Understanding Psycholog Ch 2

How does hormones released by the endocrine system affect metabolism

(Endocrine Gland) Thyroid Gland- produces one primary hormone, thyroxin, which regulates the body's rate of metabolism and thus, how alert and energetic people are and how fat or thin they tend to be.

Reticular Formation

A network of neurons involved in regulating attention, alertness, and arousal

Limbic System

A ring of structures that plays a role in learning and emotional behavior.The limbic system plays a central role in times of stress, coordinating and integrating the activity of the nervous system.

Association Areas

Areas of the cerebral cortex where incoming messages from the separate senses are combined into meaningful impressions and outgoing messages from the motor areas are integrated.

Roles of Neurotransmitters

Synaptic vehicles that travel across the synaptic space and affect adjacent neurons.

How does the hormones released by the endocrine system affect stress

Both the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla affect the body's reaction to stress. Stimulated by the autonomic nervous system , the adrenal cortex pours several hormones into the bloodstream. One, epinephrine, activates the sympathetic nervous system. Another hormone, nor-epinephrine not only raises blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to become constricted, but also is carried by the bloodstream to the anterior pituitary, where it triggers the release of still more hormones, thus prolonging the response to stress.

Spinal Cord

Complex cable of neurons that runs down the spine, connecting the brain to most of the body.

Functions of the Endocrine System

Helps to coordinate and integrate complex psychological reactions.

Describe the abilities of the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex

Left Hemisphere- writing and movement of the right side of the body. Right Hemisphere- Controls touch and movements of the left side of the body and is superior at nonverbal, visual, and spatial task.

Roles of Receptors

Makes sure neurotransmitter do not randomly stimulate other neurons, but follow orderly pathways.

Structure of Neuron

Neural impulse travels down the axon, much like a fuse burning from one end to the other. When this happens, we say that the neuron has "fired". The speed at which neurons carry impulses varies widely, from as fast as nearly 400 feet per second on largely myelinated axons to as slow as about 3 feet per second on those with no myelin.

How neurons Communicate

Neurons that collect messages from sense organs and carry those messages to the spinal cord or the brain are called sensory neurons. Neurons that carry messages from the spinal cord or the brain to the muscles and glands are called motor neurons. And neurons that carry messages from one neuron to another are called inter neurons or associated neurons.

Mid brain

Region between the hindbrain and the forebrain; it is important for hearing and sight, and it is one of several places in the brain where pain is registered

Parietal Lobe

Responsible for processing body sensations and all skin senses

How does the hormones released by the endocrine system affect blood sugar

The Pancreas lies in a curve between the stomach and the small intestine. The pancreas controls the level of sugar in the blood by secreting two regulating hormones: insulin and glucagon. These two hormones work against each other to keep the blood sugar properly balanced.

How does the hormones released by the endocrine system affect sex characteristics.

The gonads -the testes in males and the ovaries in females- secrete hormones that have traditionally been classified as masculine ( the androgen) and feminine ( the estrogens),

Cerebral Cortex

The outer surface of the two cerebral hemisphere that regulates most complex behavior.

Temporal Lobe

This is the lobe of the brain that controls memory, hearing and speech perception

Reticular Formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal in the higher parts of the brain. Sends alerts to incoming messages.

Hypothalamus

brain structure that acts as a control center for recognition and analysis of hunger, thirst, fatigue, anger, and body temperature

Thalamus

brain structure that receives messages from the sense organs and relays the information to the proper region of the cerebrum for further processing

Frontal Lobe

coordinates messages, involves complex problem solving tasks

Hind brain

division which includes the cerebellum, Pons, and medulla; responsible for involuntary processes: blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, breathing, sleep cycles

Pre-frontal Lobe

judgement, emotions.

Pons

part of the brain involved in sleep regulation also connects a cerebellum to the cerebral cortex; sleep and wake cycles

Medulla

part of the brain nearest the spinal cord which controls breathing, heart rate and blood pressure

Occipital Lobe

processes visual information

Divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System

sympathetic division- branch of the autonomic, nervous system; it prepares the body for quick action in an emergency. Parasympathetic division-Branch of the autonomic nervous system; it calms and relaxes the body

Cerebellum

the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; it helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

Central Nervous System

the portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

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