Psychology 2nd Edition Spielman Test
Bank ISBN: 9781975076450.
biological psychology - answer-the scientific study of the links between biological
(genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.
neuron - answer-A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.
dendrites - answer-A neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and
conduct impulses toward the cell body.
axon - answer-the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to
other neurons or to muscles or glands
myelin sheath - answer-a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axon of some
neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop form one
node to the next.
glial cells - answer-cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect
neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking
action potential - answer-A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an
axon.
threshold - answer-The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
refractory period - answer-a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired;
subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state
all or none response - answer-A neurons reaction of either firing (with a full strength
response) or not firing
synapse - answer-The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the
dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
neurotransmitters - answer-Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between
neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the
synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether
that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
reuptake - answer-a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
, endorphins - answer-"morphine within"--natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to
pain control and to pleasure.
agonist - answer-a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action
antagonist - answer-a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action
nervous system - answer-the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network,
consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
central nervous system - answer-Brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system - answer-the sensory and motor neurons that connect the
central nervous system to the rest of the body
nerves - answer-Bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central
nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
sensory (afferent) neurons - answer-neurons that carry incoming information from
sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
motor (efferent) neurons - answer-neurons that carry outgoing information from the
brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
interneurons - answer-Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate
internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
somatic nervous system - answer-the division of the peripheral nervous system that
controls the body's skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system - answer-the part of the peripheral nervous system that
controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its
sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
sympathetic nervous system - answer-The division of the autonomic nervous system
that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
parasympathetic nervous system - answer-the division of the autonomic nervous
system that calms the body, conserving its energy
reflex - answer-A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-
jerk response.
endocrine system - answer-The body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of
glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Bank ISBN: 9781975076450.
biological psychology - answer-the scientific study of the links between biological
(genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.
neuron - answer-A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.
dendrites - answer-A neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and
conduct impulses toward the cell body.
axon - answer-the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to
other neurons or to muscles or glands
myelin sheath - answer-a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axon of some
neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop form one
node to the next.
glial cells - answer-cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect
neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking
action potential - answer-A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an
axon.
threshold - answer-The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
refractory period - answer-a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired;
subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state
all or none response - answer-A neurons reaction of either firing (with a full strength
response) or not firing
synapse - answer-The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the
dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
neurotransmitters - answer-Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between
neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the
synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether
that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
reuptake - answer-a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron
, endorphins - answer-"morphine within"--natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to
pain control and to pleasure.
agonist - answer-a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action
antagonist - answer-a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action
nervous system - answer-the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network,
consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
central nervous system - answer-Brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system - answer-the sensory and motor neurons that connect the
central nervous system to the rest of the body
nerves - answer-Bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central
nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
sensory (afferent) neurons - answer-neurons that carry incoming information from
sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
motor (efferent) neurons - answer-neurons that carry outgoing information from the
brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
interneurons - answer-Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate
internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
somatic nervous system - answer-the division of the peripheral nervous system that
controls the body's skeletal muscles
autonomic nervous system - answer-the part of the peripheral nervous system that
controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its
sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
sympathetic nervous system - answer-The division of the autonomic nervous system
that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
parasympathetic nervous system - answer-the division of the autonomic nervous
system that calms the body, conserving its energy
reflex - answer-A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-
jerk response.
endocrine system - answer-The body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of
glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
