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Psychology - Chapter 3 - Biological Basis of Psychology
Biological Basis of Psychology
23 cards·by benolivas
biological basispsychology
What is the branch of psychology that studies the connection of bodily systems and behavior?
Biological psychology
The study of the brain and nervous system
Neuroscience
A collection of organs including neurons and supportive systems
Nervous system
What is a neuron?
A nerve cell
What are glia cells?
Cells in the nervous system that provide support and protection for neurons.
What is neural pruning?
The destruction of certain neurons to increase the processing speed of the nervous system.
What is an interneuron?
A neuron that communicates only with other neurons.
What are afferent nerve fibers?
Neurons that move information toward the brain and spinal cord.
What is an efferent nerve fiber?
A type of neuron that carries impulses away from the central nervous system.
What is a sensory neuron?
A neuron responsible for carrying external stimuli to the central nervous system for
processing.
What is a motor neuron?
A type of neuron that interfaces with muscles and glands.
What is a mirror neuron?
A type of neuron that fires when an individual watches an action and when performing the
action.
What is a dendrite?
A nerve cell structure that receives information from other cells.
What is the soma?
The part of a neuron that keeps the cell alive and contains the genetic material for the cell.
What is the axon?
The part of the neuron that carries the nerve impulse away from the soma.
What are nerves?
Bundles of neurons.
What is a myelin sheath?
A fatty substance that insulates the axon and enables efficient transmission.
What is the axon terminal?
The part of the neuron that discharges and recycles neurotransmitters; also called the
terminal button.
What is a neurotransmitter?
A chemical messenger that transmits information from one neuron to another.
What is a synapse?
An area that includes three structures; the terminal button of the sending neuron, the
synaptic gap, and the dendrite of the receivingneuron
What is a presynaptic neuron?
A neuron that sends a signal to another neuron.
What is the synaptic cleft?
The small space between the axon terminal of a sending neuron and the dendrite of the receiving
neuron
Postsynaptic neuron
A neuron that receives a signal from another neuron