Psychology: Chapter 3 – Flashcards
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Neurons
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Nerve cells, the basic elements of the nervous system
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Dendrite
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cluster of fibers at one end of a neuron that receives messages from other neurons
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Axon
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part of the neuron that carries messages destined for other neurons
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Terminal buttons
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small bulges at the end of axons that send messages to other neurons
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Myelin Sheath
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protective coat of fat and protein that wraps around axons
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How Neurons Fire
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Transmit an electrical impulse along the axon
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All-or-one law
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the rule that neurons are either on or off
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Action potential
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electric nerve impulse that travels through a neuron's axon when it is set off by a "trigger," changing neuron's charge from negative to positive
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Synapse
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space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages
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Neurotransmitters
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chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to the dendrite (and sometimes the cell body) of a receiving neuron
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Excitatory messages
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chemical messages that make it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire and an action potential will travel down its axon
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Inhibitory messages
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chemical messages that prevent or decrease the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire
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Reuptake
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the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by a terminal button
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Central Nervous System
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part of the nervous system that includes the brain and the spinal cord
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Spinal cord
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a bundle of neurons that leaves the brain and runs down the length of the back and is the main means for transmitting messages between the brain and the body
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Sensory (afferent) neurons
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neurons that transmit information from the perimeter of the body to the central nervous system
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Moter (efferent) neurons
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neurons that communicate information from the nervous system to muscles and glands
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Interneurons
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connect sensory and motor neurons, carrying messages between the two
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Glial cells
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"glue"
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Peripheral nervous system
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the part of the nervous system that includes the autonomic and somatic subdivisions
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Somatic division
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the part of the peripheral nervous system that specializes in the control of voluntary movements and the communication of information to and from the sense organs
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Autonomic division
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the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary movement of the heart, glands, lungs, and other organs
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Sympathetic division
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the part of the autonomic division of the nervous system that acts to prepare the body for action in stressful situations, engaging all the organism's resources to respond to a threat
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Parasympathetic division
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the part of the autonomic division of the nervous system that acts to calm the body after an emergency has ended
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The Endocrine System
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-Chemical communication network via the bloodstream -Main job: secrete hormones (also chemical messengers) -Hormones and neurotransmitters share similarities and differences
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The Pituitary Gland
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-"Master Gland" -Controls the functioning of the entire endocrine system -Regulated by the hypothalamus -Secretes the hormones that control growth
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Heart
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makes hormone lowering blood sodium
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Liver and kidneys
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regulate production of red blood cells
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Pancreas
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creates insulin to regulate blood sugar
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Stomach and small intestine
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secrete hormones that aid digestion and regulate pancreatic activity
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Central core
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the "old brain" which controls basic functions such as eating and sleeping and is common to all vertebrates
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Medulla (hindbrain)
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controls many critical body functions, including breathing and the heartbeat
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Pons (hindbrain)
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transmits motor information, coordinating muscles and movement between the right and left halves of the body
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Cerebellum (hindbrain)
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part of the brain controlling bodily balance
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Reticular formation (midbrain)
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part of the brain extending from the medulla through the pons; made up of groups of nerve cells that can immediately activate other parts of the brain to produce general bodily arousal
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Thalamus (forebrain)
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located in the middle of the central core; acts primarily to relay information about the senses
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Hypothalamus (forebrain)
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tiny part of the brain; maintains the body's internal balance and regulates vital behavior such as eating, drinking, and sexual behavior
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The Limbic System
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-The "Animal" brain -Controls a variety of functions relating to emotions and self- preservation, like eating, aggression, and reproduction -Learning and memory is also involved
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Motor area
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Largely responsible for body's voluntary movements
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Sensory area
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-Brain tissue that corresponds to the different senses, with the degree of sensitivity related to the amount of tissue -Contains areas relating to sight, sound, and body sensations (like touch) -Somatosensory area -Auditory area -Visual area
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Association areas
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major regions of the cerebral cortex; sites of higher mental processes - thought, language, memory, and speech
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Hemispheres
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-symmetrical left and right halves of the brain that control the side of the body opposite to their location -Left: logical, Right: creativity
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Lateralization
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dominance of one hemisphere of the brain in specific functions, such as language
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________ are the most basic units of nervous system.
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Neurons
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The ________ is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
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Central Nervous System
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The ________ is the part of the brain controls basic functions like eating and sleeping.
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Central core
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The major goal of _________ is to identify behavior patterns that are a result of our genetic inheritance from our ancestors.
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Evolutionary psychology
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The part of the peripheral nervous system that specializes in the control of voluntary movements and the communication of information to and from the sense organs is the _______.
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Somatic division
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The space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron is called the ________.
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Synapse
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_________ are chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to receptor sites on a receiving neuron.
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Neurotransmitters
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The _________ is a chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream.
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Endocrine system
