【3】Biopsychology - Key Terms

 

action potential  - electrical signal that moves through the axon in a neuron

adrenal gland - in endocrine system; secretes hormones

agonist - chemical that mimics neurotransmitters

all-or-none - NT gets fully transmitted to the other neuron or doesn't

allele - a form of gene

amygdala - in the limbic system; responsible for emotional expression and tying them to memories

antagonist - chemical that blocks neurotransmitter activity

auditory cortex - in temporal lobe; for processing information from sound

autonomic nervous system - controls involuntary actions in our bodies' organs and glands

axon - part of neuron that extends off the soma

biological perspective - mental disorders are associated with imbalances in neurotransmitters 

Broca’s area - in left hemisphere; for producing language

central nervous system (CNS) - brain and spinal cord

cerebellum - in hindbrain; controls balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills

cerebral cortex - makes up a majority of the brain; divided into 4 lobes

chromosome - carries genetic information

computerized tomography (CT) scan - uses x-rays to create an image of the area being scanned

corpus callosum - connects left and right hemisphere of the brain

dendrite - branches off the soma; receives signals from other neurons

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) - helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

diabetes - caused by not producing enough insulin in the body

dominant allele - phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

electroencephalography (EEG) - uses electrodes on the scalp to measure brain activity

endocrine system - glands that produce different types of hormones

epigenetics - study of gene-environment interactions

fight or flight response - gets activated by the sympathetic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety

forebrain - largest area of the brain; contains the cerebral cortex, thalamus,  and limbic system

fraternal twins - children from two eggs that were fertilized at the same time

frontal lobe - responsible for reasoning, motor control, emotions, and language

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) - shows metabolic changes and activity and tracks blood flows and oxygen levels

gene - part of DNA that determines physical characteristics

genetic environmental correlation - genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes

genotype - genetic makeup of someone

glial cell - creates support for neurons, used as insulation, transports nutrients and waste; also important for neural communication

 

gonad - produces sexual hormones and responsible for sexual motivation and behavior

gyrus/gyri - bumpy part(s) of the brain

hemisphere - half portion of the brain

heterozygous - 2 different alleles of the same gene

hindbrain - has the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

hippocampus - in temporal lobe; for learning and memory functions

homeostasis - state of being in equilibrium

homozygous - 2 identical alleles of the same gene

hormone - released by glands in the endocrine system; chemical messengers

hypothalamus - regulates blood pressure, appetite, body temperature, sexual motivation & behavior, and connects the nervous to the endocrine system

identical twins - children from 1 fertilized egg splitting into 2

lateralization - specialization of functions by which side controls that function

limbic system - controls memory and emotions

longitudinal fissure - deep groove in brain's cortex

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - magnetic fields from the body used to generate an image of tissues

medulla - in the hindbrain; controls breathing, blood pressure, and heart hate

membrane potential - difference between charges outside and inside the cell; provides energy for the signal to move through the neuron

midbrain - in between the forebrain and hindbrain; has the reticular formation

motor cortex - strip of the brain for planning and coordination of movement

mutation - abnormalities caused by permanent change in a gene

myelin sheath - insulates the axon

neuron - cells in the nervous system; size varies in lengths

neuroplasticity - how the nervous system can change and adapt

neurotransmitter - chemical messenger of the nervous system

Nodes of Ranvier - exposed part of the axon not covered by the myelin sheath

occipital lobe - for processing visual information

pancreas - secretes hormones (ex. insulin) that deal with glucose

parasympathetic nervous system - responsible for everyday functions and returning the body to a normal state

parietal lobe - processes sensory and perceptual information

peripheral nervous system (PNS) - connects glands, muscles, organs, and senses to the brain and spinal cord

phenotype - hereditary visual characteristics

pituitary gland - works with hypothalamus to control other glands in the endocrine system and regulates fluid levels in the body

polygenic - many genes affecting one trait

pons - in the hindbrain; regulates brain activity during sleep and connects the brain to the spinal cord

positron emission tomography (PET) scan - creates pictures of the living brain using a slightly radioactive substance to trace regions in the brain using blood flows

prefrontal cortex - in the frontal lobe; for higher-level cognitive functions

psychotropic medication - drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring NT balance

range of reaction - asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall

receptor - part of postsynaptic membrane that NT attaches to 

recessive allele - has to be homozygous in order for a certain phenotype to be expressed 

resting potential - when the neuron is not currently transmitting a signal but is ready to

reticular formation - in the midbrain; regulates sleep cycle, arousal, alertness, and some motor functions

reuptake - NT being taken back by the neuron that released it

semipermeable membrane - allows some molecules to pass through (small and or ones without a charge)

soma - cell body of the neuron

somatic nervous system - for conscious and voluntary actions; relays sensory and motor information to and from the central nervous system

somatosensory cortex - processes body's sensory information like temperature, touch, and pain

substantia nigra - in the midbrain; secretes dopamine and is involved in the control of movement

sulcus/sulci - groove(s) in the brain

sympathetic nervous system - used for stressful situations and actions

synaptic cleft - gap between two neurons used for their communication

synaptic vesicle - small sacs that store NT

temporal lobe - for hearing, emotion, memory, and aspects of language

terminal button - bits at the end of where it branches out at the end of an axon; where NT is released and contains synaptic vesicles

thalamus - sensory relay for the brain

theory of evolution by natural selection - species that are better adapted to the environment will pass on their characteristics that help them survive onto their descendants while the species that aren't die off

threshold of excitation - limit to how positive the cell can get due to sodium ions permeating which starts the neuron's action potential

thyroid - part of endocrine system; secretes hormones for appetite, growth, and metabolism

ventral tegmental area (VTA)  - in the midbrain; produces dopamine and related to mood, reward, and addiction

Wernicke’s area - in temporal lobe; important for understand speech