Ch. 3 Psychology

Question	Answer
Biological Psychologists	Biological psychology looks at the link between biology and psychological events such as how information travels throughout our bodies how different neurotransmitters affect sleep, dreams, and other behaviors.
Neurons	cell that carries messages between the brain and other parts of the body and that is the basic unit of the nervous system
Sensory (afferent) neurons	are responsible for bringing information from sensory receptors (like the nerves in your hand) to the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain).
Motor neurons (efferent)	a neuron conducting impulses outwards from the brain or spinal cord
Interneurons	a neuron that transmits impulses between other neurons, especially as part of a reflex arc.
Mirror Neurons	is a neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another.
Soma (cell body)	the compact area of a nerve cell that constitutes the nucleus and surrounding cytoplasm, excluding the axons and dendrites.
Axon	the appendage of the neuron that transmits impulses away from the cell body.
Axon Terminals (aka buttons synaptic knobs)	the somewhat enlarged, often club-shaped endings by which axons make synaptic contacts with other nerve cells or with effector cells (muscle or gland cells). Axon terminals contain neurotransmitters of various kinds, sometimes more than one.
Dendrites	a short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body.
Myelin Sheath	a wrapping of myelin around certain nerve axons, serving as an electrical insulator that speeds nerve impulses to muscles and other effectors.
Action Potential	the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.
"all-or-none principles"	principle that the strength by which a nerve or muscle fiber responds to a stimulus is independent of the strength of the stimulus.
Resting Potential	the electrical potential of a neuron or other excitable cell relative to its surroundings when not stimulated or involved in passage of an impulse.
Threshold	the level of strength a stimulus must reach to be detected. Psychologists study sensory thresholds to learn how humans and animals process sensory information.
Synapse (Synaptic gap)	A junction between two nerve cells.
Neurotransmitters	a substance in the body that carries a signal from one nerve cell to another
Excitatory Neurotransmitters	are neurotransmitters that increase the likelihood that a nerve cell will produce an action potential, an electrochemical impulse that nerve cells use to transmit signals.
Inhibitory Neurotransmitters	A neurotransmitter that generally activates receptors that have reversal potentials more negative than threshold for action potential firing.
Reuptake	the absorption by a presynaptic nerve ending of a neurotransmitter that it has secreted.
Acetylcholine (Ach)	a compound that occurs throughout the nervous system, in which it functions as a neurotransmitter.
Dopamine	a compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor of other substances including epinephrine.
Serotonin	a compound present in blood platelets and serum that constricts the blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter.
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)	a chemical messenger that is widely distributed in the brain. GABA's natural function is to reduce the activity of the neurons to which it binds.
Endorphins	any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. They are peptides that activate the body's opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect.
Central Nervous System	the complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates it comprises the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System	is the part of the nervous system that consists of the nerves and ganglia on the outside of the brain and spinal cord.
Somatic Nervous System	the part of the peripheral nervous system associated with skeletal muscle voluntary control of body movements.
Autonomic Nervous System	he part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.
Sympathetic Nervous System	A part of the nervous system that serves to accelerate the heart rate, constrict blood vessels, and raise blood pressure.
Parasympathetic Nervous System	conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, increases intestinal and gland activity, and relaxes sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal tract.
Reflexes	an action that is performed as a response to a stimulus and without conscious thought.
Endocrine System	the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things.
Hormones	a regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids such as blood or sap to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action.
Adrenal Glands	a regulatory substance produced in an organism and transported in tissue fluids such as blood or sap to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action.

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