| A | B |
|---|
| biological psychology | branch of psych concerned with links between bx and biology |
| neuron | basic building block of nervous system |
| dendrite | branching extension of neuron to receive messages and conduct impulses toward cell body |
| axon | extension of neuron through which messages pass to other neurons, muscles, or glands |
| myelin sheath | layer of fatty tissue segmentally covering axon; enhances transmission of neural impulses |
| action potential | neural impulse; electrical charge that travels an axon |
| threshold | level of stimulation required to trigger neural impulse |
| synapse | junction between axon of sending neuron and dendrite or body of recieving neuron |
| neurotransmitter | chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps |
| acetylcholine (ACh) | neurotransmitter; enables muscle action, learning, and memory |
| dopamine | neurotransmitter; influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion |
| serotonin | neurotransmitter; affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal |
| norepinephrine | neurotransmitter; helps control alertness and arousal |
| GABA | major inhibitory neurotransmitter |
| glutamate | major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory |
| endorphins | natural opiatelike neurotransmitter; linked to pain control and pleasure |
| agonist | excites |
| antagonists | inhibit |
| nervous system | body's electrochemical communication system |
| central nervous system (CNS) | brain and spinal cord |
| preipheral nervous system (PNS) | neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body |
| nerves | neural cables containing bundled axons connecting CNS to muscles, glands, and sense organs (part of PNS) |
| sensory neurons | carry incoming information from sense receptors to CNS |
| interneurons | CNS neurons that communicate between sensory inputs and motor outputs |
| motor neurons | carry outgoing information from CNS to muscles and glands |
| somatic nervous system | part of PNS that controls skeletal muscles |
| autonmomic nervous system | part of PNS controls glands and muscles of internal organs |
| sympathetic nervous system | arouses one for defensive action |
| parasympathetic nervous system | calms one and conserves energy |
| reflex | simple, automatic, inborn response to sensory stimulation |
| neural networks | interconnected neural cells |
| endocrine system | slow chemical communication systemt made of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream |
| hormones | chemical messengers that are produced in one tisue and affect another |
| adrenal glands | pair of endocrine glands above the kidneys that secrete epinephrine and norepinehrine to arouse the body in times of stress |
| pituitary gland | gland that regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands |
