Psych chp 2

the scientific study of the links between biological(genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.

behavioral neuroscientists, neruropsychologists, behavior geneticists etc..

a nervecell: the basic building block of the nervous system

the neuron's bushy, branchy extentions that recieve messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

the neuron's extension that passes messages through its branching terminal fibers that form junctions with other neurosn, muscles, or glands. can be longer than dendrites are covered with (myelin sheath).

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

the 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 recieving neuron. the tiny gap at this junction is called syaptic gap or cleft

chemical messangers that cross the synaptic gaps between nerurons. when release by the sending neuron, neurotransmittters travel across the syapse and bind to receptor sites on the recieveing neuron, thereby influencing whter that neuron will generate a nneural impulse

the sending neuron normally reabsorbs excess neurotransmitter molecules

morphine within; natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

enables muscle action, learning, and memory- these neuro transmitters deteriorate when Alzheimers

Influences movement, learning, atention, and emotion. excess = linked with schizophrenia & shortage = linked to tremors, decrease mobility and parkinson's disease

• Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
• low supply = depression drugs taken to raise levels = prozac

helps controll alertness and arousal- low levels = depress mood

lessen pain and boost mood

molecules that mimic opiate effects and give a temporary high

also bind to receptors but block the neurotransmitter functioning

whether or not an impulse is generated

pain or vigorous exercise

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

Brain and spinal chord

sensorya dn motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

bundles axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

nerusons that carry incoming info from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

neurons that carry outgoing info fro the brain and spianl cord to the muscles and glands

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internaly and intevene tetween the sensory inputs and motor outputs. we have billions of them more than sensory or motor neurons

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. also called skelatal nervous system

part of the peripheral nervous system that controlls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as teh heart). self regulating i.e. the heart pumping automatically sympathetic stimulation accelarates the heart and parasympathetic stimuli slows it

the division of the autonomic nvsystem that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

division of the autonomic nvs that calms the body, conserving its energy

central nervous system

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- fight or flight response..

the endocrine system's most influental gland. under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning whre the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; teh brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. these waves are measured by electrododes placed on the scalp

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

uses magentic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. they show train anatonomy

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. also shows brain function

the brains sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory recieving areas in the cortex and transmits re;ies to the cerebellum and medulla

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

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include some nonverbal learning, processing sensory input, and coordinating movement output and balance

neural system including the hippcampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with meotions and drives

the medulla

cerebellum

influence agression influence aggression and fear -size two limabeans

it directs several maintance activities; eating, drinking, body temperature, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

amygdala and hippocampus

hypothalamus

the intricate fabrick of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and info center

• portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved
• in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments. (p.
• 50)

• portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward
• the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position. (p. 50)

• portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes
• areas that receive information from the visual fields. (p. 50)

• portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly
• above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information
• primarily from the opposite ear. (p. 50)

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. (p. 51

sensory cortex

• 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, speaking, and integrating information. (p. 53)

• impairment of language, usually caused by
• left-hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to
• Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding). (p. 54)

• controls language expression; an area of the
• frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle
• movements involved in speech. (p. 54)

• controls language reception; a brain area,
• usually in the left temporal lobe, that is involved in language
• comprehension and expression. (p. 54)

the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience. (p. 56)

the formation of new neurons. (p. 57)

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them. (p. 57)

• a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the
• brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them. (p. 58)