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Psych 1000 > (3) Biological Psychology > Flashcards

(3) Biological Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Genes

A

the basic units of heredity; genes are responsible for guiding the process of creating the protein that make up our physical structures and regulate development and physiological processes throughout the lifespan

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2
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

a molecule formed in double-helix shape that contains four nucleotides: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine

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3
Q

Genotype

A

the genetic makeup of an organism – the unique set of genes that comprises that individual’s genetic code

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4
Q

Phenotype

A

the physical traits and behavioural characteristics that show genetic variation, such as eye colour, the shape and size of facial features, intelligence, and even personality

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5
Q

Chromosomes

A

structures in the cellular nucleus that are lined with all of the genes and individual inherits

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6
Q

Homozygous

A

if two corresponding genes at a given location on a pair of chromosomes are the same

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7
Q

Heterozygous

A

if two corresponding genes at a given location on a pair of chromosomes differ

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8
Q

Behavioural genomics

A

the study of DNA and the ways in which specific genes are related to behaviour

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9
Q

Human Genome Project

A

a massive effort to identify the components of the entire human genome

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10
Q

Behavioural Genetics

A

the study of how genes and the environment influence behaviour

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11
Q

Monozygotic Twins

A

come form a single ovum (egg), which makes them genetically identical (almost 100% genetic similarity)

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12
Q

Dizygotic Twins

A

come from two separate eggs fertilized by two different sperm cells that share the same womb; these twins have approximately 50% of their genes in common

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13
Q

Longitudinal Studies

A

studies that follow the same individuals for many years, often decades

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14
Q

Heritability

A

a statistic, expressed as a number between zero and one, the represents the degree to which genetic differences among individuals contribute to individual differences in a behaviour or trait found in a population

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15
Q

Gene Expression

A

occurs when then information in our genes is used to produce proteins (or other gene products, such as ribosomal RNA)

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16
Q

Epigenetics

A

changes in gene expression that occur as a result of experience and that do not alter the genetic code

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17
Q

CRISPR-Cas9

A

a technique that allows genetic material to be removed, added, or altered in specific locations of the genome

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18
Q

Natural Selection

A

the process by which favourable traits become increasingly common in a population of interbreeding individuals, while traits that are unfavourable become less common

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19
Q

Evolution

A

the change in the frequency of genes occurring in an interbreeding population over generations

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20
Q

Evolutionary psychology

A

attempts to explain human behaviours based on the beneficial function(s) they may have served in our species’ evolutionary history

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21
Q

Hunter-gatherer Theory

A

which explicitly links performance on specific tasks to the different roles performed by males and females over the course of our evolutionary history

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22
Q

Neurons

A

one of the major types of cells found in the nervous system, which are responsible for sending and receiving messages throughout the body

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23
Q

Cell Body

A

the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus that houses the cell’s genetic material (also know as soma)

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24
Q

Dendrites

A

small branches radiating from the cell body that receive messages from other cells and transmit those messages toward the rest of the cell

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25
Q

Axon

A

transports information in the form of electrochemical reactions from the cell body to the end of the neuron

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26
Q

Axon Terminals

A

bulb-like extensions filled with vesicles

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27
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

the chemicals that function as messengers allowing neurons to communicate with each other

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28
Q

Glial Cells

A

specialized cells of the nervous system involved in mounting immune responses in the brain, removing waste, and synchronizing the activity of neurons that constitute the nervous system

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29
Q

Myelin

A

a fatty sheath that insulates axons from one another, resulting in increased speed and efficiency of neural communication

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30
Q

Multiple Sclerosis

A

is a disease in which the immune system does not recognize myelin and attacks it – a process that can devastate the structural and functional integrity of the nervous system

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31
Q

Resting potential

A

relatively stable state during which the cell is not transmitting messages

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32
Q

Ion Channels

A

small pores on the neuron’s cell membrane

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33
Q

Action Potential

A

a wave of electrical activity that originates at the beginning of the axon near the cell body and rapidly travels down its length

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34
Q

Refractory Period

A

Brief period in which a neuron cannot fire

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35
Q

Synapse

A

an area consisting of a neuron’s axon terminals and a different neuron’s dendrites; these structures are separated by a microscopic space into which neurotransmitters can be released

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36
Q

Presynaptic Cell

A

the neuron that releases its neurotransmitters into the synapse

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37
Q

Postsynaptic Cell

A

the neuron that receives neurotransmitters from the presynaptic cell

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38
Q

All-or-none Principle

A

Individual nerve cells fire at the same strength every time an action potential occurs

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39
Q

Synaptic Cleft

A

the minute space between the axon terminal (terminal button) and the dendrite

40
Q

Reuptake

A

a process whereby neurotransmitter molecules that have been released into the synapse are reabsorbed into the axon terminals of the presynaptic neuron

41
Q

Glutamate

A

is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brains of vertebrates

42
Q

GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid):

A

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter of the nervous system, meaning that it prevents neurons from generating action potentials

43
Q

Acetylcholine

A

one of the most widespread neurotransmitters within the body, found at the junctions between nerve cells and skeletal muscles; it is very important for voluntary movement

44
Q

Dopamine

A

a monoamine neurotransmitter involved in such varied functions as mood, control of voluntary movement, and processing of rewarding experiences

45
Q

Norepinephrine

A

a monoamine synthesized from dopamine molecules that is involved in regulating stress responses, including increasing arousal, attention, and heart rate

46
Q

Epinephrine

A

hormone and neurotransmitter created in the adrenal gland on the kidneys (also known as adrenaline)

47
Q

Serotonin

A

a monoamine involved in regulating mood, sleep, aggression, and appetite

48
Q

Agonists

A

drugs that enhance or mimic the effects of a neurotransmitter’s action

49
Q

Antagonists

A

inhibit neurotransmitter activity by blocking receptors or preventing synthesis of a neurotransmitter

50
Q

Hormones

A

are chemicals secreted by the glands of the endocrine system

51
Q

Hypothalamus

A

a brain structure that regulates basic biological needs and motivational systems

52
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

the master gland of the endocrine system that produces hormone and sends commands about hormone production to the other glands of the endocrine system

53
Q

Adrenal Glands

A

a pair of endocrine glands located adjacent to the kidneys that release stress hormones, such as cortisol and epinephrine

54
Q

Endorphins

A

hormones produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus that function to reduce pain and induce feelings of pleasure

55
Q

Testosterone

A

a hormone that serves multiple functions, including driving physical and sexual development over the long term

56
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

consists of the brain and the spinal cord

57
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

a division of the nervous system that transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body and is divided into two subcomponents: the somatic system and the autonomic system

58
Q

Cerebral Hemispheres

A

nearly symmetrical halves of the brain that contain the same structures

59
Q

Brainstem

A

the “stem” or bottom of the brain and consists of two structures: the medulla and the pons

60
Q

Reticular Formation

A

extends form the medulla upwards to the midbrain

61
Q

Cerebellum

A

the lobe-like structure at the base of the brain that is involved in the monitoring of movement and maintaining balance, attention, and emotional responses

62
Q

Midbrain

A

Resides just above the hindbrain, primarily functions as a relay station between sensory and motor areas

63
Q

Parkinson’s disease

A

a condition marked by major impairments in voluntary movement

64
Q

Forebrain

A

the most visibly obvious region of the brain, consists of the midbrain neural structures, including the outer folds and grooves; which the forebrain structures are critical for complex processes such as emotion, memory, thinking, and reasoning

65
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

a group of three structures that are involved in facilitating planned movements, skill learning, and integrating sensory and movement information with the brain’s reward system

66
Q

Huntington’s Disease

A

a condition involving uncontrollable movements of the body, head, and face

67
Q

Tourette’s Syndrome

A

a condition marked by erratic and repetitive facial and muscle movements (tics), heavy eye blinking, and frequent noise making such as grunting, snorting or sniffing

68
Q

Limbic System

A

an integrated network involved in emotion and memory

69
Q

Amygdala

A

a group of nuclei in the medal portion (near the middle) of the temporal lobes in each hemisphere of the brain that facilitates memory formation for emotional events, mediates fear responses, and appears to play a role in recognizing and interpreting emotional stimuli, including facial expressions

70
Q

Thalamus

A

a set of nuclei involved in relaying sensory information to different regions of the brain

71
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

the convoluted, wrinkled outer layer of the brain that is involved in multiple higher functions such as thought, language, and personality

72
Q

Occipital Lobes

A

located at the rear of the brain and are where visual information is processed

73
Q

Parietal Lobes

A

involved in our experiences of touch as well our bodily awareness

74
Q

Neglect

A

a situation in which the patient does not attend to anything that appears in the left half of their visual field

75
Q

Temporal Lobes

A

located at the sides of the brain near the ears and are involved in hearing, language, and some higher-level aspects of vision such as object and face recognition

76
Q

Cortical Deafness

A

problems with hearing despite the fact that the patient’s ears work perfectly

77
Q

Frontal Lobes

A

are important in numerous higher cognitive functions, such as planning, regulating impulses and emotions, language production, and voluntary movement

78
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

a collection of neural fibres connection the two cerebral hemispheres

79
Q

Hemispheric Specialization

A

the two sides of the cortex often perform very different functions

80
Q

Spilt-brain Patients

A

individuals with epilepsy who had their corpus callosum severed in order to treat their seizures

81
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

the capacity of the brain to change and rewire itself based on individual experience

82
Q

Trophic Factors

A

Chemicals that stimulate the growth of new dendrites and axons

82
Q

Trophic Factors

A

Chemicals that stimulate the growth of new dendrites and axons

83
Q

Lesioning

A

a technique in which researchers intentionally damage an area in the brain (a lesion is abnormal or damage to a single brain tissue)

84
Q

Sham Group

A

a set of animals that go through all of the surgical procedures aside from the lesion itself in order to control for the effects of stress, anesthesia, and the annoyance of stitches

85
Q

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS):

A

a procedure in which an electromagnetic pulse is delivered to a targeted region of the brain

86
Q

Structural Neuroimaging

A

a type of brain scanning that produces images of the different structures of the brain

87
Q

Computerized Tomography

A

a structural neuroimaging technique in which X-rays are sent through the brain by a tube that rotates around the head

88
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A

a structural imaging technique in which clear images of the brain are created based on how different neural regions absorb and release energy while in a magnetic field

89
Q

Diffusion Tensor Imaging

A

a form of structural neuroimaging allowing researchers or medical personnel to measure white-matter pathways in the brain

90
Q

Functional Neuroimaging

A

a type of brain scanning that provides information about which areas of the brain are active when a person performs a particular behaviour

91
Q

Electroencephalogram

A

measures patterns of brain activity with the use of multiple electrodes attached to the scalp

92
Q

Magnetoencephalography

A

a neuroimaging technique that measures tiny magnetic fields created by the electrical activity of brain nerve cells

93
Q

Positron Emission Tomography

A

a scan which a low level of a radioactive isotope is injected into the blood; which the brain movements from the particular task are measured

94
Q

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A

detecting the influx of oxygen-rich blood into neural areas that were just active

Psych 1000 (16 decks)

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