Psychology : Test II
Terms
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- Dendrites
- short fibers that beranch out from the cell body and pick up incoming messages; highly specialized to do various tasks
- Cell body
- basically the meat of the cell where the nucleus, DNA, and everything else is found
- Axon
- single long fiber extending from the cell body; it carries outgoing messages
- Myelin sheath
- white fatty covering found on most cells; its purpose is to insulate the neuron so the action potential is faster
- Gilial cells (support cells)
- cells that form the myelin sheath, they insulate and support neurons by holding them together, removng waste products, and preventing harmful substances from passing from the bloodstream
- ions
- electrically charged molecules found outside and inside the neuron
- Resting potential
- electrical charge across a neuron membrane due to excess positive ions concentrated on the outside and negative inos on the inside
- Polarization
- the condition of a neuron when th einside is negatively charged realtive to the outside; for example, when the neuron is at rest
- Action Potential
-
the firing of a nerve cell
-when sodium ions continuously flow in to the neuron action potential is created - Graded Potential
- a shift in the electrical charge in a tiny area of a neuron
- Threshold of Excitation
- the level of an impulse must exceed to cause a neuron to fire
- Absolute Refractory Period
- the length of time after an action potential when another action potential cannot begin
- Relative Refractory Period
- a period after firing when a neuron is returning to its normal polarized state and will fire again only if the incoming message is much stronger than usual
- All Or None Law
- priniciple that the action potential in a neuron does not vary in strength, the neuron either fires at full strength or not at all
- Termianl Button or Synaptic knob
- structure at the end of an axon terminal branch
- Synaptic Space
- the gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of the next neuron
- Synapse
- the area composed of the axon terminal of one neuron, the synaptic space, and the dendrite or cell body of the next neuron
- Synaptic Vesicle
- tiny sac in a terminal button that releases chemicals into the synapse
- neurotransmitters
- chemicals released by the synaptic vesicles that travel across the synaptic space and affect adjacent neurons
- receptor sites
- a location on a receptor neuron into which a specific neurotransmitter fits like a key
- plasticity
- the ability of the brain to change in response to experience
- cerebral cortex
- the outer surface of the two cerebral hemispheres that regulate most complex behavior
- thalumus
- forebrain region that relays and translates incoming messages from the sense receptors
- hypothalamus
- forebrain region that governs motivation and emotional responses
- cerebellum
- structure in the hindbrain that contains certain reflexes and coordinates the body's movement
- pons
- part of the hindbrain that connects the cerebral cortex at the top of the brain to the cerebellum
- medulla
- part of the hindbrain that controls such functions as breathing heart rate and blood pressure
- frontal lobe
- part of the cerebral cortex responsible for voluntary movement;it is also important for attention, goal-directed behavior and appropriate emotional experiences
- parietal lobe
- part of the cerebral cortex that receives sensory information from throughout the body
- occipital lobe
- part of the cerebral hemisphere that receives and interprets visual information
- temporal lobe
- part of the cerebral hemisphere that helps regulate hearing, balance and equilibrium, and certain emotions and motivation
- corpus callosum
- a thick band of nerve fibers connecting the left and right cerebral cortices and enabling them to cooperate in their functioning
- reticular formation
- network of neurons in the hindbrain, the midbrain, and part of the forebrain whose primary function is to alert and arouse the higher parts of the brain
- The Limbic System
- ring of structures that play a role in learning and emotional behavior
- The Spinal Cord
- complex cable of neurons that run down the spine, connecting the brain to most of the rest of the body
- hypothalumus
- regulates the stress response and is involved with emotional behavior
- analysis and problem solving take place here ?
- cerebral cortex
- The Somatic Nervous System
- connects the brain to the skeletal muscles
- The Autonomic Nervous System
- connects brain to essential functions (i.e. breathing, heart rate, glands)
- Parasympathetic Nervous System
- branch of the autonomic nervous system that calms and relaxes the body
- Sympathetic Nervous System
- branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for quick action in an emergency
- pituitary gland
- gland located on the underside of the brain, it produces the largest number of the body's hormones`
- thyroid gland
- endocrine gland located below the voice box that produces the hormone thyroxin which is responsible for metabolism
- parathyroid gland
- four tiny glands embedded in the thyroids that secrete parathyroxin controls and balabces levels of calcium in the blood and has a direct effect on the exicitability of the nervous system
- pineal gland
- gland located roughly in the center of the brain that appears to regulate activity levels over the course of the day has a lot to do with melatonin
- pancreas
- organ lying between the stomach and small intestine that secretes insulin and glycagon to regulate blood sugar levels
- gonads
- the reproductive glands-testes in males, ovaries in females
- adrenal glands
- two endocrine glands located just above the kidneys that affect the body's reaction to stress