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Ap Psychology > Biological bases of behavior > Flashcards

Biological bases of behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

Biological Psychologists

A

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

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2
Q

Neurons

A

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

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3
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

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

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4
Q

Motor Neurons

A

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

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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.

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6
Q

Dendrite

A

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

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7
Q

Axon

A

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

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8
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

Covers axon of the same neurons and helps speed neural impulses

the thicker = the faster the symbol

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9
Q

Action Potential

A

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

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10
Q

Threshold

A

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

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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.

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12
Q

Neuro-transmitters

A

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

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13
Q

Reuptake

A

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

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14
Q

Endorphins

A

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

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15
Q

Nervous System

A

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

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16
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

The brain and spinal cord

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17
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

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

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18
Q

Nerves

A

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

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19
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

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

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20
Q

Automatic Nervous System

A

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

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21
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

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

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22
Q

Parasympatheric Nervous System

A

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

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23
Q

Reflexes

A

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus.

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24
Q

Endocrine System

A

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

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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)

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