PSC 168 Chapter 3: PSC 168_ ch 3
Document Summary
Model (paradigm): a set of assumptions and concepts that help scientists explain and interpret observations. Corpus callosum: connects the 2 cerebral hemispheres. Basal ganglia: plays crucial role in planning and productive movement. Amygdala: plays key role in emotional memory. Synapse: the tiny space between the nerve ending of one neuron and the dendrite of another. Neurotransmitter: a chemical that , released by one neuron, crosses the synaptic space to be received at receptors on the dendrites of neighboring neurons. Receptor: a site on a neuron that received a neurotransmitter. Hormones: the chemicals released by endocrine glands into the bloodstream. Gene: chromosome segments that control the characteristics and traits we inherit. Genetic factors contribute to many mental disorders. Mutation: an abnormal form of the appropriate gene that emerges by accident. Some see mutations as a result of normal evolutionary principles. Another source of abnormal brain structure or biochemical dysfunctioning is viral infections.
