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Biopsychology

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The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biolog, behavior, and mental processes.

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Evolution

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The gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its enviroment.

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Natural Selection

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The driving force behind evolution by which the enviroment selects the fittest organisms.

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Genotype

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An organism's genetic makeup.

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Phenotype

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An organism's observable physical and behavioral characteristics.

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Genome

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The coplete set of genetic information contained within a cell.

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DNA

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A long complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics.

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Gene

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Segment of a chromosome that encodes the directions for the inherited phsycal and mental characteristics of an organism. Genes are the functional units of a chromosome. Genes are made of DNA.

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Chromosome

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Tighty coiled threadlike structure along which the genes are organized, like beads on a necklace. Chromosomes consist primarily of DNA.

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Sex Chromosomes

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The X and Y chromosomes that determine the physical sex characteristics.

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Charles Darwin

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Landed a job as a gentleman companion aboard the Beagle, a British research vessel surveying the coastline of South America in 1831.

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The brain coordinates 2 communtication systems.

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The nervous system and the endocrine system.

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Nervous System

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Neurons work together to as a modular components of the greater network of the nervous system that extends throughout the body.

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Endocrine System

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A group of glands that operate together and in parallel with the nervous system also throughout the body.

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Neuron

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Cell specialized to recieve and transmit information to other cells in the body also called a nerve cell.

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Nerves

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Bundles of many neurons.

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Sensory Neuron

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A nerve cell that carries messages toward the central nervous system from sense receptors also called afferent neurons.

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Motor Neuron

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A nerve cell that carries messages away from the central nervous system toward the muscles and glands also called the efferent neurons.

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Interneuron

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A nerve cell that relays messages between nerve cells, especially in the brain and spinal cord.

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Dendrite

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Branched fiber that extends outward from the cell body and carries information into the neuron.

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Soma

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Dendrites pass their messages onto the central part of the neuron called the cell body or soma. Not only does the soma house the cells chromosomes it also conducts on the spot evaluation of the hundreds or sometimes thousands of messages recieved by the cell, often simultaneously.

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Soma

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The part of a cell such as a neuron containing the necleous, which includes chromosomes also called the cell body.

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Soma

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Excitatory (saying in effect Fire!) Inhibitory( Don't Fire!) The decision made by the soma depends on its overall arousal which depends on the sum of the incoming messages. When excitement triumphs over inhibition the neuron initates a message of its own and sends it along a signal transmitter fiber known as the axon.

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Axon

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In a nerve cell an extended fiber that conducts information from the soma to the terminal buttons, Information travels along the axon in the form of the action potential.

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The Action Potential

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When arrousal in the cell body reaches a critical level it triggers an electrical impulse in the axon, the axon gets the electrical energy it needs to fire from charged chemicals called Ions.

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The Action Potential

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The nerve impulse caused by a change in electrical charge across the cell membrane of the axon. When the neuron fires this charge travels down the axon and causes neurutransmitters to be released by terminal buttons. When the cell body becomes excited it triggers a cascade of events that temporarily reverses the charge and causes an electrical signal to race along the axon.

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Resting Potential

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The electrical charge of the axon in its inactive state when the neuron is ready to fire. The ions inside the axon have a negative electrical charge.

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All or None Principle

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Refers to the fact that the action potential in the axon occurs either completely or not at all.

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Synapse

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The microscopic gap that serves a communications link between neurons. Synapse also occur between neurons and the musles or glands they serve. Junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the recieving neuron we can refer to this as synaptic transmission.

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Terminal Buttons

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Tiny bulb like structures at the end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters that carry the neurons message into the synapse.

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Synaptic Transmssion

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The relaying of information across the snyapse by means of chemical neurotransmitters.

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Neurtransmitter

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Chemical messanger that traverse and relays neural messages across the snyapse. Many neurotransmitters are also horomones.

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Reuptake

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The process of by which unused neurotransmitters are drawn back into the vesicles of their origionating neuron.

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Seven important neurotransmitters

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Dopamine (sensations of pleasure and reward), Serotonin(sleep, dreaming,mood, pain, aggression, appetite, sexual behavior), Norepinephrine(normal function controls heart rate, sleep, sexual responsiveness, stress, vigilance, and appetite), Acetylcholine(involved in some kinds of learning and memory), GABA(most prevalent inhibitory csn transmittter anxiety, epilepsy), Glutamate(primary excitatory learning and memory), Endorphins (pleasurable sensations pain control).

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Plasticity

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The nervous system's ability to adapt or change as the result of experience, Plasticity may also help the nervous system adapt to physical damage, and change.

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Glial Cell

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One of the cells that provides structural support for neurons. Glial cells also provide an insulating covering ( myelin sheath) of the axon for some neurons, which facilitates the electrical impulse. Encases axons speeds neural impulses.

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Myelin Sheath

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A fatty insulation covering many axons in the brain and spinal cord.

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Nervous System

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The entire network of neurons in the body including the central nervous system the peripheralnervous system and their subdivisions.

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Central Nervous System

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The brain and the spinal cord. Serves as the bodys command central.

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Reflex

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Simple unlearned response triggered by stimuli such as knee jerk reflex set off by tapping the tendon just below your kneecap.

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Contralateral Pathways

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Sensory and motor pathways between the brain and the rest of the body cross over to the opposite side enroute so messages from the right side of the body are processed by the left side of the brain and vice versa.

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Peripheral Nervous System

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All parts of the nervous system lying outside the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system includes the autonomic and somatic nervous systems.

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Somatic Nervous System

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A division of the peripheral nervous system that carries sensory information to the central nervous system and also sends voluntary messages to the whole bodys skeletal muscles.

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Autonomic Nervous System

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The portion of the peripheral nervous system that sends communications between the central nervous system and the internal organs and glanda.

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Sympathetic Division

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The part of the autonomic nervous system that sends messages to internal organs and glands that help us respond to stressful and emergency situations. Fight or flight system.

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Parasympathetic Division

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The part of the autonomic system that moniters the routine operations of the internal organs and returns the body to calmer functioning after arousal by the sympathetic division.

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Endocrine System

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The horomone system. The body's chemical messagenger system including the endrocrine glands ,pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pancreas, overies, and testes. The endocrine system finishes what the sympathetic nervous system started by keeping your heart punding and your muscles tense, ready for action.

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Horomones

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Chemical messengers( in the brain) used by the endocrine system. Many horomones also serve as neurotransmitters in the nervous system.

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Epinephrine

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Sometimes called adrenalin is released into the the bloodstream sustaining the bodys flight or fight reactions.

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Pituitary Gland

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Oversees all the endocrine responses it does so by sending out horomone signals of its own through the blood to other endrocrine glands throughout the body. The master gland that produces horomones influencing the secretions of all othe endocrine glands, as well as a hormone that influences growth. The pituitary is attached to the brains hypothalamus, from which it takes its orders.

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Agonists

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Drugs or other chemicals that enhance or memic the effects of neurotransmitters.

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Antagonists

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Drugs or other chemicals that inhibit the effects of neurotransmitters.

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Neural Pathways

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Bundles of nerve cells that follow generally the same route and employ the same neurotransmitters.

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Electroencephalograpg EEG

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A device for recording brain waves, typically by electrodes placed on the scalp. The record produced is known as the (EEG)

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CT Scanning or Computerized Tomography

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A computerized tomography imaging technique that uses X rays passed through the brain at various angles and then combined into image.

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PET Scanning or Positron Emission Tomography

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An imaging technique that relies on the detection of radioactive sugar consumed by active brain cells.

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MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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An imaging techique that relies on cells responses in a high intensity magnetic field.

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FMRI or Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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A newer form of magnetic resonance imaging that records both brain structure and brain activity.

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Three layers of the brain

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Brain stem and the cerebullum represent the oldest pert of the brain, the limbic system evolved next and the cerebral cortex is the most recent achievement in the brain evolution. Vital functions heart rate, breathing, digestion Brain stem Limbic system emotions complex motives tied to memory Cerebrum reasoning, planning, creating, problem solving. Evolutionary,Anatomically,Functionally

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Brain Stem

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The most primitive of the brains three major layers. It includes the medulla, pons, and the reticular formation. Sets the brains general alertness level and warning system.

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Medulla

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A brain stem structure that controls breathing and heart rate. The sensory and motor pathways connecting the brain to the body cross in the medulla. Regulates body functioning such as blood pressure breathing, and heart rate.

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Pons

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A brain stem structure that regulates brain activity during skeep and dreaming. Also latain word for bridge appears just above the medulla where it houses nerve circuits that regulate the sleep and dreaming cycle.

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Cerebellum

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The little brain attached to the brain stem. Responsible for making coordinated movements.

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Reticular Formation

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Running through the center of everything, is it a pencil like structure forming the core of the brain stem.It controls arouses the cortex to keep the brain alert and attentive to new stimulation.

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Thalamus

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The brains central relay station situated just a top the brain stem. Nearly all the messages going into or out of the brain pass through the thalamus. Way station for sensory info.

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Limbic System

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The middle layer of the brain involved in emotion and memory. The limbic system includes the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and other structures. It houses other modules as well regulating such important processes as hunger, thirst, and body temperature.

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Hippocampus

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A component of the limbic system involved in establishing long term memory.

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Amydala

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A limbic system structure involved in some memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression. This is the real fight or flight center.

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Hypothalamus

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A limbic structurethat serves the brain's blood testing labortory constantly monitoring the blood to determine the condition of the body.

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Cerebral Hemispheres

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The large symmetrical halves of the brain located atop the brain stem.

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Corpus Callosum

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The ban of nerve cells connecting and enabling communication between the two cerebral hemispheres.

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Cerebral Cortex

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The thin gray matter covering the cerebral hemispheres, consisting of a 1/4 inch layer dense with cell bodies of neurons. The cerebral cortex carries on the major portion of our higher mental processing, including thinking and perceivingreasoning, planning, problem solving these make us, us.

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Frontal Lobes

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Cortical regions at the front of the brain that are especially involved in movement and in thinking.

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Motor Cortex

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A narrow vertical strip of cortex in the frontal lobes lying just in front of the central fissure, controls voluntary movement.

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Mirror Neuron

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A recently discovered class of neuron that fires in response to mirroring observation of another persons actions or emotions.

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Parietal Lobes

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Cortical areas lying towrad the back and top of the brain involved in touch, sensation, and in precieving spatial relationships, the relationship of objects in space,

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Somatosensery Cortex

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A strip of the parietal lobes lying just behind the central fissure. The Somatosensery cortex is involved with sensations of touch.

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Temporal Lobes

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Cortical Lobes that process sound, including speech. The temporal lobes are probably involved in storing long term memories.

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Occipital Lobes

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The cortical regions at the back of the brain that house the visual cortex.

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Visual Cortex

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The visual processing areas of cortext in the occipital and temporal lobes.

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Association Cortex

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Cortical regions throughout the brain that combine information from various other parts of the brain.

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Cerebral Dominance

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The tendency of each brain hemisphere to exert control over different functions, such as language or perception of spatial relationships.

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What section of a nerve cell recieves incoming information?

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Dendrite

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In general, neuroscientist are interested in?

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Brain mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal behavior.

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Which section of the brain coordinates body movement and maintains equilibrium?

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Cerebellum

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Which brain structure is most closely involved with emotion?

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Limbic System

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Which method of probing the brain produces actual pictures of the brains inner workings?

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Brain imaging

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Research related to acetylcholine may someday help people who?

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Have Alzheimers disease

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When we say the relationship between the brain and behavior is reciprocal we meant that?

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Thr brain controls behavior, but behavior can modify the brain.

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Which of the following is true about how neurons communicate with each other?

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The sum of excitatory and inhibitory signals to a neuron determines weather and how strongly it will respond.

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Which part of the brain controls breathing?

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Brain stem

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The cerebrum

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Consist of two hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum. Topmost layer of the brain.

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After a rod was shot through phineas gages skull what psychologic system was strongly disrupted?

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His emotional responses.

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Which of the following does not provide information about the structure of the brain?

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EEG

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Which of the following provides the highest temporial and spatial resolution in brain imaging?

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FMRI

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Stimuli that pass through the right eye are processed by?

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The left side of the brain

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The process of learning how to read shows that the brain is plastic. What does this mean?

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Learning how to read reorganizes the brain.

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If a scientist was studing the effect of endorphins on the body, the scientist would be likely to look at a participants?

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Mood

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What is the relationship between the results of saul schanbergs research and that of tiffany field.

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Their results show similar phenomena in different species.

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What physical change did Mark Rosenzweig's team note when it studies rats raised in an enriched enviroment?

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A thicker cortex

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A scientist who uses the methodologies of brain science to examine animal behavior in natural habitats is a?

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Neuroethologist

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With respect to the neurochemistry of the brain, all these are true, except

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Physostigmine is responsible for information transmittion in the perceptual pathways.

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Mutations

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Random genetic variations.

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Neuroscience

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Role of the brain in psychological processes.

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Two main mind body communication systems

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Nervous system- primarily electrical, neural impulses Endocrine system-primarily chemical, horomones

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Terminal branches

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Join with other cells

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Neural Impulse

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Brief electrical surge that travels down an axon in this order dendrites-->cell body-->axon-->terminal branches.

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Action Potential

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The actual voltage of the neural impulse

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Neurotransmitters are involved with

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Mental processes, Psychological disorders, Psychoactive drug action.

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Two main divisions of nervous system

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Central nervous system- brain and spinal cord in the center Peripheral Nervous System- the rest of the NS on the outside or periphery

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Peripheral NS also has two divisions

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Autonomic NS-involuntary automatics responds to emergency conditions smooth muscle glands Somatic NS-voluntary for normal voluntary activities skeletal muscles.

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Autonomic NS has two more important branches

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Sympathetic NS an the Parasympathetic NS they are functionally different they serve respectively to mobilize the body to action and restore it to resting equilibrium. Anatomically different arising respectively from thorcic vertabrea and from cervical vertabrea mostly. Their effects are complementarily sort of opposite.

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Brain Scans

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Recordings of the brains electrical or biochemical activity at specific sites

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Left Hemisphere

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Dominates in spontaneous speaking, writing, responses to complex commands, word recognition, memory for words and numbers. Keyword language

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Right Hemisphere

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Prominent are spatial interpretation, facial recognition, memory for shapes and music, emotional responsiveness. Keywords Spatial interpretation and emotion.

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