Chapter 2: Biology and Psychology | PSYC 050 - Intro to Psychology, Quizzes of Psychology

Download Chapter 2: Biology and Psychology | PSYC 050 - Intro to Psychology and more Quizzes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Neurons DEFINITION 1 a specialized cell of the nervous system that transmits messages. TERM 2 Glial cells DEFINITION 2 cells that nourish and insulate neurons, direct their growth, and remove waste products from the nervous system. TERM 3 Dendrites DEFINITION 3 root-like structures, attached to the cell body of a neuron, that receive impulses from other neurons. TERM 4 Axon DEFINITION 4 a long, thin part of a neuron that transmits impulses to other neurons from branching structures called terminal buttons. TERM 5 Myelin DEFINITION 5 A fatty substance that encases and insulates axons, facilitating transmission of neutral impulses. TERM 6 Afferent neurons DEFINITION 6 neurons that transmit messages from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and brain. Also called sensory neurons. TERM 7 Efferent neurons DEFINITION 7 neurons that transmit messages from the brain or spinal cord to muscles and glands. Also called motor neurons. TERM 8 Neural impulse DEFINITION 8 the electrochemical discharge of a nerve cell, or neuron. TERM 9 Polarize DEFINITION 9 to ready a neuron for firing by creating an internal negative charge in relation to the body fluid outside the cell membrane. TERM 10 Resting potential DEFINITION 10 the electrical potential across the neural membrane when it is not responding to other neurons. TERM 21 Norepinephrine DEFINITION 21 a neurotransmitter whose action is similar to that of the hormone epinephrine and that may play a role in depression. TERM 22 Serotonin DEFINITION 22 a neurotransmitter, deficiencies of which have been linked to affective disorders, anxiety, and insomnia. TERM 23 Gamma-aminobutyric acid DEFINITION 23 an inhibitory neurotransmitter that apparently helps calm anxiety TERM 24 Endorphins DEFINITION 24 neurotransmitters that are composed of amino acids and that are functionally similar to morphine. TERM 25 Nerve DEFINITION 25 a bundle of axons from many neurons TERM 26 Central nervous system DEFINITION 26 the brain and spinal cord TERM 27 Peripheral nervous system DEFINITION 27 The part of the nervous system consisting of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. TERM 28 Somatic nervous system DEFINITION 28 the division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system with sensory receptors, skeletal muscles, and the surface of the body. TERM 29 Autonomic nervous system (ANS) DEFINITION 29 the division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates glands and activities such as heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and dilation of the pupils. TERM 30 Sympathetic DEFINITION 30 the branch of the ANS that is most active during emotional responses, such as fear and anxiety, that spend the body's reserves of energy. TERM 31 Parasympathetic DEFINITION 31 the branch of the ANS that is most active during processes (such as digestion) that restore the body's reserves of energy. TERM 32 Spinal cord DEFINITION 32 A column of nerves that transmits messages from sensory receptors to the brain and from the brain to muscles and glands throughout the body. TERM 33 Spinal reflex DEFINITION 33 a simple, unlearned response to a stimulus that may involve only two neurons. TERM 34 Gray matter DEFINITION 34 in the spinal cord, the grayish neurons and neural segments that are involved in spinal reflexes. TERM 35 White matter DEFINITION 35 in the spinal cord, axon bundles that carry messages from and to the brain TERM 46 Amygdala DEFINITION 46 A part of the limbic system that apparently facilitates stereotypucal aggressive responses. TERM 47 Cerebrum DEFINITION 47 the large mass of the forebrain, which consists of two hemispheres. TERM 48 Cerebral cortex DEFINITION 48 the wrinkled surface area (gray matter) of the cerebrum. TERM 49 Corpus callosum DEFINITION 49 a thick fiber bundle that connects the hemispheres of the cortex. TERM 50 Somatosensory cortex DEFINITION 50 the section of the cortex in which sensory stimulation is projected. It lies just behind the central fissure in the parietal lobe. TERM 51 Motor cortex DEFINITION 51 the section of cortex that lies in the frontal lobe, just across the central fissure from the sensory cortex. Neural impulses in the motor cortex are linked to muscular responses throughout the body. TERM 52 Aphasia DEFINITION 52 A disruption in the ability to understand or produce language. TERM 53 Wernicke's aphasia DEFINITION 53 a language disorder characterize by difficulty comprehending the meaning of spoken language. TERM 54 Broca's aphasia DEFINITION 54 a language disorder characterized by slow laborious speech. TERM 55 Epilepsy DEFINITION 55 temporary disturbances of brain functions that involve sudden neural discharges. TERM 56 gland DEFINITION 56 an organ that secretes one or more chemical substances such as hormones, saliva, or milk TERM 57 Endocrine system DEFINITION 57 the body's system of ductless glands that secrete hormones and release them directly into the bloodstream TERM 58 Hormone DEFINITION 58 a substance secreted by an endrocrine gland that regulates various body functions. TERM 59 Pituitary gland DEFINITION 59 the gland that secretes growth hormone, prolactin, antidiuretic hormone, and other hormones. TERM 60 Natural selection DEFINITION 60 a core concept of the theory of evolution that holds that adaptive genetic variations among members of a species enable individuals with those variations to survive and reproduce. TERM 71 Phenotype DEFINITION 71 One's actual development and appearance, as based on one's genotype and environmental influences. TERM 72 Nature DEFINITION 72 the inborn, innate character of an organism. TERM 73 Nurture DEFINITION 73 the sum total of the environmental factors that affect an organism from conception onward. TERM 74 Sex chromosomes DEFINITION 74 the 23rd pair of chromosomes, whose genetic material determines the sex of the individual. TERM 75 Down syndrome DEFINITION 75 a condition caused by an extra chromosome on the 21st pair and characterized by mental deficiency, a broad face, and slanting eyes. TERM 76 Monozygotic (MZ) twins DEFINITION 76 twins that develop from a single fertilized ovum that divides in two early in prenatal development. MZ twins thus share the same genetic code. Also called identical twins. TERM 77 Dizygotic (DZ) twins DEFINITION 77 twins that develop from two fertilized ova and who are thus as closely related as brothers and sisters in general. Also called fraternal twins.