-
biological psychology
studies links between biology and psychology
-
dendrites
receive messages; send towards cell body
-
-
-
axon terminal
end of axon; joins with dendrites
-
myelin sheath
fatty tissue around axon, sends messages faster
-
action potential
electrical charge which travels down axon
-
threshold
stimulation needed to trigger neural impulse
-
synapse
gap between axon and dendrites
-
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers; travel from one neuron to the next
-
acetylcholine
learning and memory; muscle contraction
-
endorphins
pain control and pleasure
-
nervous system
electrochemical communication network
-
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
-
peripheral nervous system
connects all other nerves to CNS
-
somatic nervous system
division of peripheral; controls skeletal muscles
-
autonomic nervous system
division of peripheral; controls glands and organ muscles
-
sympathetic nervous system
division of autonomic; mobilizes body energy
-
parasympathetic nervous system
division of autonomic; demobilizes body energy
-
-
sensory neurons
information from sense receptors to CNS
-
interneurons
CNS neurons which internally communicate
-
motor neurons
info from CNS to muscles and glands
-
reflex
automatic response to sensory stimulus
-
neural networks
interconnected neural cells
-
endocrine system
secrete hormones "slow" chemical communication
-
hormones
chemical messengers produced in one tissue, affect another
-
adrenal glands
secrete adrenaline and nonadrenaline
-
pituitary gland
regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
-
lesion
destruction of brain tissue
-
EEG
measures electrical activity on brain surface
-
PET
shows where glucose goes when doing a specific task
-
MRI
uses magnetic fields to show levels of soft tissue
-
fMRI
reveals blood flow and brain function
-
brainstem
base of skull, autonomic survival functions
-
medulla
base of brainstem; heartbeat and breathing
-
reticular formation
nerve network; important role in controlling arousal
-
thalamus
sensory switchboard; directs messages
-
cerebellum
processes sensory input and coordinating movement output
-
limbic system
system of neural structures; emotions and drives
-
amygdala
emotions; fear and agression
-
hypothalamus
maintenance activities and governs endocrine system
-
cerebral cortex
body's ultimate control and information processing center
-
glial cells
support, nourish, and protect neurons
-
frontal lobes
making plans and judgements; personality
-
parietal lobes
sensory input for touch and body position
-
occipital lobes
visual information
-
temporal lobes
auditory information
-
motor cortex
rear of frontal lobes, voluntary movement
-
sensory cortex
front of parietal; processes body touch
-
association aras
not involved in specific functions
-
aphasia
language disability
-
broca's area
frontal lobe, language expression
-
Wernicke's area
parietal lobe, language comprehension
-
plasticity
brain's ability to adapt
-
corpus callosum
band of neural fibers connecting hemispheres
-
split brain
person whose corpus callosum has been cut
|
|