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Psychology > Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

neuron

A

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

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2
Q

cell body

A

the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life-support center.

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3
Q

dendrites

A

a neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting 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

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

glial cells (glia)

A

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

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7
Q

action potential

A

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

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8
Q

threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

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9
Q

refractory period

A

in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until the axon returns to its resting state.

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10
Q

all-or-none response

A

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

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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 at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

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12
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons; when released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites of the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

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13
Q

reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron.

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14
Q

endorphins

A

“morphine within”—natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

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15
Q

agonist

A

a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action.

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16
Q

antagonist

A

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action.

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17
Q

nervous system

A

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

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18
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord.

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19
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

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20
Q

nerves

A

bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

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21
Q

sensory (afferent) neurons

A

neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

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22
Q

motor (efferent) neurons

A

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

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23
Q

interneurons

A

neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

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24
Q

somatic nervous system

A

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles; also called the skeletal nervous system.

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25
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart); its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

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26
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy.

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27
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

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

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28
Q

reflex

A

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.

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29
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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30
Q

hormones

A

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

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31
Q

adrenal glands

A

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

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32
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.

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33
Q

lesion

A

tissue destruction; a brain legion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.

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34
Q

EEG (electroencephalogram)

A

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface; these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

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35
Q

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

A

a brain imaging technique that measure magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity.

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36
Q

CT (computed tomography) scan

A

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure.

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37
Q

PET (position 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.

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38
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; MRI scans show brain anatomy.

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39
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure.

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40
Q

brainstem

A

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

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41
Q

medulla

A

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

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42
Q

thalamus

A

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

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43
Q

reticular formation

A

a nerve network that travels into the brainstem through the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.

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44
Q

cerebellum

A

the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enable nonverbal learning and memory.

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45
Q

limbic system

A

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

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46
Q

amygdala

A

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

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47
Q

hypothalamus

A

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

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48
Q

hippocampus

A

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events.

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49
Q

cerebral cortex

A

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

50
Q

frontal lobes

A

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

51
Q

parietal lobes

A

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

52
Q

occipital lobes

A

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

53
Q

temporal lobes

A

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

54
Q

motor cortex

A

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

55
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

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

56
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, functioning , and speaking.

57
Q

plasticity

A

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

58
Q

neurogenesis

A

the formation of new neurons.

59
Q

corpus callosum

A

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

60
Q

split brain

A

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.

61
Q

consciousness

A

our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

62
Q

cognitive neuroscience

A

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

63
Q

dual processing

A

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

64
Q

blindsight

A

a condition in which a person can respond to visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it.

65
Q

parallel processing

A

processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; generally used to process well-learned information or to solve easy problems.

66
Q

sequential processing

A

processing one aspect of a problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems.

67
Q

behavior genetics

A

the study of relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on our behavior.

68
Q

heredity

A

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring.

69
Q

environment

A

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

70
Q

chromosomes

A

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.

71
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

72
Q

genes

A

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins.

73
Q

genome

A

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.

74
Q

identical (monozygotic) twins

A

develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.

75
Q

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

A

develop from separate fertilized eggs; they are genetically no closer than ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment.

76
Q

heritability

A

the proportion of variation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes; the heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.

77
Q

interaction

A

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity).

78
Q

molecular genetics

A

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.

79
Q

molecular behavior genetics

A

the study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior.

80
Q

epigenetics

A

“above” or “in addition to” genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change.

81
Q

evolutionary psychology

A

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

82
Q

natural selection

A

the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive in a particular environment (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

83
Q

mutation

A

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

84
Q

social script

A

a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.

85
Q

sleep

A

a periodic, natural loss of consciousness — as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation.

86
Q

circadian rhythm

A

our biological clock; regular body rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

87
Q

REM sleep

A

rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur; also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

88
Q

alpha waves

A

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state.

89
Q

NREM sleep

A

non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except for REM sleep.

90
Q

hallucinations

A

false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.

91
Q

hypnagogic sensations

A

bizarre experiences, such as jerking or a feeling of falling or floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep.

92
Q

delta waves

A

the large, slow brain waves associated with the deep sleep of NREM-3.

93
Q

superchiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

A

a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm; in response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness.

94
Q

insomnia

A

recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

95
Q

narcolepsy

A

a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks; the suffer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

96
Q

sleep apnea

A

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

97
Q

night terrors

A

a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered.

98
Q

dream

A

a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind.

99
Q

manifest content

A

according to Freud, the symbolic, remembered story line of a dream.

100
Q

latent content

A

according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream.

101
Q

REM rebound

A

the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.

102
Q

psychoactive drug

A

a chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood.

103
Q

substance use disorder

A

a disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk.

104
Q

tolerance

A

the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take longer and larges doses before experiencing the drug’s effect.

105
Q

withdrawal

A

the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior.

106
Q

depressants

A

drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

107
Q

alcohol use disorder

A

alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use.

108
Q

barbiturates

A

drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement.

109
Q

opiates

A

opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

110
Q

stimulants

A

drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

111
Q

nicotine

A

a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco.

112
Q

amphetamines

A

drugs, such as methamphetamine, that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes.

113
Q

methamphetamine

A

a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels.

114
Q

ecstasy (MDMA)

A

a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen; produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition.

115
Q

hallucinogens

A

psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

116
Q

near-death experience

A

an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug-induced hallucinations.

117
Q

LSD

A

a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid.

118
Q

THC

A

the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.

119
Q

consciousness

A

our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

120
Q

hypnosis

A

a social interaction in which one person suggests to another that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur.

121
Q

posthypnotic suggestion

A

a suggestion, made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized; used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviors.

122
Q

dissociation

A

a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others.

Psychology (9 decks)

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