Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Ap Psychology > Biological bases of behavior > Flashcards

Biological bases of behavior Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Biological Psychologists

A

Concerned with links between biology and behavior. Links between biological activity and psychological events.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Neurons

A

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. (inward)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Motor Neurons

A

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands. (outward) (movement)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Interneurons

A

(Brain’s internal communication system) Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Dendrite

A

(“Listen”)The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Axon

A

passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, organ glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

Covers axon of the same neurons and helps speed neural impulses

the thicker = the faster the symbol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Action Potential

A

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon; how neurons transmit messages.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Threshold

A

The minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap is called the synaptic gap.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Neuro-transmitters

A

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. Bind to receptor sites.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Reuptake

A

A neurotransmitter’s re-absorption by the sending neuron.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Nervous System

A

The body’s speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all nerve cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

The brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Nerves

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

The division of the PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. (Skeletal Nervous System)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Automatic Nervous System

A

The part of the PNS that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs (heart).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Parasympatheric Nervous System

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Reflexes

A

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Endocrine System

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.

26
Q

Adrenal Glands

A

A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinepherine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

27
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

28
Q

Lesion

A

Tissue destruction; naturally or experimentally.

29
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. Measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

30
Q

CT (computed tomography) Scan

A

A series of x-rays taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body.

31
Q

PET (Positron emission tomography) Scan

A

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

32
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. Show brain anatomy.

33
Q

FMRI (Functional MRI)

A

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Shows brain function.

34
Q

Brainstem

A

Oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions.

35
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

36
Q

Reticular Formation

A

A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.

37
Q

Thalamus

A

The brain’s sensory switchboard, located at the top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

38
Q

Cerebelum

A

The “little brain” at the rear of the brain stem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.

39
Q

Limbic System

A

Doughnut-shaped neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

40
Q

Amygdala

A

Two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

41
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp.), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

42
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and info-processing center.

43
Q

Glial Cells

A

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

44
Q

Frontal Lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.

45
Q

Parietal Lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.

46
Q

Occipital Lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive info from the visual fields.

47
Q

Temporal Lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving info primarily from the opposite ear.

48
Q

Motor Cortex

A

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

49
Q

Sensory Cortex

A

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

50
Q

Association Areas

A

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

51
Q

Aphasia

A

Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to the Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to the Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding).

52
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Controls language expression- and area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

53
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

Controls language reception- a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.

54
Q

Plasticity

A

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.

55
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The formation of new neurons.

56
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

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

57
Q

Split Brain

A

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

58
Q

Conscousness

A

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

59
Q

Cognitive Neuroscience

A

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language.)

60
Q

Dual Processing

A

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

Ap Psychology (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions