Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
Lesions
Precise destruction of brain tissue, enables more systematic study of the loss of function resulting from surgical removal (AKA ablation), cutting of neural connections, or destruction by chemical applications.
CAT (CT) Scan
Creates a computerized image using x-rays passed through the brain to show structure and/or the extent of a lesion.
MRI
Creates more detailed computerized images using a magnetic field and pulses of radio waves that cause emission of signals that depend upon the density of tissue.
EEG
An amplified tracing of brain activity produced when electrodes positioned over the scalp transmit signals about the brain’s electrical activity to an electroencephalograph machine.
Evoked Potentials
EEG’s resulting from a response to a specific stimulus presented to the subject.
PET
Shows brain activity when radioactivity tagged glucose rushes to active neurons and emits positrons.
fMRI Scan
Shows brain activity at a higher resolution than the PET scan when changes in O2 concentration near active neurons alter magnetic qualities.
CNS
Brain and spinal cord
PNS
Portion of the NS outside the brain and spinal cord; includes all of the sensory and motor neurons, and subdivisions called the autonomic and somatic nervous systems.
ANS
(Autonomic Nervous System) subdivision of PNS that includes motor nerves that innervate smooth (involuntary) and heart muscle. It’s sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for “fight or flight”; the parasympathetic nervous system causes bodily changes for maintenance or rest.
Sympathetic nervous system
Subdivision of PNS and ANS whose stimulation results in responses that help your body deal with stressful events.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Subdivision of PNS and ANS whose stimulation calms your body following sympathetic stimulation by restoring normal body processes.
Somatic Nervous System
Subdivision of PNS that includes motor nerves that stimulate skeletal (voluntary) muscles.
Spinal cord
Portion of the CNS below the level of the medulla.
Brain
Portion of the CNS above the spinal cord.
Convolutions
Folding-in and out of the cerebral cortex that increases surface area of the brain.
Contralaterality
Control of one side of your body by the other side of your brain.
Medulla Oblongata
Regulates heart rhythm, blood flow, breathing rate, digestion, vomiting.
Pons
Includes portion of reticular activating system or reticular formation critical for arousal and wakefulness; sends information to and from medulla, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex.
Cerebellum
Controls posture, equilibrium, and movement.
Basal ganglia
Regulates initiation of movements, balance, eye movements, and posture, and functions in processing of implicit memories.
Thalamus
Relays visual , auditory, taste and somatosensory info to/from appropriate areas of cerebral cortex.
Hypothalamus
Controls feeding, drinking behavior, body temp, sexual behavior, threshold for rage behavior, activation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, and secretions of hormones of the pituitary.
Amygdala
Influences emotions such as; aggression, fear, and self-protective behaviors.
Hippocampus
Enables formation of new long-term memories.
Cerebral Cortex
Center for higher-order processes such as; thinking, planning, judgment; receives and processes sensory info and directs movement.
Association Areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that do not have specific sensory or motor functions, but are involved in higher mental functions such as thinking, planning, and communicating.
Occipital Lobes
Primary area for processing visual info.
Parietal Lobes
Front strip is somatosensory cortex that processes sensory info including touch, temp, and pain from body parts; association areas perceive objects.
Frontal Lobes
Interpret/control emotional behaviors, make decisions, carry out plans; motor cortex strip just in front of somatosensory cortex initiates movements and integrates activities of skeletal muscles; produces speech.
Broca’s area too!!
Temporal Lobe
Primary area for hearing, understanding language, music/tonality, processing smell.
Wernicke’s area too!!
Neuropsychologist
Those who explore the relationships between brain/nervous systems and behavior.
Aphasia
Impairment of the ability to understand or use language.
Glial Cells
Supportive cells of the nervous system that guide the growth of developing neurons, help provide nutrition for and get rid of wastes of neurons, and form an insulating sheath around neurons that speeds conduction.
Neuron
The basic unit of structure and function of the nervous system. Perform 3 basic tasks: receive info, process it, and transmit it to the rest of your body.
Cell Body
AKA the cyton/soma. Contains cytoplasm and the nucleus, which directs synthesis of such substances as neurotransmitters.
Dendrites
Branching tubular processes of a neuron that have receptor sites for receiving info.
Axon
Long single conducting fiber extending from the cell bey of a neuron that transmits an action potential and that branches and ends in terminal buttons which secrete neurotransmitters.
Myelin Sheath
A fatty covering of the axon made by glial cells, which speeds up conduction of the action potential.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers released by the terminal buttons of the presynaptic neuron into the synapse.
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Neurotransmitter that causes contraction of skeletal muscles, helps regulate ❤️ muscles, is involved in memory, and also transmits messages between the brain and spinal cord. Lack of ACh = Alzheimer’s
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter that stimulates the hypothalamus to synthesize hormones and effects alertness, attention, and movement. Lack of dope = Parkinson’s. Too much dope = schizophrenia.
Glutamate
Neurotransmitter that stimulates cells throughout the brain, but especially in the hypothalamus, and is associated with memory formation and info processing.
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter associated with arousal, sleep, appetite, moods, and processing.
Endorphin
Neurotransmitter similar to the opiate morphine that relieves pain and may induce feelings of pleasure.
GABA
Neurotransmitter that inhibits firing of postsynaptic neurons. Hungtinton’Sanand seizures are associated with malfunctioning GABA systems.
Action Potential
AKA impulse/firing. A net flow of sodium ions into the cell that causes a rapid change in potential across the membrane when stimulation reaches threshold.
Nodes of Ranvier
Spaces between segments of myelin on the axons of neurons.
Saltatory Conduction
Rapid conduction of impulses when the axon is myelinated since depolarizations jump from node to node.
Synapse
Region of comms between the transmitting presynaptic neuron and receiving postsynaptic neuron, muscle, or gland, consisting of the presynaptic terminal buttons, a tiny space, and receptor sites typically on the postsynaptic dendrites.
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
Chemical secreted at terminal button that causes the neuron on the other side of the synapse to generate an action potential.
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
Chemical secreted at terminal button that reduces or prevents neural impulses in the postsynaptic dendrites.
Reflex
The simplest form of behavior.
Reflex Arc
The path over which the reflex travels
Sensory Receptor
Cell typically in sense organs that initiates action potentials, which then travel along sensory/sffere to neurons to the CNS.
Afferent Neuron
AKA sensory neuron. Nerve cell in your PNS that transmits impulses from receptors to the brain or spinal cord.
Interneuron
Nerve cell in the CNS that transmits impulses between sensory and motor neurons. Neural impulses travel one way along the neuron from dendrites-axon-terminal button- from receptor to effector.
Efferent Neuron
AKA motor Neuron. Nerve cell in PNS that transmits impulses from sensory or interneurons to muscle cells that contract or gland cells that secrete.
Effector
Muscle cell that contracts or gland that secretes.
Endocrine System
Ductless glands that typically secrete hormones directly into the blood, which help regulate body and behavioral processes.
Hormone
Chemical messenger that travels through the blood to a receptor site on a target organ.
Pineal Gland
Endocrine gland in the brain that produces melatonin that helps regulate circadian rhythms and is associated with seasonal affective disorder.
Hypothalamus
Portion of brain that acts as an endocrine gland and produces hormones that stimulate or inhibit secretion of hormones by the pituitary.
Pituitary Gland
Endocrine gland in brain that produces stimulating hormones, which promote secretion by other glands.
THS
Thyroid-stimulating hormone
ACTH
Adrenocorticotropic hormone. Stimulates the adrenal glands.
FSH
Follicle stimulating hormone. Stimulates egg or sperm production.
ADH
Antidiuretic hormone. Helps retain water in the body.
HGH
Human growth hormone.
Thyroid Gland
Endocrine gland in neck that produces thyroxine, which stimulates and maintains metabolic activities.
Parathyroids
Endocrine glands in neck that produce parathyroid hormone, which helps maintain calcium ion level in blood necessary for normal functioning of neurons.
Adrenal Glands
Endocrine glands atop kidneys.
Adrenal Cortex
The outer layer produces steroid hormones such as cortisol, which is a stress hormone.
Adrenal Medulla
The core. Secretes adrenaline and noradrenalin, which prepare the body for “fight or flight” like the sympathetic nervous system.
Pancreas
Gland near stomach that secretes the hormone insulin and glucagon, which regulates blood sugar that fuels all behavior processes. Imbalances result in diabetes and hypoglycemia.
Ovaries and Testes
Gonads in females and males, respectively that produce hormones necessary for reproduction and development of secondary sex characteristics.
Evolutionary Psychologists
Study how Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection favored behaviors that contributed to survival and spread of our ancestor’s genes; evolutionary psychologists look at universal behaviors shared by all people.
Behavioral Geneticist
Study of the role played by our genes and our environment in mental ability, emotional stability, temperament, personality, interests, ect. They look at the cause of our individual differences.
Zygote
Fertilized egg.
Identical Twins
AKA monozygotic twins. Developed from the same zygote.
Fraternal Twins
AKA dizygotic twins. Developed from different zygotes.
Turner Syndrome
Females with only one X sex chromosome who are short, often sterile, and have difficulty calculating.
Klinefelter’s Syndrome
Males with XXY sex chromosomes.
Down Syndrome
Usually with 3 copies of chromosome 21. Intellectual disability and have a round head, flat nasal bridge, protruding tongue, small round ears, a food in the eyelid, and poor muscle tone and coordination.
Genotype
The generic makeup of an individual.
Phenotype
The expression of genes.
Homozygous
The condition when both genes for a trait are the same.
Heterozygous
AKA hybrid. The condition when the genes for a trait are different.
Tay-Sachs Syndrome
Recessive trait that produces progressive loss of nervous function and death in a baby.
Albinism
Recessive trait that produces lack of pigment and involves quivering eyes and inability to perceive depth with both eyes.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Recessive trait that results in severe, irreversible brain damage in less the baby is fed special diet low in PKU
Huntington’s Disease
Dominant gene defect that involves degeneration of the nervous system, characterized by tremors, jerky motions, blindness, and death.
Sex-linked traits
Recessive genes located on the X chromosome with no corresponding gene on the Y chromosome, which result in expression of recessive trait, more frequently in males.
Color Blindness
Sex linked trait with which individuals cannot see certain colors, most often red and green.
