destruction, brain lesions are naturally or experimentally caused
Electroencephalogram: (EEG) amplified recording of the waves, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
CT computed tomography scan: X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by the computer to
composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure.
PET positron emission tomography scan: visual display of the brain activity, detects where radioactive forms of
glucose goes while the brain is given a task.
MRI magnetic resonance imaging: magnetic fields and radio waves that produce computer images of the brain.
FMRI functional MRI: a technique that’s used for revealing blood flow, shows brain function and structure.
Brainstem: the oldest and central core of the brain, the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla: the base of the brainstem; controls the heartbeat and breathing
Thalamus: directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the coretext and transmits replies to the cerebellum and
medulla.
Reticular formation: a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in
arousal.
Cerebellum: processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, and enables non verbal learning
memory.
Limbic System: neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
Amygdala: two-lime bean sized neural clusters in limbic system; linked to emotion
Hypothalamus: helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, linked to emotion and reward
Module 12
Cerebral Cortex: the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Frontal lobes: lies just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in plans and making
judgement.
Parietal lobes: lies on the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and boyd position
Occipital lobes: lies at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from visual fields
Glial Cells: (glia) cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, they may also play a role in
learning and thinking
Temporal lobes: lies roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information from the
opposite ear.
Motor cortex: an area at the rear of the frontal lobes, controls voluntary movements
Somatosensory cortex: registers and processes body touch and movement sensations (in the front of the parietal
lobes)
Association area: areas of the cerebral cortex involving the higher mental functions, such as learning, remembering,
thinking, and speaking
Plasticity: the brain’s ability to change, by reorganizing after damage of building new pathways
Neurogenesis: the formation of new neurons
Module 13
Corpus Callosum: the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages
between them
Split brain: condition resulting from surgery, isolates the brain’s two hemispheres
Consciousness: our awareness of ourselves and the environment
Cognitive Neuroscience: linked with cognition, thinking, memory, and language
Dual Processing: the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and
unconscious tracks
Module 14
Behavior genetics: the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences
Environment: every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
Chromosomes: threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes
DNA: (deoxyribonucleic acid) complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up chromosomes
Genes: biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes
Genome: complete instructions for making an organism, genetic material in the organism’s chromosomes
Identical twins: (monozygotic twins) develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two
Fraternal twins: (dizygotic twins) develop from separate fertilized eggs, share a fetal environment
Molecular genetics: studies the molecular structure and function of genes
Heritability: variation among individuals that can attribute to genes, will vary depending on the range of populations
and environments studied
Interaction:interplay occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor (environment and heredity)
Epigenetics: study of environmental influences on gene expression, occurs without DNA change
Module 15
Evolutionary psychology: study of evolution of behavior and the mind, using the principles of natural selection
Natural selection: range of inherited trait variations, that contribute to reproduction and survival will be most likely
passed on to succeeding generations
Mutation: error in gene replication that leads to a change