psych chapter 1 &2

peripheral nervous system

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

pituitary gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

A drug that has the effect of intensifying or mimicking a particular neurotransmitter can be characterized as?

an agonist why? because it intensifies the effects of a particular neurotransmitter

pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness.

Glutamte

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation

serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction

fMRI (functional MRI)

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.

Damage to which of the following brain structures may cause the inability to detect the emotional significance of facial expressions, especially those demonstrating fear?

Amygdala why? this part of the brain is responsible for regulating emotions as well as controlling aggression

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

broca's area

Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Cocaine blocks the reuptake of which neurotransmitter?

Dopamine why? cocaine binds to what normally absorbs neurotransmitter molecules

Which of the following is a disease in which the immune system attacks the myelin of neurons in the central nervous system?

Multiple Sclerosis

Epinephrine

Neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress. Also known as adrenaline.

Which of the following would most likely result from an injury to the medulla?

a life threatening disruption of heartbeat and breathing why? this part of the brain regulates breathing, heart, and blood vessel functions

Damage to the cerebellum would most likely result in which of the following problems?

a loss of motor functions why? the cerebellum controls your motor functions and your balance/coordination

agonist

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

dopamine

a neurotransmitter that regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

Sally says that her dream about going to a circus is just her brain attempting to make sense of random stimulation from the brain stem. Sally's explanation is consistent with which of the following theories of dreaming?

activation-synthesis why? this theory offers the neurobiological explanation of the dream development and explain that dreams are the result of the cerebral cortex's attempt to make sense of neural activity

motor cortex

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

somatosensory cortex

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

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

Brain damage that leaves a person capable of understanding speech but with an impaired ability to produce speech most likely indicates injury to which of the following?

broca's area why? responsible for producing language

During the high-wire act, Grace walks along a rope suspended 30 feet above the circus floor. Which of the following is most involved in helping Grace coordinate her movements and maintain her balance during the performance?

cerebellum why? this part of the brain is responsible for coordination

Hormones

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

wernicke's area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

right hemisphere

controls the left side of the body; creative, intuitive, spacial

left hemisphere

controls the right side of the body; analytical, language, math

Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system results in which of the following?

decreased heart rate why? stimulation of this system results in this because it's responsibility is to calm the body

An hour after going to bed, Mike was so soundly asleep his parents were unable to awaken him for a scheduled dose of medicine. At this point in Mike's sleep, an EEG would have most likely detected?

delta waves why? delta waves occur in NREM 3 stage, which is the deepest sleep stage

Which of the following groups of characteristics best describes the REM sleep stage?

fast breathing, relatively high heart rate, relatively high blood pressure why? this stage is where dreams occur and our brain waves are the wildest

When people consume large amounts of alcohol, they are often unable to recall what they did and said while they were drinking. This occurs because alcohol interferes with the brain's ability to form new memories in the?

hippocampus why? this part of the brain plays a very important role in the consolidation of new information from short term memory to long term memory

Which of the following structures is most closely associated with communication between the central nervous system and the endocrine system?

hypothalamus why? it is the link between the two systems

After an electrode implanted in a cat's brain stimulates the cat's amygdala, the cat will most likely do which of the following?

immediately withdraw in fear why? this part of the brain is responsible for the perception of emotions including fear

cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

For most people, speech functions are primarily localized in the?

left cerebral hemisphere why? it holds the brocas are which is responsible for language and speech

People who have experienced severe damage to the frontal lobe of the brain seldom regain their ability to?

make and carry out plans why? this part of the brain controls cognitive skills in humans that include making/carrying out plans

Rafael has a sleep disorder for which he takes medically prescribed amphetamines. For which of the following sleep disorders is Rafael most likely being treated?

narcolepsy why? they stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up boy functions, keeping someone awake

Endorphins

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Interneurons

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

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

The role of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is to?

prepare the body cope with stress why? it undoes what the sympathetic division does after a stressful situation

Significant damage to which of the following parts of the brain will most likely cause a person to fall into a deep coma from which the person will be unable to awaken?

reticular formation why? this part of the brain is responsible for sleep and consciousness so severe damage would cause you to be put in a coma

If an individual has lost the ability to feel pain in the left arm, there is most likely damage to what area of the brain?

right parietal lobe why? this lobe is for sensory perception and since it's affecting the left arm, it would be the right hemisphere of the brain

While engrossed in reading a novel, Raoul isn't easily distracted by the sounds of the TV or even by his brothers' loud arguments. This best illustrates?

selective attention why? selective attention is the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus. which means that she is aware that her brothers are there shes just basically tuning them out

Which part of the brain represented above is indicated by A?

somatosensory cortex why? That's where its located in the brain

Ben was enjoying a walk in the woods on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. As he went around a curve, he noticed a bear walking toward him. Immediately his pupils dilated, he began to perspire, and his heart accelerated. These changes are most closely related to the function of the?

sympathetic nervous system why? this system is responsible for the fight or flight response which would be stimulated during this situation

nervous system

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

thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

sympathetic nervous system

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

parasympathetic nervous system

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

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

cerebral cortex

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

corpus callosum

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

Which of the following occurs when a neuron is stimulated to its threshold?

the movement of sodium and potassium ions across the membrane creates an action potential

Brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

frontal lobes

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

amygdala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.