Biological bases of behavior Flashcards
The amygdala
Influences aggression and fear
The Corpus Callosum
Carries messages between the two hemispheres.
Neuron
Nerve cell
Building block of nervous system
Sensory neurons
Carry info from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord
Motor neurons
Carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
Communicate within the brain and spinal chord
Intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs
Dendrite
Receive messages
Axon
Extension of a neuron
Messages pass to neurons
Myelin sheath
Fatty tissue encasing many neurons
Enhances transmission
Action potential
Neural impulse
Brief electrical charge travels down axon
Threshold
Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Synapse
Junction Between neurons
Reputake
Neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron
Endorphins
Natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
Nervous system
Bodys speedy electrochemical communication network,
Nerve cells
Peripheral and central nervous systems
Central nervous system
Brain and spinal chord
Peripheral nervous system
Sensory and motor neurons
Connect CNS to the body
Somatic nervous system
Division of PNS
Controls skeletal muscles
Skeletal nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
Part of PNS Controls glands and muscles of internal organs Ex heart ------- Parasympathetic = calms Sympathetic = arouses
Reflex
Automatic response to sensory stimulus
Endocrine system
Bodys slow chemical communication system
Set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream
Hormones
Chemical messengers
Affect tissues
Adrenal glands
A pair of endocrine glands
Sit above the kidneys
Help arouse body in times of stress
Pituitary gland
Endocrine system most influential gland
Under influence of hypothalamus
Regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Lesion
Tissue destruction
Electroencephalogram
EEG
Amplified recording of waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface
Computed tomography scan
CT
Series of X-ray photos taken from diff angles and combined to represent slice of body
Also called CAT scan
Positron emission tomography scan
(PET) scan
Visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a task