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Psychology: Unit 3 : (Module 12: The Cerebral Cortex (Cerebral cortex: the…
Psychology: Unit 3 :
Module 12: The Cerebral Cortex
Cerebral cortex
: the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres - the body's ultimate control and information processing center
Glial cells
: cells in the nervous system that support, nourish and protect neurons
Frontal lobes
: portion of the cerebral cortex, lying just behind the forehead, involved in speaking + muscle movements and making plans/judgement
Parietal lobes
: portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory info for touch and body position
Occipital lobes
: portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head, includes areas that receive info from the visual fields
Temporal lobes
: portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears, includes auditory areas, each receiving info primarily from the opposite ear
Motor cortex
: an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements
Association areas
: areas of the cerebral cortex that aren't involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions
Plasticity
: brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Module 9: Biological Psychology and Neurotransmission
9.1: Biology, Behavior and Mind
Localization of Function:
the idea that various brain regions have particular functions
Phrenology
: studying bumps on the skull, could reveal mental abilities and character traits
Biological Psychology:
the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. Also known as behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists.
9.2 Neurons
Dendrites
: a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
: the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Neuron
: a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Myelin Sheath
: a fatty tissue layer segmentallyencasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop for one sausage-like node to the next
Multiple Sclerosis
: communication to muscles slows, with eventual loss of muscle control
Action Potential
: a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Refractory Period
: a period of inactivity after a neuron is fired
Threshold
: the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
All-or-None Response
: a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing
9.3: How Neurons Communicate
Neurotransmitters
: chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons. when released, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse, bind to the receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse
Re-uptake
: a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
Synapse
: the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrites or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
9.4 Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine
: enables muscle action, learning, and memory
Dopamine
: influences movement, learning, attention and emotion
Endorphins
: "morphine within"- natural opitate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and the pleasure
Serotonin
: affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal
Norepinephrine
: helps control alertness and arousal
GABA
: a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
Glutamate
: a major excitatory neurotransmitter involved with memory
Module 14: Behavior Genetics Predicting Individual Differences
14.1: Our Codes for Life
Environment
: every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
Chromosome
: threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
Behavior Genetics
: the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences of behavior
DNA
: a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosome
Genes
: the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
Fraternal Twins
: twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer that brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment
Identical Twins
: twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms
14.2: Molecular Genetics
Molecular Genetics
: the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes
14.3: Heritability
Heritability
: the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait man vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied
14.4: Gene Environment Interaction
Interaction
: the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (environment) depends on another factor(heredity)
Epigenetic
: the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without DNA change
Module 11: Studying the brain and older brain structures
Lesion
: tissue destruction - naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
: amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. These waves are measures by electrodes placed on the scale
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
: technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue
fMRI
: a technique used for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity
Brainstem
: oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
: the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Thalamus
: brain's sensory control located on top of the brainstem; directs messages to sensory receiving areas
Reticular formation
: a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and plays an important role in controlling arousal
Cerebellum
: "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
Limbic system
: neural system located below the cerebral hemisphere, associated with emotions and drives
Amygdala
: 2 lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
Hypothalamus
: neural structure lying below the thalamus; it drives several maintenance activities
Computed topography (CT) scan
: series of x-ray photographs taken by different angles and combined by a computer in a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure
Module 10: The Nervous and Endocrine Systems
10.1: Nervous System
Central Nervous System
: the brain and the spinal chord
Peripheral Nervous System
: the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Nervous System
: the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Nerves
: bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands ands sense organs
Sensory Neurons
: neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord
Motor Neurons
: neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
: neurons within the brain and spinal chord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and outputs
Autonomic Nervous System:
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. It;s sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms
Somatic Nervous System
: the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. also called the skeletal nervous system
Parasympathetic Nervous System
: the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy
Sympathetic Nervous System
: the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
10.2: The Endocrine System
Hormones
: chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
Adrenal Glands
: a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secret hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that can help arouse the body in times of stress
Endocrine System
: the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Pituitary Glands
: the endocrine system's most influential glands. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Module 13: Brain Hemisphere and the Biology of Consciousness
13.1: Our Divided Brain
Split Brain
: a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them
Corpus Callosum
: a large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres together and carrying messages between them
13.2: Biology of Consciousness
Cognitive Neuroscience
: the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition. perception, thinking, memory and language
Dual Processing
: the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
Consciousness:
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
Module 15: Evolutionary Psychology: Understanding Human Nature
15.1: Natural Selection and Adpation
Evolutionary Psychology
: the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
Natural Selection
: the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely passed on to succeeding generations
Mutation
: a random error in gene replication that leads to a change