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AP Psychology > Barron's: Chapter 3 - Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Barron's: Chapter 3 - Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Neuroanatomy

A
  • the study of the parts and function of neurons
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2
Q

Neuron

A
  • individual nerve cells
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3
Q

Dendrites

A
  • rootlike parts of the cell that stretch out from the cell body. dendrites grow to make synaptic connections with other neurons (see Synapse, below)
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4
Q

Cell body (also called the soma)

A
  • contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life
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5
Q

Axon

A
  • wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons that extends from the cell body
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6
Q

Myelin sheath

A
  • a fatty covering around the axon of some neurons that speeds neural impulses
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7
Q

Terminal buttons (also called end buttons, axon terminal, terminal branches of axon, and synaptic knobs)

A
  • the branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters
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8
Q

Neurotransmitters

A
  • chemicals contained in terminal buttons that enable neurons to communicate. neurotransmitters fit into receptor sites on the dendrites of neurons like a key fits into a lock
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9
Q

Synapse

A
  • the space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron
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10
Q

Receptor sites

A
  • proteins that are on the surface of each cell and act as little receivers
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11
Q

Threshold

A
  • the level of strength a stimulus must reach to be detected
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12
Q

Action potential

A
  • the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.
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13
Q

All-or-none principle

A
  • when a neuron either fires completely or its does not fire
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14
Q

Neural firing

A
  • an electrochemical process. electricity travels within the cell (from the dendrites to the terminal buttons), and chemicals (neurotransmitters) travel between cells in the synapse. Electricity does not jump between the neurons
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15
Q

Excitatory neurotransmitters

A
  • they excite the next cell into firing
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16
Q

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

A
  • they inhibit the next cell from firing
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17
Q

Acetylcholine

A
  • Function: Motor movement

- Problems Associated with an Excess of Deficit: lack of acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimer’s disease

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18
Q

Dopamine

A
  • Function: Motor movement and alertness
  • Problems Associated with an Excess of Deficit: Lack of dopamine is associated with Parkinson’s disease, an overabundance is associated with schizophrenia
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19
Q

Endorphins

A
  • Function: Pain control

- Problems Associated with an Excess of Deficit: involved in addictions

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20
Q

Serotonin

A
  • Function: mood control

- Problems Associated with an Excess of Deficit: lack of serotonin is associated with clinical depression

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21
Q

GABA

A
  • Function: Important inhibitory neurotransmitter

- Problems Associated with an Excess of Deficit: seizures, sleep problems

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22
Q

Glutamate

A
  • Function: excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in memory

- Problems Associated with an Excess of Deficit: migraines, seizures

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23
Q

Norepinephrine

A
  • Function: alertness, arousal

- Problems Associated with an Excess of Deficit: depression

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24
Q

Afferent neurons (or sensory neurons)

A
  • take information from the senses to the brain (you can think of afferent nerves as taking information in at the brain)
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25
Q

Efferent neurons (or motor neurons)

A
  • take information from the brain to the rest of the body (you can think of efferent nerves as carrying information that exits the brain)
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26
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A
  • consists of our brain and spinal cord - all the nerves housed within bone (the skull and vertebrae)
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27
Q

Spinal cord

A
  • a bundle of nerves that run through the center of the spine, it transmits information from the rest of the body to the brain
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28
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A
  • consists of all the other nerves in your body - all the nerves not encased in bone
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29
Q

Somatic nervous system

A
  • controls our voluntary muscle movement
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30
Q

Accidents

A
  • Phineas Gage was in an accident that damaged the front part of his brain
  • his behavior changed and he became highly emotional and impulsive
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31
Q

Lesions

A
  • the removal or destruction of part of the brain
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32
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A
  • detects brain waves

- widely used in sleep research to identify the different stages of sleep and dreaming

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33
Q

Computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scan)

A
  • uses several X-ray cameras that rotate around the brain and combine all the pictures into a detailed three-dimensional picture of the brain’s structure
  • can only show structure of the brain
34
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan)

A
  • uses magnetic fields to measure the density and location of brain material
35
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET scan)

A
  • measures how much of a certain chemical (glucose, for example) parts of the brain are using
36
Q

Functional MRI (fMRI)

A
  • shows details of brain structure with information about blood flow in the brain, tying brain structure to brain activity during cognitive tasks
37
Q

Hindbrain (old brain)

A
  • consists of structures in the top part of the spinal cord

- our life support system; it controls the basic biological functions that keep us alive

38
Q

Medulla (medulla oblongata)

A
  • controls our blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing
39
Q

Pons

A
  • connects the hindbrain with the midbrain and forebrain

- involved in the control of facial expressions

40
Q

Cerebellum

A
  • located on the bottom rear of the brain
  • means little brain
  • coordinates some habitual muscle movements
41
Q

Midbrain (old brain)

A
  • located just above the spinal cord but still below areas categorized as the forebrain
  • coordinates simple movement with sensory information
42
Q

Reticular formation

A
  • netlike collection of cells throughout the midbrain that controls general body arousal and the ability to focus our attention
43
Q

Forebrain (new brain)

A
  • control what we think of as thought and reason
44
Q

Thalamas

A
  • located on top of the brain stem
  • responsible for receiving the sensory signals coming up the spinal cord and sending them to the appropriate areas in the rest of the forebrain
45
Q

Hypothalamus

A
  • small structure right next to the thalamus
  • controls several metabolic functions, incluidng body temperature, sexual arousal (libido), hunger, thirst, and the endocrine system
46
Q

Amygdala

A
  • vital to our experiences of emotion
47
Q

Hippocampus

A
  • vital to our memory system
48
Q

Limbic system

A
  • consists of the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus
  • they all deal with aspects of emotion and memory
49
Q

Cerebral cortex

A
  • a thin layer of densely packed neurons
50
Q

Hemispheres

A
  • cerebral cortex divided in half: left and right
51
Q

Left hemisphere

A
  • gets sensory messages and controls the motor function of the right half of the body
52
Q

Right hemisphere

A
  • gets sensory messages and controls the motor function of the left half of the body
53
Q

Brain lateralization (or hemispheric specialization)

A
  • the specialization of function in each hemisphere
54
Q

Corpus callosum

A
  • the nerve bundle that connects the two hemispheres
55
Q

Lobes

A
  • each of the parts of the cerebrum of the brain
56
Q

Association area

A
  • thought to be responsible for complex, sophisticated thoughts like judgment and humor
57
Q

Frontal lobes

A
  • located at the front part of the brain behind the eyes
58
Q

Broca’s area

A
  • in the frontal lobe and is responsible for controlling the muscles involved in producing speech
59
Q

Wernicke’s area

A
  • interprets both written and spoken speech
60
Q

Motor cortex

A
  • sends impulses to the somatic nervous system, which controls the muscles that allow us to move
61
Q

Parietal lobes

A
  • behind the frontal lobe but still on top of the brain
62
Q

Sensory cortex (somato-sensory cortex)

A
  • thin vertical strip that receives incoming touch sensations form the rest of our body
63
Q

Occipital lobes

A
  • the very back of our brain

- impulses from retinas in our eyes are sent to visual cortex then to occipital lobes

64
Q

Temporal lobes

A
  • processes sound sensed by our ears
65
Q

Brain plasticity

A
  • other parts of the brain can adapt themselves to perform other functions if needed
66
Q

Endocrine system

A
  • a system of glands that secrete hormones that affect many biological processes in our bodies
  • controlled by the hypothalamus
67
Q

Adrenal glands

A
  • produce adrenaline

- signals the rest of body to prepare for fight or flight

68
Q

Monozygotic twins

A
  • twins that develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two embryos
69
Q

Roger Sperry

A
  • he and Michael Gazzaniga created the operation that cuts the corpus callosum to treat severe epilepsy
70
Q

Michael Gazzaniga

A
  • he and Roger Sperry created the operation that cuts the corpus callosum to treat severe epilepsy
71
Q

Paul Broca

A
  • he was a French physician, anatomist and anthropologist.
72
Q

Carl Wernicke

A
  • he was a German physician, anatomist, psychiatrist and neuropathologist.
73
Q

Thomas Bouchard

A
  • he did research on twins that were given up for adoption and raised in different families
74
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A
  • controls the automatic functions of our body - our hearts, lungs, internal organs, glands, and so on
75
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A
  • mobilizes our body to respond to stress

- carries messages to the control systems of the organs, glands, and muscles that direct our body’s respond to strees

76
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A
  • responsible for slowing down our body after a stress response
  • carries messages to the stress response system that causes our body to slow down
77
Q

fissures

A
  • wrinkles on the surface of the cerebral cortex
78
Q

contralateral control

A
  • the motor cortex of both cerebral hemispheres are primarily accountable for handling of motions of the opposite side of one’s body
79
Q

prefrontal cortex

A
  • the anterior or front of the frontal lobe
  • acts as the brain’s central executive and is believed to be important in foreseeing consequences, pursuing goals, and maintaining emotional control
80
Q

nature and nurture

A
  • nature: our genetic code

- nurture: the environment where we grow up and live

81
Q

DNA

A
  • deoxyribonucleic acid

- certain parts control the production of specific proteins that control some human traits

AP Psychology (68 decks)

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