biological psychology

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology & behavior

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

sensory neuron

a neuron that carries incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and the motor outputs

dendrite

bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

a layer of fatty tissue encasing the fibers of many neurons

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

phrenology

ill-fated theory that claimed bumps on the skull could reveal our mental abilities and character traits

threshold

level of stimulation needed to trigger a neiral impulse

synapse

junction between axon tip of sending neuron and dendrite or cell body of receiving neuron

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps between neurons

reuptake

neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

endorphins

"morphine within"; natural, opiatlike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

nervous system

body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

nerves

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands , and sensory organs

somatic nervous system

division of PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

part of PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

sympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus

lesion

tissue destruction

EEG

amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface

PET scan

visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue

fMRI

technique for revealing blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans

brainstem

oldest and central core of the brine, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skulls' life-preserving functions

medulla

base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing rate

reticular formation

nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

thalamus

brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of brainstem

cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; controls balance

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres

amygdala

lima bean sized neural clusters in limbic system that control emotions

hypothalamus

lies below thalamus; linked with maintenance activities, endocrine system, emotion, and reward

cerebral cortex

intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; body's ultimate control and information-processing center

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

frontal lobes

lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking, muscle movements, decisions, and judgement

parietal lobes

lying at the top of the head; receives sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobes

back of the head; receives information from the visual fields

temporal lobes

located just above the ears; controls auditory areas

motor cortex

area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

sensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

plasticity

brain's ability to change, especially during childhood

endocrine system

body's slow chemical communication system; set of glands that secretes hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by endocrine glands, travel through bloodstream, and affect other tissues

adrenal glands

a pair of glands found above kidneys and secrete hormones that arouse body in times of stress

pituitary gland

endocrine system's most influential gland, regulates growth and other endocrine glands

corpus callosum

large band of neural fibers connecting two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fivers connecting them

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons