Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
Action Potential
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Aphasia
Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage to the Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of internal organs. Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms
Axon
The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Behavior Genetics
The study of relative power and limits of genetic environmental influences on behavior
Biological Psychology
The study of links between biological and psychological processes
Central Nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Chromosomes
Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
Dendrite
A neurons often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell boud
DNA
A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
EEG
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. The waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
Endocrine system
Monitors hormone levels and regulates them
Fraternal Twins
(dizygotic) Develop from separate eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary siblings, but they share a prenatal environment
Gender
The socially influenced characteristics by which people define girl, boy, man, or woman
Genes
The biochemical units of hereditary that make up chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
Genotype
A persons unique genetic makeup that is coded in their chromosomes & fixed at conception
Glial cells
The cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they also play a tiny role in learning, thinking, and memory
Hereditary
The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring
Hormones
Chemical messengers released from endocrine glands that influence the nervous system to regulate the psychology and behavior of individuals
Identical Twins
(monozygotic) develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating genetically identical organisms
Interneuron
Neurons within the brain & spinal cord; they communicate internally & process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs
Motor Neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain & spinal cord to the muscles & glands
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy
Myelin Sheath
A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the avons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speeds as neural impulses hop from one node to the next
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Nervous System
The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all nerve cells of peripheral and center nervous systems
Neural Network
Their basic processing elements are based on the neurons in the brain and the synapses between them
Neurons
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Neurotransmitters
Chemical Transmitters that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
Parasympathetic nervous system
Glutamate, GABA, Serotonin, Dopamine, and Endorphins
Peripheral nervous system
The sensory & motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Phenotype
An individuals observable traits, such as height, eye color, and blood type
PET (Positron emission tomography scan)
A visual display of brain activity that detects a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
Reflex
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus such as the knee jerk response
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the body’s tissues and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Somatic Nervous System
The division of the peripheral nervous system that control the body’s skeletal muscles
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy
Synapse
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
Temperament
A person’s characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Hindbrain
“Reptilian Brain” animals and humans have these structures. They form the most basic part of the brain. Hindbrain regulates the functions most basic to life.
Medulla Onlongata (location)
On top of the spinal cord; very bottom of the brain (Hindbrain)
Medulla Oblongta (function)
Life supporting functions, respiration, digestion, heartbeat, blood pressure (Hindbrain)
Pons (location)
Sits on top of the medulla; larger swelling (hindbrain)
Pons (function)
•relays signals from the forebrain to the cerebellum
•regulates your breathing
•hindbrain
Reticular Information (location)
run through the middle of the medulla and the pons; in between the ears (hindbrain)
Reticular Information (function)
Controls an organisms level of alertness/arousal (hindbrain)
Cerebellum (location)
Located in the rear of the brain; large and deeply folded structure; little brain (hind brain)
Cerebellum (function)
Helps coordinate voluntary movements as well as balance, and sense of equilibrium (hindbrain)
Brainstem (location)
Located in the rear of the brain; largely and deeply folded structure; little brain (hindbrain)
Brainstem (function)
•Oldest/most basic part of the brain
•Automatic survival functions
•contains medulla, pons, and reticular
•sends and receives info
•hind brain
Forebrain
Humans and animals have this (reptiles don’t) Explains why animals respond to more complex sets of stimuli than reptiles
Limbic system (location)
A loosely connected network of structures
Limbic system (function)
Responsible for mood and emotions, as well as the experience of pain and fear
Thalamus (location)
Sits on top of the brain stem (part of the limbic system)
Thalamus (function)
•sensory switchboard
•all senses pass through the thalamus
•limbic system
Hypothalamus (location)
directly underneath the thalamus, and directly above the pituitary gland (limbic system)
Hypothalamus (function)
Fighter flight; eating, drinking, sexual functions, body temperature
Hippocampus (location)
Curve structure, located with each temporal lobe; wraps around the back of the thalamus
Hippocampus (function)
formation of long-term memories that are then stored elsewhere in the brain; storage of memories for the location of objects
Amygdala (location)
Two almond shaped structures; near the hippocampus
Amygdala (function)
Response for emotional responses to fear and the memory of fear; also associated with anger and aggression
Cerebrum Location
largest and most complex part of the brain, it’s divided into 2 hemispheres and four loaves, and it is covered by the cerebral cortex
Cerebral cortex (function)
Responsible for higher level process of the human brain. Language, memory, reasoning, thoughts, decision-making, emotion.
cerebral cortex (location)
top of the cerebrum
Frontal Lobe (location)
Front of the brain; underneath the forehead; largest lobe
Frontal lobe(function)
Advanced cognitive abilities
Prefrontal cortex (function)
Planning, personality, memory storage complex decision-making, devoted to language
Primary Motor Cortex (function)
•output
•controls the movement of the body’s voluntary muscles by sending commands to the somatic division of the PNS
•cross wired
Broca’s area
•speech
•left side
•allows people to speak smoothly and fluently
Temporal Lobe (location)
just behind the temples, below the parietal lobe
Temporal lobe (function)
sound information processing
Auditory Cortex
Processes sensors info from the ears
Wernickes Area
Devoted to language comprehension and expression
Parietal lobe (function)
Touch and sensory information processing. (mathematical reasoning)
Parietal lobe (location)
Top of the head; between the frontal and occipital lobe
Sensory Cortex
•input
•registers and processes senses
•cross wired
Occipital Lobe (location)
Toward the back of the brain; at the base of the cortex
Occipital Lobe (function)
Visual information processing
Visual Cortex
Processes sensory information from the eyes, NOT CONTRALATERAL
Phineas Gage
Damage to frontal lobe, emotional control, rational thoughts, decision making
Dopamine
Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
Serotonin
Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
GABA
A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memoru
Endorphins
Influence the perception of pain or pleasure
Agonist
A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action
Antagonist
A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action
