Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
neuroanatomy
the study of the parts and function of neurons
neurons
individual nerve cells that make up our entire nervous system
dendrites
rootlike parts of the nerve cell that stretch out from the cell body; grow to make synaptic connections with other neurons
cell body (soma)
contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life
axon
wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons that extends from the cell body
myelin sheath
a fatty covering around the axon that speeds neural impulses
terminal buttons
also called: end buttons, terminal branches of axon, synaptic knobs
neurotransmitters
chemicals contained in terminal buttons that enable neurons to communicate
synapse
the space beween the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neurons
action potential
the local voltage change across the cell wall as a nerve impulse is transmitted
function of acetylcholine
motor movement
lack of acetylcholine
Alzheimer’s disease
function of dopamine
motor movement and alertness
lack of dopamine
Parkinson’s disease
overabundance of dopamine
schizophrenia
function of endorphins
pain control; involved in addictions
function of serotonin
mood control
lack of serotonin
associated with clinical depression
afferent neurons
neurons that take information from the senses to the brain
interneurons
in the brain or spinal cord, neurons that take messages and send them elsewhere in the brain or spinal cord
efferent neurons
neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body
Central Nervous System
consists of the brain and spinal cord; nerves encased in bone
Peripheral Nervous System
consists of nerves not encased in bone
Somatic Nervous System
controls voluntary muscle movements
Autonomic Nervous System
controls the automatic functions of our body
Sympathetic Nervous System
part of the Autonomic Nervous System
Parasympathetic Nervous System
part of the Autonomic Nervous System
Phineas Gage
a railroad worker involved in an accident that damaged the front part of his brain
lesioning
the removal or destruction of part of the brain
frontal lobotomy
type of lesioining that was used to treat mentally ill patiens
electroencephalogram (EEG)
detects brain waves, used in sleep research
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT)
a sophisticated 3D X ray of the brain
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
a sophisticated 3D magnetic field image of the brain
Portion Emission Tomography (PET)
measures how much of a certain chemical parts of the brain is using
Functional MRI
combination of MRI and PET
hindbrain
structures in the top part of the spinal cord, controls basic biological functions that keep us alive
medulla
part of hindbrain
pons
part of hindbrain
cerebellum
part of hindbrain
midbrain
coordinates simple movements with sensory information
reticular formation
a netlike collection of cells throughout the hindbrain that controls general body arousal and he ability to focus our attention
forebrain
controls thought and reason
thalamus
part of forebrain
hypothalamus
part of forebrain
amygdala and hippocampus
hippocampus- arms surrounding the thalamus
limbic system
made up of thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala and hippocampus
fissures
wrinkles in the cerebral cortex
contralateral control
each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body
brain lateralization/hemispheric specialization
specialization of function in each hemisphere
corpus callosum
the nerve bundle that connects the two hempisheres; cut in split-brain patients
split-brain patients
patients whose corpus callosums have been cut
association area
any area of the cerebral cortex that is not associated with receiving sensory information or controlling muscle movements
frontal lobes
part of the cerebral cortex
Broca’s area
in the frontal lobe
motor cortex
in the frontal lobe
parietal lobes
contains sensory cortex (somato-sensory cortex)
sensory cortex (somato-sensory cortex)
receives incoming touch sensations from the rest of the body
occipital lobes
at the very back of the brain
temporal lobes
unlike occipital lobes, sound from either ear is processed in both temporal lobes
Wernicke’s area
located in temporal lobe
brain plasticity
the ability of other parts of the brain to take over functions of damaged regions. Declines as hemispheres of the cerebral cortex lateralize.
adrenal glands
produce adrenaline, which causes rest of body to go into fight or flight mode
Thomas Bouchard
conducted study on identical twins that found a correlation of 0.69 on IQ, criticized because their similar appearances may have led to their being treated similarly
Turner’s syndrome
only one X chromosome in the 23rd pair
Klinefelter’s syndrome
extra X chromosome
Down’s syndrome
extra chromosome on the 21st pair
