Biological Bases of Behavior

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Nervous System

Question 2

The brain and spinal cord

Answer 2

Central nervous system

Question 3

Connects the CNS to the limbs and organs, essentially serving as a communication relay going back and forth between the brain and the extremities

Answer 3

Peripheral nervous System

Question 4

The division of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. Controls the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systmes

Answer 4

Autonomic Nervous System

Question 5

The division of the Autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. Fight or glight

Answer 5

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 6

The division of the autonomic nervou system that calms the body conserving its energy rest and digest

Answer 6

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Reflex

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Neuron

Question 9

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Answer 9

Sensory neuron

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Interneurons

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Motor neurons

Question 12

The neurons life support center that also produces neurotransmitters

Answer 12

Soma

Question 13

The busy branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Answer 13

Dendrite

Question 14

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers through which messages pass to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Answer 14

Axon

Question 15

A layer of fatty tissue that covers the axon which aides in the speed of neural impulses; the thicker this thing is the faster the neural impluses

Answer 15

Myelin sheath

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Action potential

Question 17

Electrically charged atoms

Answer 17

Ions

Question 18

The fluid interior of a resting axon has an excess of negatively charged ions, while the fluid outside the axon membrane has ore positively charged ions

Answer 18

Resting potential

Question 19

During the resting state of a neuron when the outside is positively charged and the inside is negatively charges

Answer 19

Polarized

Question 20

Axon is no longer resting at potential; outside is now negatively charged and inside is now positively charged

Answer 20

Depolarized

Question 21

Resting state after firing in which the neuron goes back to its polarized resting state

Answer 21

Refractory period

Question 22

Accelerates neurons firing speed

Answer 22

Excitatory

Question 23

Slows neurons firing speed

Answer 23

Inhibitory

Question 24

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Answer 24

Threshold

Question 25

The junction between the terminal branch of the synaptic gap

Answer 25

Synapse

Question 26

The tiny gap at the synapse in which neurotransmitters cross

Answer 26

Synaptic gap

Question 27

A neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

Answer 27

Reuptake

Question 28

Natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

Answer 28

Endorphins

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Adrenal glands

Question 30

The endocrine systems most influential gland under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

Answer 30

Pituitary glands

Question 31

The brains ability to modify itself after tissue damage

Answer 31

Plasticity

Question 32

The oldest and innermost region of the brain that is responsible for automatic survival functions. It begins where the pineal cord swells and enters the skull

Answer 32

Brainstem

Question 33

The brains sensory switchboard located on the top of the brainstem it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex it also transmits replies to the cerbellum amend medulla

Answer 33

Thalamus

Question 34

Part of the brainstem that control heartbeat and breathing

Answer 34

Medulla

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Reticular formation

Question 36

The little brain attached to the rear of the brainstem that assists in balance and voluntary movements

Answer 36

Cerebellum

Question 37

The doughnut shaped system of the neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres that is associated with emotions like fear and aggression and drives like food and sex

Answer 37

Limbic system

Question 38

Two almond shaped neural clusters in the limbic system that are linked to emotions especially fear rage and agression

Answer 38

Amygdala

Question 39

Located in the limbic system that lies below the thalamus it is responsible for the regulation of body maintenance such as eating drinking and body temperature

Answer 39

Hypothalamus

Question 40

The part of the limbic system responsible for memory and learning

Answer 40

Hippocampus

Question 41

Master endocrine gland located in the limbic system

Answer 41

Pituitary gland

Question 42

The thin layer of interconnected neural cells that forms a surface layer on the cerebral hemispheres. It is the body’s ultimate control and information processing center

Answer 42

Cerebral cortex/cerebrum

Question 43

Glue cells in the cortex that guide neural connections provide nutrients and insulating myelin and mop up ions and neurotransmitters

Answer 43

Glial cells

Question 44

The portion of the cerebral cortex that lies just behind the forehead that is involved in speaking, muscle movements, and in making plans and judgements,

Answer 44

Frontal lobes

Question 45

The area at the back of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements

Answer 45

Motor cortex

Question 46

The portion of the cerebral cortex between the frontal and occipital lobes that deals with body sensations it includes the somatosensory cortex

Answer 46

Parietal lobes

Question 47

The area at the front of the parietal lobe that registers and processes body sensations

Answer 47

Somatosensory cortex

Question 48

The portion of the cerebral cortex at the back of the brain that includes the visual cortex for vision

Answer 48

Occipital lobes

Question 49

The area of the occipital lobe that receives visual information from the eyes

Answer 49

Visual cortex

Question 50

The portion of the cerebral cortex that lies roughly above the ears that includes the auditory cortex for hearing

Answer 50

Temporal lobe

Question 51

The area of the temporal lobe that reveives auditory information from the ears

Answer 51

Auditory cortex

Question 52

An area of the left frontal lobe that controls the muscle movements involved in speech

Answer 52

Brocas area

Question 53

An area of the left temporal lobe that is involved in language comprehension

Answer 53

Wernickes area

Question 54

The large band of neural fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres to carry messages between them.

Answer 54

Corpus callosum

Question 55

A condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain cannot communicate . Caused by severing of the corpus callosum

Answer 55

Split brain

Question 56

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition

Answer 56

Cognitive neuroscience

Question 57

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

Answer 57

Dual processing