Psychology Chapter 2 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is Biological Psychology?

A theory that focuses on childhood experiences
A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior (correct)
The study of the brain's structure only
A method to diagnose mental illnesses

What is a Neuron?

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

What are Dendrites?

Neuron extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

What is an Axon?

Neuron extensions that pass messages to other neurons or cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is Action Potential?

A nerve impulse. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Synapse?

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. Signup and view all the answers

What is Threshold?

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse. Signup and view all the answers

What is the All-or-none Response?

A neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing. Signup and view all the answers

What are Neurotransmitters?

Neuron-produced chemicals that cross synapses to carry messages to other neurons or cells. Signup and view all the answers

What do Opiates do?

Depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety (A) Signup and view all the answers

What are Endorphins?

'Morphine within' - natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Nervous System?

The body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

What comprises the Central Nervous System?

The brain and spinal cord. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Peripheral Nervous System?

The sensory and motor neurons connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the body. Signup and view all the answers

What are Nerves?

Bundled axons that form neural 'cables' connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs. Signup and view all the answers

What are Sensory Neurons?

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the central nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

What are Motor Neurons?

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system to the muscles and glands. Signup and view all the answers

What are Interneurons?

Neurons that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Somatic Nervous System control?

The body's skeletal muscles (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Autonomic Nervous System?

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. Signup and view all the answers

What do the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System do?

Sympathetic division arouses; parasympathetic division calms. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Endocrine System?

The body's 'slow' chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. Signup and view all the answers

What are Hormones?

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands. Signup and view all the answers

What do Adrenal Glands do?

Secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Pituitary Gland?

It regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Brainstem?

The oldest part and central core of the brain responsible for automatic survival functions. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Medulla control?

Heartbeat and breathing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Thalamus?

Area at the top of the brainstem that directs sensory messages to the cortex. Signup and view all the answers

What does an EEG do?

Records waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. Signup and view all the answers

What is PET used for?

Showing where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a task. Signup and view all the answers

What is an MRI?

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of soft tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What does fMRI reveal?

Shows blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Reticular Formation?

A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Cerebellum responsible for?

Processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Limbic System?

Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Amygdala?

Linked to emotion. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Hypothalamus do?

Directs several maintenance activities and governs the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Cerebral Cortex?

Thin layer of interconnected neurons covering the cerebral hemisphere; the body's ultimate control and information processing center. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Frontal Lobes involved in?

Speaking, muscle movements, and making plans and judgments. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Parietal Lobes?

Receives sensory input for touch and body positions. Signup and view all the answers

What do Occipital Lobes do?

Receive information from the visual fields. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Temporal Lobes?

Receive information from the ears. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Motor Cortex control?

Voluntary movements. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Sensory Cortex register?

Body touch and movement sensations. Signup and view all the answers

What are Hallucinations?

False sensory experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What are Association Areas responsible for?

Higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking. Signup and view all the answers

What is Broca's Area involved in?

Controls language expression and directs the muscle movements involved in speech. Signup and view all the answers

What does Wernicke's Area do?

Involved in language comprehension and expression. Signup and view all the answers

What is Plasticity in the brain?

The brain's ability to change, especially during childhood. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Corpus Callosum?

Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres. Signup and view all the answers

What is Split Brain?

Condition in which the brain's two hemispheres are isolated. Signup and view all the answers

What does Cognitive Neuroscience study?

The connections between brain activity and the processes of thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating. Signup and view all the answers

What is Consciousness?

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is Selective Attention?

Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is Inattentional Blindness?

Failure to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere. Signup and view all the answers

What is Circadian Rhythm?

The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hr cycle. Signup and view all the answers

What is REM Sleep?

Recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Signup and view all the answers

What are Alpha Waves?

Relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state. Signup and view all the answers

What is Sleep?

Periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness. Signup and view all the answers

What is Insomnia?

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep. Signup and view all the answers

What is Narcolepsy?

Sleep disorder in which a person has uncontrollable sleep attacks. Signup and view all the answers

What is Sleep Apnea?

A sleep disorder in which a sleeping person repeatedly stops breathing. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Dream?

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind. Signup and view all the answers

What is Manifest Content according to Freud?

The remembered story line of a dream. Signup and view all the answers

What is Latent Content according to Freud?

The underlying meaning of a dream. Signup and view all the answers

What is REM Rebound?

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biological Psychology

Focuses on the relationship between biology and behavior.

Neurons

Basic building blocks of the nervous system, also known as nerve cells.

Neuron Structures

Dendrites: Extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
Axon: Extensions that pass messages to other neurons or cells.

Neural Communication

Action Potential: Represents a nerve impulse.
Synapse: Junction where communication occurs between neurons.

Neural Functionality

Threshold: Required stimulation level to trigger a neural impulse.
All-or-none Response: A neuron's reaction can either be a complete firing or none.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals released by neurons that transmit messages across synapses.

Pain Relief Mechanisms

Opiates: Compounds like opium, morphine, and heroin that depress neural activity and alleviate pain and anxiety.
Endorphins: Natural neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

Nervous System Structure

Nervous System: The electrochemical communication network of nerve cells.
Central Nervous System (CNS): Comprised of the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Connects the CNS to the rest of the body.

Types of Neurons

Sensory Neurons: Carry incoming information from sensory receptors to the CNS.
Motor Neurons: Transmit outgoing information from the CNS to muscles and glands.
Interneurons: Communicate internally between sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Nervous System Divisions

Somatic Nervous System: Controls skeletal muscles.
Autonomic Nervous System: Manages internal organs; contains sympathetic (arouses the body) and parasympathetic (calms the body) divisions.

Endocrine System

Comprises glands that secrete hormones for slow chemical communication.

Key Endocrine Components

Adrenal Glands: Release hormones for stress response.
Pituitary Gland: Influential in regulating growth and functions of other glands.

Brain Components

Brainstem: Essential for survival functions, connecting the brain and spinal cord.
Medulla: Controls heartbeat and breathing.
Thalamus: Directs sensory information to the cortex.

Brain Imaging Techniques

EEG: Records electrical activity in the brain.
PET: Shows brain activity linked to glucose use during tasks.
MRI: Produces detailed images of brain structure using magnetic fields.
fMRI: Monitors blood flow and indicates brain activity.

Limbic System Roles

Involves emotion regulation and drives through structures like the amygdala (emotion processing) and hypothalamus (maintenance activities and emotional links).

Cerebral Cortex and Lobes

Cerebral Cortex: The information processing center of the brain.
Frontal Lobes: Involved in speech, muscle movement, planning, and judgment.
Parietal Lobes: Processes sensory input for touch and body positioning.
Occipital Lobes: Handles visual information.
Temporal Lobes: Processes auditory information.

Functional Areas of the Brain

Motor Cortex: Controls voluntary movements.
Sensory Cortex: Registers sensations from body touch and movement.

Consciousness and Attention

Consciousness: Awareness of self and environment.
Selective Attention: Focused awareness on specific stimuli.
Inattentional Blindness: Failure to notice visible objects when attention is diverted.

Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

Circadian Rhythm: Biological clock governing regular bodily rhythms on a 24-hour cycle.
REM Sleep: Stage of vivid dreaming, with relaxed muscles but active systems.

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Narcolepsy: Uncontrollable sleep attacks.
Sleep Apnea: Breathing interruptions during sleep.

Dream Analysis

Manifest Content: The observable storyline of a dream.
Latent Content: The underlying meaning of a dream according to Freud.

Neural Adaptability

Plasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize and form new connections, particularly evident during childhood.

Split Brain Condition

Isolation of brain hemispheres by severing their connecting fibers.

Cognitive Neuroscience

Examines the relationship between brain activity and cognitive processes like thinking and communicating.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key concepts in Biological Psychology with these flashcards. This chapter covers essential terms such as neuron, dendrite, and axon, linking biology to behavior in psychology. Perfect for quick review or study sessions!