WGU D574 - Neuropsychology
functional explanation - ✔️✔️the description of why a structure or behavior evolved as it
did, identifying the adaptive benefits conferred by certain traits
ontogenetic explanation - ✔️✔️the description of the developmental processes
underlying a behavior or trait, often involving genetic and environmental influences
during an organism's lifespan
physiological explanation - ✔️✔️the description of the relationship between a behavior
and the activity of the brain and other bodily organs, focusing on the biological
mechanisms underlying behavior
neuroethics - ✔️✔️The study of ethical issues arising from research in neuroscience
and related fields, including concerns about animal research and human
experimentation
three R's - ✔️✔️reduction, replacement, and refinement; legal standards for animal
research aimed at reducing the number of animals used, finding alternatives to animal
models when possible, and refining procedures to minimize pain and distress
astrocytes - ✔️✔️star-shaped glial cells that wrap around dendrites, synchronize
closely related neurons, and regulate blood flow in active brain areas
axon - ✔️✔️a thin fiber of constant diameter that conveys impulses from one neuron to
another
dendrites - ✔️✔️branching fibers that receive information from other neurons and
contain synaptic receptors
glia - ✔️✔️non-neuronal cells that support and protect neurons, including astrocytes,
microglia, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells
mitochondria - ✔️✔️organelles responsible for generating energy (ATP) in cells, which
is crucial for brain function, cognition, and mental health
myelin sheath - ✔️✔️insulating material that surrounds and protects certain vertebrate
axons, improving the speed of nerve impulses
behavioral neuroscience - ✔️✔️the study of the physiological, evolutionary, and
developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience, emphasizing the relationship
between biology and psychology
, biological psychology - ✔️✔️also known as biopsychology, psychobiology, or
physiological psychology, this branch of psychology focuses on understanding behavior
through physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms
consciousness - ✔️✔️the state or quality of awareness, subjectivity, and experience,
particularly in the context of the mind-body problem and its relationship to brain activity
evolutionary explanation - ✔️✔️the description of the evolutionary history of a structure
or behavior, highlighting modifications from ancestral species and adaptive advantages
neurons - ✔️✔️specialized cells responsible for receiving, processing, and transmitting
information in the nervous system
soma - ✔️✔️the cell body of a neuron containing the nucleus, ribosomes, and
mitochondria
synapse - ✔️✔️junction between two neurons where chemical signals are transmitted
from one neuron to another
action potential - ✔️✔️messages sent by axons, characterized by depolarization of the
neuron membrane
all-or-none law - ✔️✔️the principle stating that all action potentials, once initiated, are
approximately equal in amplitude and velocity, regardless of the intensity of the stimulus
depolarization - ✔️✔️reduction of the difference in electrical charge between the inside
and outside of a neuron, leading to the initiation of an action potential
hyperpolarization - ✔️✔️increased polarization of the neuron membrane, resulting in a
more negative charge inside the cell compared to the outside
nodes of Ranvier - ✔️✔️short sections along myelinated axons where the myelin
sheath is interrupted, facilitating rapid transmission of action potentials
refractory period - ✔️✔️period during which the neuron membrane is resistant to
starting another action potential immediately after an action potential
resting potential - ✔️✔️the electrical charge difference between the inside and outside
of a neuron when it is not transmitting signals.
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) - ✔️✔️a graded depolarization of a
postsynaptic neuron's membrane, making it more likely to generate an action potential
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) - ✔️✔️a graded hyperpolarization of a
postsynaptic neuron's membrane, making it less likely to generate an action potential
functional explanation - ✔️✔️the description of why a structure or behavior evolved as it
did, identifying the adaptive benefits conferred by certain traits
ontogenetic explanation - ✔️✔️the description of the developmental processes
underlying a behavior or trait, often involving genetic and environmental influences
during an organism's lifespan
physiological explanation - ✔️✔️the description of the relationship between a behavior
and the activity of the brain and other bodily organs, focusing on the biological
mechanisms underlying behavior
neuroethics - ✔️✔️The study of ethical issues arising from research in neuroscience
and related fields, including concerns about animal research and human
experimentation
three R's - ✔️✔️reduction, replacement, and refinement; legal standards for animal
research aimed at reducing the number of animals used, finding alternatives to animal
models when possible, and refining procedures to minimize pain and distress
astrocytes - ✔️✔️star-shaped glial cells that wrap around dendrites, synchronize
closely related neurons, and regulate blood flow in active brain areas
axon - ✔️✔️a thin fiber of constant diameter that conveys impulses from one neuron to
another
dendrites - ✔️✔️branching fibers that receive information from other neurons and
contain synaptic receptors
glia - ✔️✔️non-neuronal cells that support and protect neurons, including astrocytes,
microglia, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells
mitochondria - ✔️✔️organelles responsible for generating energy (ATP) in cells, which
is crucial for brain function, cognition, and mental health
myelin sheath - ✔️✔️insulating material that surrounds and protects certain vertebrate
axons, improving the speed of nerve impulses
behavioral neuroscience - ✔️✔️the study of the physiological, evolutionary, and
developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience, emphasizing the relationship
between biology and psychology
, biological psychology - ✔️✔️also known as biopsychology, psychobiology, or
physiological psychology, this branch of psychology focuses on understanding behavior
through physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms
consciousness - ✔️✔️the state or quality of awareness, subjectivity, and experience,
particularly in the context of the mind-body problem and its relationship to brain activity
evolutionary explanation - ✔️✔️the description of the evolutionary history of a structure
or behavior, highlighting modifications from ancestral species and adaptive advantages
neurons - ✔️✔️specialized cells responsible for receiving, processing, and transmitting
information in the nervous system
soma - ✔️✔️the cell body of a neuron containing the nucleus, ribosomes, and
mitochondria
synapse - ✔️✔️junction between two neurons where chemical signals are transmitted
from one neuron to another
action potential - ✔️✔️messages sent by axons, characterized by depolarization of the
neuron membrane
all-or-none law - ✔️✔️the principle stating that all action potentials, once initiated, are
approximately equal in amplitude and velocity, regardless of the intensity of the stimulus
depolarization - ✔️✔️reduction of the difference in electrical charge between the inside
and outside of a neuron, leading to the initiation of an action potential
hyperpolarization - ✔️✔️increased polarization of the neuron membrane, resulting in a
more negative charge inside the cell compared to the outside
nodes of Ranvier - ✔️✔️short sections along myelinated axons where the myelin
sheath is interrupted, facilitating rapid transmission of action potentials
refractory period - ✔️✔️period during which the neuron membrane is resistant to
starting another action potential immediately after an action potential
resting potential - ✔️✔️the electrical charge difference between the inside and outside
of a neuron when it is not transmitting signals.
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) - ✔️✔️a graded depolarization of a
postsynaptic neuron's membrane, making it more likely to generate an action potential
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) - ✔️✔️a graded hyperpolarization of a
postsynaptic neuron's membrane, making it less likely to generate an action potential
