psych chapter 3 neurons

The electrical charge associated with a neuron's resting potential is: -70 mV. -35 mV. 0 mV. 35 mV.

-70mV

Reticular Formation

A brain structure that regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal.

pons

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

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills.

amygdala

A part of the limbic system that plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories.

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgment.

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information.

parietal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

Autonomic Nervous System

A set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands.

Somatic Nervous System

A set of nerves that conveys information between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A set of nerves that helps the body return to a normal resting state.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations.

basil ganglia

A set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements.

hippocampus

A structure critical for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex.

hypothalamus

A subcortical structure that regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior.

thalamus

A subcortical structure that relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex.

corpus callosum

A thick band of nerve fibers that connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres.

Jane's grandmother was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Jane did some research so that she could help her grandmother better understand this disease. In her research, Jane found that Alzheimer's disease involves the deterioration of neurons that produce: dopamine. serotonin. acetylcholine (ACh). GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

ACh

Hindbrain

An area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord.

action potential

An electric signal that is conducted along a neuron's axon to a synapse

Medulla

An extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration.

myelin sheath

An insulating layer of fatty material.

nervous system

An interacting network of neurons that conveys electrochemical information throughout the body.

Association areas

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex.

Subcortical Structures

Areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the very center of the brain.

Neurons

Cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform information-processing tasks.

nuerotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron's dendrites.

antagonists

Drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter

agonists

Drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter.

Dr. Lee is doing a study on perception and wants to measure brain activity for cortical structures that are on the outer area of the brain. He cannot afford to use equipment that gives good resolution, but only needs information about action potentials as an indicator of activity. Dr. Lee decides to use a(n) _____.

EEG

epigenetics

Environmental influences that determine whether or not genes are expressed, or the degree to which they are expressed, without altering the basic DNA sequences that constitute the genes themselves.

In order for an action potential to occur, the neuron must: have just had an action potential. be in the refractory period. have electrical stimulation below the threshold. first be at the resting potential.

In order for an action potential to occur, the neuron must: have just had an action potential. be in the refractory period. have electrical stimulation below the threshold. first be at the resting potential.

terminal buttons

Knoblike structures that branch out from an axon.

mirror neurons

Neurons that are active when an animal performs a behavior, such as reaching for or manipulating an object, and are also activated when another animal observes that animal performing the same behavior.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement.

interneurons

Neurons that connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons.

sensory neurons

Neurons that receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord.

receptors

Parts of the cell membrane that receive the neurotransmitter and initiate or prevent a new electric signal.

Spinal Reflexes

Simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions.

chromosome

Strands of DNA wound around each other in a double-helix configuration.

glial cells

Support cells found in the nervous system

pituitary gland

The "master gland" of the body's hormone-producing system, which releases hormones that direct the functions of many other glands in the body.

resting potential

The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron's cell membrane.

synapse

The junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another.

gene

The major unit of hereditary transmission.

cerebral cortex

The outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye and divided into two hemispheres.

axon

The part of a neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Cell Body

The part of a neuron that coordinates information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive.

dendrites

The part of a neuron that receives information from other neurons and relays it to the cell body.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the body's organs and muscles.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system that is composed of the brain and spinal cord.

If a neuron was compared a prison, the _____ would be the the prison guards when the neuron is at the resting potential. axon dendrites sodium ions potassium ions

The sodium ions are better compared to the prisoners, who are immobile because of the cell doors. -POTASSIUM IONS

A(n) _____ is referred to as an all-or-none event. neurotransmitter antagonism resting potential refractory period action potential

action potential

The _____ stimulates the release of neurotransmitters, allowing neurons to communicate with each other. action potential hypothalamus retina resting potential

action potential

While Jamal eats, he always chews with his mouth closed. This requires that he breathe through his nose. However, Jamal does not have to focus on this because his _____ nervous system allows him to do it automatically.

autonomic

A person who incurs damage to the basal ganglia is MOST likely to: have difficulty knowing whether he or she is hungry. be unable to ride a bicycle. feel frightened in a dark alley. have difficulty remembering the name of a new colleague.

be unable to ride a bicycle.

Functional imaging techniques measure increased _____, which helps carry energy to activated areas.

blood flow

Eddie has been feeling very lethargic lately and the doctors think he may have a thyroid problem. They told him the problem could be originating in his brain or at the gland. If it is beginning in his brain, it is coming from his _____ nervous system, and if it is beginning in his gland, it is coming from his _____ nervous system. central; peripheral autonomic; somatic peripheral; central sympathetic; parasympathetic

central; peripheral

Yves has been drinking alcohol, and has difficulty walking a straight line when asked to do so by a police officer. Apparently, Yves's _____ is functioning poorly.

cerebellum

Information is transmitted within the neuron as a(n) _____ signal, and information transmission between neurons is a(n) _____ signal. electrical; electrical electrical; chemical chemical; chemical chemical; electrical

electrical; chemical

The first stage of communication between neurons consists of a(n) _____ signal down the axon, and the second stage consists of a(n) _____ signal across the synapse. chemical; electrical electrical; electrical chemical; chemical electrical; chemical

electrical; chemical

A researcher who wants the most preferred and accurate method of localizing brain activity would MOST likely use a machine that performs the technique known as _____.

fMRI

Anya is having a baby and it is 7 weeks after conception. At this stage, the _____ expands considerably to form the cerebral hemispheres.

forebrain

Studies examining the stimulation of the _____ have demonstrated that this area is related to pleasure and reward.

hypothalamus

Carlos is a long-distance runner, and it is important for his vitals to be well-coordinated. The structure in the hindbrain called the _____ keeps these synchronized to help Carlos function as a successful runner.

medulla

Karen is watching a horror movie, and when a really gory scene occurs, she cannot help but turn away. It is MOST likely that the small area of her brain called the _____ has caused her to do this.

midbrain

The neurotransmitter norepinephrine is involved in: mood and arousal. inhibition of information transmission. regulating eating and aggression. motor control and motivation.

mood and arousal.

Terence has been diagnosed with a disease that involves deterioration of the myelin sheath. After the disease progresses, he begins to have trouble with his coordination. This is caused by Terence's _____ communicating slowly and inefficiently.

neurons

If a neuron receives stimulation, but this stimulation is just under the threshold for the neuron: a very weak action potential will occur. a very strong action potential will occur. no action potential will occur. two action potentials will occur.

no action potential will occur.

Samantha gets nervous when she is home alone and always believes she is hearing noises in her house. Samantha's increased awareness of her immediate environment is MOST likely caused by the neurotransmitter _____.

norepinephrine

Damage to the _____ may cause movement problems because of the role it plays in communicating motor information to the rest of the brain.

pons

An action potential is a sudden _____ change in the electrical charge of a neuron's _____. positive; dendrites positive; axon negative; dendrites negative; axon

positive; axon

During resting potential, are sodium ions or potassium more concentrated inside the neuron

potassium

Feature detectors are neurons that: respond to certain aspects of visual stimuli. carry information about movement. carry information gathered from various sensory organs. help communicate information between neurons.

respond to certain aspects ofvisual stimuli

In the last two months, Dion has had trouble sleeping and never becomes enthusiastic about the things he used to be passionate about. He was recently in a car accident, and based on his behavior, it is possible that he may have suffered damage to the area of his hindbrain known as the _____.

reticular formation

The neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of sleep, wakefulness, eating, and aggressive behavior is _____.

seretonin

Damage to the _____ influences the ability of the brain to receive information from the senses and direct movement.

spinal cord

The _____ is the element of the central nervous system that allows people to perform functions such as breathing, walking, and moving muscles.

spinal cord

Shawn is cooking and accidentally grabs the pan in the wrong spot and burns his hand. Shawn's ability to rapidly pull his hand away from the pan is caused by his _____.

spinal reflexes

Neurons leave the _____ by three processes: reuptake, enzyme deactivation, and through autoreceptors.

synapse

In some psychology experiments, participants are presented with conflicting visual and audio information. In these cases, an area of the brain called the _____ gives more or less weight to these signals, determining which information overrides the other.

thalamus

Lila floats a note across a river to Kirsten instead of directly passing it from her hand to Kirsten's hand. If, in this scenario, the river represents the synapse, which component of the scenario represents the neurotransmitter? Kirsten the river Lila the note

the note