Psych Midterm Ch. 2

area of psychology looking for adaptive benefits in selected human behaviours

focuses on the role of the nervous system, especially the brain, in understanding behaviour

environmental feature that provokes a response from an organism

specialized cells that are sensitive to specific types of stimulus energy

consists of the brain and spinal chord

consists of neural fibres outside of the brain and spinal chord

basic cells of the nervous system

receptors to brain and spinal chord, as well as from the brain to the spinal chord and muscles

nerves that carry info from the receptors to the spinal chord and brain

nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles

division of the peripheral nervous system involved in the control of bodily functions through organs and glands

subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for mobilizing the body in times of stress, preparing organisms for fight or flight

subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for returning the body to a resting or balanced state

created by the endocrine system and are carried by the bloodstream

releases insulin, which regulates levels of glucose in the body

gland and brain structure that sends signls to the pituitary gland that contains key centres for fighting, fleeing, sexual activity and hunger

the master gland: its secretions control many other glands

releases hormones that affect metabolic rate

sex glands

release a range of hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine

branch-like structure of a neuron that receives info from receptors and other neurons

cell body of a neuron which contains the nucleus

elongated part of a neuron that transmits information to other neurons, muscles and glands

located at the end of an axon where neurotransmitters are stored before being released into the synapse

a substance that that covers some axons and increases the speed of neural transmission

forms the myelin sheath, provides insulation to the actions

site where 2 or more neurons interact but dont touch, so neurotransmiters go between them

drugs that enhance the effects of a particular neurotransmitter

drugs that oppose or inhibit the effects of a particular neurotransmitter

substances that block pain

reversal in electric charge of a neuron that occurs when the neuron fires

imaging technique that involves monitoring the metabolic activity of the brain

imaging technique that involves the productio of a large number of x-rays interpreted by a computer

imaging technique that involves the use of radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce a signal that can be interpreted by a computer

modification of the standard MRI that allows both structural and temporal images of the brain to be gathered

oldest of the 3 main divisions, contains the medulla, pons and cerebellum

part of the hindbrain which regulates automatic responses like breathing, swallowing and blood circulation

part of the hindbrain, connects the 2 halves of the brain, important for sleep and arousal

structure of the hindbrain that coordinates muscular movements

major division of the brain that contains fibres known as the reticular formation

the oldest part of the brain, responsible for basic survival activities

nerve fibres passing through the midbrain that control arousal

consist of subcortical structures and the cerebral cortex

wide band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain

the convulated outer layer of the brain

regulates hunger, thirst, agression and sexual behaviour

relays incoming sensory information to the cerebral cortex and other parts of the brain

plays a key role in fight or flight, appetite and sexual behaviour

plays a role in creating memories

contains a motor strip, speech and is responsible for decision making

contains the censory cortex

responsible for hearing and understanding speec

responsible for processings visual stimuli

term for problems in understanding or producing spoken or written language

deficits in nonverbal skills