Biological bases of behavior Flashcards
Biological Psychologists
Concerned with links between biology and behavior. Links between biological activity and psychological events.
Neurons
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.
Sensory Neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord. (inward)
Motor Neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands. (outward) (movement)
Interneurons
(Brain’s internal communication system) Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
Dendrite
(“Listen”)The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
Axon
passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, organ glands
Myelin Sheath
Covers axon of the same neurons and helps speed neural impulses
the thicker = the faster the symbol
Action Potential
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon; how neurons transmit messages.
Threshold
The minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
Synapse
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.
Neuro-transmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. Bind to receptor sites.
Reuptake
A neurotransmitter’s re-absorption by the sending neuron.
Endorphins
Natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.
Nervous System
The body’s speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all nerve cells.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
Somatic Nervous System
The division of the PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. (Skeletal Nervous System)
Automatic Nervous System
The part of the PNS that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs (heart).
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
Parasympatheric Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.
Reflexes
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus.
Endocrine System
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.