ITP (chapter 2)
scientific study that links brain and behavior
biological psychology
examines the relationship between the neuron system, immune system and hormones and behavior
psychoneuroimmunology
analyzes how genetic factors contribute to individual differences in behavior, cognition, personality, etc
behavioral genetics
studies the neural basis of human cognitive processes including perception, attention, memory, language and decision making
cognitive neuroscience
thought of us the body's command center and communication network
nervous system
consists of the brain and spinal cord
central nervous system
consists of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord and forms the communication network between the central nervous system and other body parts
peripheral nervous system
serves as a communication relay between the central nervous system and muscles, organs and glands
peripheral nervous system
a specialized cell of the nervous system that receives and transmits messages
neurons
cells that remove dead neurons and waste products from the nervous system, nourish and insulate neurons, form myelin, and play a role in neural transmission of messages
glial cells
root-like structures, attached to the cell body of a neuron, that receive impulses, or incoming messages, from other neurons
dendrites
a long, thin part of a neuron that transmits impulses to other neurons from bulb-shaped structures called axon terminals or terminal buttons
axon
a fatty substance that encases and insulates axons, facilitating transmission of neural impulses
myelin sheath
Axon terminal buttons contain sacs of chemicals called ___________
neurotransmitter
neurons that transmit messages from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and
brain; also called sensory neurons
afferent neurons
neurons that transmit messages from the brain or spinal cord to muscles and glands; also called motor neurons
efferent neurons
the electrochemical discharge of a nerve cell or neuron
neural impulses
to ready a neuron for firing by creating an internal negative charge in relation to the body fluid outside the cell membrane
polarize
the electrical potential across the neural membrane when it is not responding to other neurons
resting potential
to reduce the resting potential of a cell membrane from about 70 millivolts toward zero
depolarized
the electrical impulse that provides the basis for the conduction of a neural impulse along an axon of a neuron
action potential
the fact that a neuron FIRES an impulse of the same strength whenever its action
potential is triggered
all-or-none principle
a phase following firing during which a
neuron is less sensitive to messages
from other neurons and will not fire
refractory period
a junction between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another neuron
synapse
chemical substances involved in the
transmission of neural impulses from
one neuron to another
neurotransmitter
a location on a dendrite of a receiving neuron tailored to receive a neurotransmitter
receptor site
a neurotransmitter that controls muscle contractions
acetylcholine
a structure of the brain that is involved in memory formation
hippocampus
a neurotransmitter that affects the ability to perceive pleasure, voluntary movement, and learning and memory; it is involved in Parkinson’s disease and appears to play a role in schizophrenia
dopamine
a neurotransmitter whose action
is similar to that of the hormone
epinephrine and that may play a role
in depression
norepinephrine
a neurotransmitter involved in emotional arousal and sleep; deficiencies of serotonin have been linked to eating disorders, alcoholism, depression, aggression, and insomnia
serotonin
an inhibitory neurotransmitter that apparently helps calm anxiety
GABA
inhibitory neurotransmitters that occur
naturally in the brain and in the bloodstream and are similar to the
narcotic morphine in their functions
and effects
endorphins
a bundle of axons from many neurons
nerves
consist of the brain and spinal cord
central nervous system
the part of the nervous system consisting of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
peripheral nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous
system that connects the central nervous
system with sensory receptors, skeletal
muscles, and the surface of the body
somatic nervous system
the division of the peripheral
nervous system that regulates glands and activities such as heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and dilation of the pupils
autonomic nervous system
the branch
of the ANS that is most active during
emotional responses, such as fear and
anxiety, that spend the body’s reserves
of energy
sympathetic nervous system
the branch of the ANS that is most active during processes (such as digestion) that restore the body’s reserves of energy
parasympathetic nervous system
link sensory and motor neurons.
interneurons
the concept
that holds that adaptive genetic
variations among members of a
species enable individuals with those
variations to survive and reproduce
natural selection
Neurons transmit messages to other neurons by means of chemical substances called ____________.
neurotransmitter
Neurons have a cell body, or soma; dendrites, which receive “messages”; and a(n) ____________, which extends from
the cell body and transmits messages.
axon
The axons of many neurons have a fatty insulating sheath called ____________.
myelin sheath
The ____________ nervous system regulates the glands and involuntary activities such as heartbeat and digestion.
autonomic
The ______ contains the core or nucleus of the cell
cell body
The _____ uses oxygen and
nutrients to generate the energy needed to carry out the work of the cell.
nucleus
neurons will not fire unless the incoming messages combine to reach a certain strength, which is defined as the _______
threshold
A _____ consists of an axon
terminal from the transmitting neuron, a dendrite, or the body of a receiving neuron
synapse
gap between the presynaptic axon terminal and the postsynaptic dendrite
synaptic cleft
Once released, not all molecules of a neurotransmitter find their way into receptor sites of other neurons. “Loose”
neurotransmitters are usually either broken down or reabsorbed by the axon terminal; this process called _______
reuptake
The psychological disorder ________ is characterized by confusion and false perceptions
schizophrenia
Deficiencies of dopamine are linked to ___________, in which people progressively lose control over their muscles
Parkinson’s disease
transmits the neural impulse from the sensory neuron through the spinal cord to the motor neuron.
interneuron