Neurons/Neural Communication
What is the part of the neuron that receives incoming signals?
Dendrites
What part of the brain regulates breathing and heart rate?
Medulla
Which neurotransmitter is associated with mood and linked to depression?
Serotonin
What is the capacity of short-term memory?
7 +/- 2 items
What is the term for physical growth and changes in the body over time?
Maturation
What is a variable that is manipulated in an experiment?
Independent variable
What is the electrical charge that travels down the axon called?
Action potential
Which lobe of the brain processes touch and spatial awareness?
The parietal lobe
What neurotransmitter is associated with learning and memory?
Acetylcholine
Which type of memory involves knowledge of facts and events?
Semantic memory
What are teratogens?
Harmful agents like drugs or alcohol that can affect prenatal development.
What is an operational definition?
A specific and measurable definition of a variable in a study.
Which type of neuron communicates between sensory and motor neurons?
Interneurons
What part of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response?
Sympathetic nervous system
Which neurotransmitter reduces pain signals in the body?
Endorphins
What type of memory involves recollection of how to perform tasks like riding a bike?
Procedural memory
During which stage of prenatal development do organs begin to form?
1st trimester
A researcher interviews several patients with the same rare disorder to identify common traits and differences in their experiences. What research method is this?
Case study
What is the refractory period in neural communication?
A brief period after firing when a neuron cannot fire again
What is the primary function of the cerebellum?
Coordination and balance
What condition is linked to an oversupply of dopamine?
Schizophrenia
Which brain structure is crucial for forming new explicit memories?
The hippocampus
What is a critical period in development?
A specific time during which an organism must experience stimuli to develop properly.
Researchers observe and record how students interact on the playground without interfering in their behavior. What research method is being used?
Naturalistic observation
What is the process called when a neuron reabsorbs neurotransmitters?
Reuptake
Which brain structure acts as a relay station for sensory information?
The thalamus
What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain?
GABA
What is the difference between procedural memory and prospective memory?
Procedural memory is for tasks and skills; prospective memory is remembering to perform future actions.
What reflex do newborns show when they turn their head toward a touch on their cheek?
Rooting reflex
What is the difference between a correlation and an experiment?
Correlation shows relationships; experiments show cause and effect