The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Biological psychology The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Neuron A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

Dendrites A neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Axon The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

Myelin sheath A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next

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

Refractory period A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

Threshold The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

All-or-none response A neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

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

Neurotransmitters Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

Reuptake A neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

Endorphins Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Agonist A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

Antagonist A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

Nervous system The body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central ______________

Central nervous system (CNS) The brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS) The sensory and motor neurons that connect that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Nerves Bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

Sensory (afferent) neurons Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Motor (efferent) neurons

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

Lesion Tissue destruction. It a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

Electroencephalogram (EEG) An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. Measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

CT (computed tomography) scan A series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure

PET (positron emission tomography) scan A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. Shows brain anatomy

fMRI (functional MRI) A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing scans. These scans show brain function as well as its structure

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

Medulla The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

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

Cerebellum The "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

Limbic system Neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Amygdala Two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

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 award

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

Glial cells Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

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

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

Consciousness Our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Cognitive neuroscience The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

Dual processing The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

Behavior genetics The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behaviors

Environment Every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

Chromosomes Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

Genes The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosome segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins

Genome The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes

Identical twins (monozygotic twins) Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating to genetically identical organisms

Fraternal twins (dizygotic twins) Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment

Molecular genetics The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

Heritability The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. This of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied

Interaction The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

Epigenetics The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without DNA change

Evolutionary psychology The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

Natural selection The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Mutations A random error in gene replication that leads to a change

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

Pons

Depression What has a lack of Serotonin been linked to?

Mania What has too much Serotonin been linked to?

Reuptake inhibitors Blocks reuptake

Spinal cord Connects the brain and peripheral nervous system

Fissures Name of the wrinkles in the cerebral cortex that increase surface area of the brain

Broca's area Area that deals with speech located

Wernicke's area Area that deals with understanding speech

Frontal lobe Where is Broca's area located?

Temporal lobe Where is Wernicke's area located?

Association areas What part of the brain cannot be neatly mapped?

What is the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes?

Which psychologists study the links between biological and psychological processes quizlet?

What is the scientific study of the relationship between behavior and disease processes?

What branch of psychology is concerned with the links between biology and behavior?