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AP Psych > Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

dendrite

A

part of a neuron
receives messages from other neurons
branch like projections

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2
Q

soma

A

cell body of a neuron
surrounded by cytoplasm
held together by membrane

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3
Q

axon and myelin sheath

A

tail along which electrical signals are conducted
myelin sheath protects axon and increases speed of action potential
dysfunction in myelin sheath leads to MS

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4
Q

terminal button and vesicles

A

where neurotransmitters are released into the synapse

Vesicles contain the neurotransmitters

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5
Q

Synapse

A

gap between terminal buttons of presynaptic sending neuron and dendrites of the postsynaptic receiving neuron

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6
Q

afferent (sensory) neuron

A

carry messages to interneurons in the brain and spinal cord

a for appraoch

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7
Q

efferent (motor) neuron

A

transmit message to muscles and glands
e for exits
sends it to effector cells

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8
Q

interneurons

A

transmit impulses between other neurons

the middle man

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9
Q

mirror neurons

A

begin firing in specific parts of brain when another as it you were also doing those things
ex. see someone srying –> neurons will fire in your brain in an area associated with crying even though you are not crying

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10
Q

Glial cells

A

support cells that hold together message-sending neurons and support their functioning
some have message sending capacity
Glue

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11
Q

Presynaptic neuron

A

sens message

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12
Q

postsynaptic neuron

A

receives message

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13
Q

Message transition

A

resting state —> firing threshold —-> action potential using all or none principle —> refractory period

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14
Q

Reuptake

A

after the axon releases neurotransmitter across a synapse, it reabsorbs any neurotransmitter that was released but not picked up by the posy-synaptic neuron’s dendrite

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15
Q

sodium-potassium pump

A

cell excitation begins process of depolarization, positive sodium ions rush into cell and potassium ions flow out, leaving cell more positive charged in the inside than outside
when there is enough positive change, neurons fire

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16
Q

Lock and key analogy

A

the neurotransmitter is like a key and the receptor site is like the keyhole or lock

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17
Q

agonists

A

enhance or amplify action of certain neurotransmitter

cocaine

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18
Q

antagonists

A

antagonists inhibit action of neurotransmitter

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19
Q

GABA

A

inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

low levels lead to anxiety and seizures

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20
Q

Glutamate

A

primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
too much leads to seizures, bipolar disorders
excited when glued to your mate

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21
Q

Substance P

A

sends pain message; linked to fibromyalgia, linked to other pain disorders

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22
Q

Endorphins

A

alleviate pain; chronic pain and fibromyalgia due to reduced endorphin activity

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23
Q

neuron

A

basic building block of the nervous system

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24
Q

ACh

A

voluntary muscle movements; memory; low levels linked to Alzheimer’s disease
ACh and Alzheimer’s both start with A

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25
Q

Dopamine

A

learning, pleasure, muscle control, and attention

linked to Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s

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26
Q

serotonin

A

appetite, sleep, mood; low levels linked with depression and anxiety
tonin—> tone—> toned down—-> when toned down, puede ser very bad

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27
Q

norepinephrine

A

alertness, arousal

low levels correlated with depression

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28
Q

central nervous system

A

spinal cord [spinal cord –> spine —> fine —> automatic response to questions —> automatic response —> reflex] and reflexes + brain

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29
Q

Limbic system

A

amygdala
hippocampus
hypothalamus

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30
Q

amygdala

A

part of limbic system

aggression, fear, formation of emotional memories [a for anger and aggression]

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31
Q

hippocampus

A

formation of memories
part of limbic system
hippo on campus trying to remember where to go

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32
Q

Hypothalamus

A 
part of limbic system 
four Fs (Flight/fear, fight, food, fornication); homeostasis; regulates hormones along with endocrine system [hypothalamus ---> mus ---> must ----> MUST maintain homeostasis]
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33
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

(F.P.O.T) “the location of intellect”

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34
Q

frontal lobe

A

part of cerebral cortex
“executive” brain in charge of planning and decisions (think Olive) includes Broca’s area
and houses motor cortex at the back of the lobe

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35
Q

Where are lobotomies done?

A

motor cortex

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36
Q

Broca’s area

A

responsible for the physical ability to speak
BRO, CA(o)me on, can’t you understand me?
left hemisphere, frontal lobe

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37
Q

parietal lobe

A

awareness of body movement and location
houses somatosensory cortex
[parietal —> par –> golf —> sport —> movement —> awareness]
parietal —> bridal –> lift over threshold –> movement
part of cerebral cortex

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38
Q

temporal lobe

A

hearing, speaking, and some sight; contains Wernicke’s area
houses auditory cortex
[temporal —> tempor —> temper —-> steam coming out of your ears —> ears —> hearing]
part of cerebral cortex

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39
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

responsible for language comprehension

in temporal lobe

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40
Q

Occipital lobe

A

sight
houses visual cortex in the back of the lobe [occipital —> occ –> occlumency —> see into other people’s minds —> see]
part of cerebral cortex

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41
Q

Medulla

A

part of hindbrain
primary functions include breathing, heartbeat, and circulation and secondary features include swallowing and digestion [medulla —-> medusa —-> ancient Greece —-> ancient —-> really really really really old —> primitive—–> medulla part of primitive brain

42
Q

Cerebellum

A 
part of hindbrain 
balance and coordination 
(aka reptilian or little brain) 
[cerebellum ---> antebellum ----> sectional BALANCE ---> balance and movement] 
also, classical conditioning
43
Q

reticular formation/RAS

A

hind and mid brain
alertness and consciousness
[Reticular Formation —-> RF —-> ref —-> get your head in the game —> be alert —> RF controls alertness]

44
Q

Thalamus

A

the switchboard of the brain
links the brainstem and relats sensory info to cerebral cortex
ex. hear —> thalamus —-> temporal lobes [auditory cortex]

45
Q

Corpus callosum

A

bridges two hemispheres and allows for communication between the hemispheres
split brain patients
like a phone wire

46
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

neural tissue outside of the brain and spinal cord. Carries info from the sensory organs to the CNS to the muscles, glands, and internal organs (acts like Hermione in Book 4 when she has to carry messages from Ron to Harry and back again)

47
Q

Somatic System/Skeletal Nervous System

A

part of the peripheral nervous system
voluntary movement in skeletal muscles, sensory and motor nerves
soma = body

48
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

internal systems
involuntary movement
autonomous country- acts all by itself (except happier about it than the ALLL BY MYSELFFFF song) (except it doesn’t have feelings)
part of Peripheral Nervous System

49
Q

Sympathetic division

A 
part of autonomic nervous system 
troubleshooter 
Johnny Thompson story- arms got cut off. ran into his house and called his aunt with a spinny phone and like a pencil in his mouth. Then went and sat in bath so he wouldn't get blood on the floor 
activates body in times of danger 
fight/flight response
50
Q

Fight/response

A 
part of sympathetic nervous system 
increases: 
heart rate 
breathing 
adrenaline 
norepinephrine 
sweat 
decreases: 
digestion
51
Q

Parasympathetic division

A

part of autonomic nervous system
housekeeping [HOUSEKEEPING]
the trick to remember this is that it is responsible for housekeeping and calms you down, like Ban who said housekeeping
parachute- brings you down
calms body
gets that digestion to increase [banno—-> WJB —> three letter acronym things —> BLT —-> food —-> digestion]

52
Q

Opponent-process systems

A

antagonistic systems that work to maintain homeostasis by performing opposite functions and keeping each other in balance
ex. somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system

53
Q

What is the important thing to remember about the Peripheral Nervous System?

A

It is made up of antagonistic systems

54
Q

Endocrine system

A

sends message using hormones in the blood

slower acting but longer lasting

55
Q

hormones

A

type of chemical messenger

part of endocrine system

56
Q

glands

A

secrete hormones

part of endocrine system

57
Q

pituitary gland

A 
directs other glands of the endocrine system 
released oxytocin (not oxycontin) and human growth hormone 
part of endocrine system
58
Q

adrenal gland

A

fight or flight responses through secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline
part of endocrine system

59
Q

thyroid

A

growth and metabolism

part of endocrine system

60
Q

pancreas

A

metabolizes sugar
insulin lowers it and glucagon raises it
part of endocrine system

61
Q

ovaries and testes

A

primary sex charactersitics: reproduction
secondary sex characteristics: other factors in puberty
ovaries produce progesterone and estrogen
testes produce androgens (testosterone)
part of endocrine system

62
Q

pineal gland

A

part of endocrine system

inside brain, secrete melatonin (a sleep-inducer_ and are involved in light/dark cycles

63
Q

pheromones

A

part of endocrine system

chemical messengers that communicate between members of the same species

64
Q

DNA

A

you know this (even if you don’t have a biotech advantage )

65
Q

genes

A

those things you wear sometimes when you are feeling more ambitious than sweatpants

66
Q

heterozygous genes

A

different

67
Q

homozygous genes

A

same

68
Q

dominant genes

A

the ones that show up

69
Q

recessive genes

A

the ones that don’t show up because they are disloyal and fakers

70
Q

chromosomes

A

46 chromosomes, 23 pairs

71
Q

phenotypes

A

physical characteristics

72
Q

genotypes

A

genetic characteristics that one cannot see

73
Q

sex chromosomes

A

the ones that get down and dirty

74
Q

sex-linked genes

A

genes carried on sex chromosomes that have nothing to do with sex characteristics
think colorblindness and hemophilia

75
Q

sex-limited genes

A

genes on x and y, but only expressed in one gender

facial hair, breast development, etc..

76
Q

XXY (Klinefelter’s syndrome)

A

males
extra x chromosome
lack of sexual development
possible infertility and psychological problems

77
Q

XYY

A

additional Y chromosome
taller than average
people thought it was related to acne but not anymore
not inherited, just random
may be related to learning disabilities, but who really knows
lower IQ

78
Q

XO (Turner’s Syndrome)

A

females missing an X chromosome, leaving them sexually underdeveloped and (I think) often with learning disabilities
people with this syndrome are infertile

79
Q

sickle cell

A

mutated form of hemoglobin that distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape that causes low oxygen levels

80
Q

Twin and adoption studies

A

help determine the effect of nature and nurture

81
Q

PKU (Phenylketonuria)

A

missing enzyme that breaks down amino acids so they build up in the body and can cause intellectual disabilities
if caught early, certain diets can make this manageable

82
Q

Cystic Fibrosis

A

extra mucus in the lungs can make breathing difficult

83
Q

Tay Sachs

A

degenerative mental disease

84
Q

Down Syndrome

A

extra gene on chromosome 21. Also called trisomy 21
Symptoms include slanted eyes, flat faces, short fingers, short stature, heart problems, and intellectual disabilities (among others)

85
Q

Concordance rates

A

tells the likelihood that someone else will have the disorder given that one person has it

86
Q

heritability

A

the degree to which a trait in a population is attributable to genes

87
Q

Genetic predisposition

A

being born with a tendency towards a certain trait (ie alcoholism) but the genes are not the only determining factor

88
Q

genetic determinism

A

trait completely controlled by genes (ie short fingers in people with Down Syndrome)

89
Q

XX male syndrome

A

looks like a guy (phenotype) but chromosomally female
have male reproductive parts, but don’t go through normal puberty (breasts, lack facial hair)
infertile

90
Q

Roger Sperry

A

conducted experiments on the corpus callosums of cats

91
Q

Phineas Gage

A

rod stuck through head, lived, but was a very different person

92
Q

Gazzaniga

A

continued with experiments on split brain patients

93
Q

Wilder Penfield

A

mapped the motor and sensory areas of the cortex

94
Q

Positron Imaging Tomography

A

imaging test that highlights glucose metabolism with a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in body
PET scan shows how organs and tissues are working

95
Q

Magentic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

use strong magnetic fields to form images of organs and structures in the body

96
Q

Computed Tomography (CT)

A

combines a series of X-ray views taken from many different angles and computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside of your body

97
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, flat metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp

98
Q

fMRI

A

Functional magnetic resonance imaging or functional MRI (fMRI) is a functional neuroimaging procedure using MRI tech that measures brain activity by detecting associated changes in blood flow

99
Q

Brain lateralization

A

theory that left and right have different functions (two different brains)

100
Q

Brain plasticity

A

brain creates new neurons through neurogenesis throughout life
brains rewire themselves to compensate for the loss of function resulting form injury or illness

101
Q

Where is language processed?

A

left side of brain
Broca’s area (frontal lobe)
Wernicke’s area (temporal lobe)

AP Psych (9 decks)

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