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AP Psychology > Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

biological psychology

A

scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

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2
Q

neuron

A

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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3
Q

dendrites

A

a neuron’s branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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4
Q

axon

A

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

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6
Q

action potential

A

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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7
Q

refractory period

A

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

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8
Q

threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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9
Q

all-or-nothing response

A

a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing

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10
Q

synapse

A

junction between axon tip of sending neuron and dendrite or cell body of receiving neuron

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11
Q

neurotransmitter

A

chemical messenger that crosses the synaptic gap between neurons and binds to receptor sites on receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse

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12
Q

reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

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13
Q

endorphins

A

natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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14
Q

agonist

A

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

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15
Q

antagonist

A

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

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16
Q

nervous system

A

the body’s speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and CNS

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17
Q

central nervous system

A

brain and spinal cord

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18
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

sensory and motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body

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19
Q

nerves

A

bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs

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20
Q

sensory (afferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry incoming information from sensory receptors to CNS

21
Q

motor (efferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

22
Q

interneurons

A

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

23
Q

somatic nervous system

A

division of peripheral nervous system that controls body’s skeletal muscles

24
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

division of peripheral nervous system that controls glands and muscles of internal organs

25
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

division of autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

26
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

division of autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

27
Q

reflex

A

simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus

28
Q

endocrine system

A

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

29
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers manufactured by the endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

30
Q

adrenal glands

A

pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress

31
Q

pituitary gland

A

endocrine system’s most influential gland; regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

32
Q

lesion

A

tissue destruction

33
Q

cerebral cortex

A

interconnected neural cells covering cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center

34
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

35
Q

frontal lobes

A

lies just behind forehead; involved in speaking, muscle movements, and in making plans/judgements

36
Q

parietal lobes

A

lies at top of head and towards rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

37
Q

occipital lobes

A

lies at back of head; receives information from visual fields

38
Q

temporal lobes

A

lies above ears; includes auditory areas

39
Q

motor cortex

A

area at rear of frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement

40
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

area at front of parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

41
Q

association areas

A

areas of cerebral cortex that aren’t involved in primary motor or sensory functions; involved in higher mental function - learning, remembering, speaking, thinking

42
Q

plasticity

A

brain’s ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

43
Q

neurogenesis

A

formation of new neurons

44
Q

corpus callosum

A

large band of neural fibers connecting two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

45
Q

split brain

A

condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

46
Q

consciousness

A

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

47
Q

cognitive neuroscience

A

interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition

48
Q

dual processing

A

principle that information is often simultaneously processes on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

AP Psychology (5 decks)

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