Biological bases of behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

The amygdala

A

Influences aggression and fear

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2
Q

The Corpus Callosum

A

Carries messages between the two hemispheres.

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3
Q

Neuron

A

Nerve cell

Building block of nervous system

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4
Q

Sensory neurons

A

Carry info from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal chord

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5
Q

Motor neurons

A

Carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal chord to the muscles and glands

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6
Q

Interneurons

A

Communicate within the brain and spinal chord

Intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs

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7
Q

Dendrite

A

Receive messages

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8
Q

Axon

A

Extension of a neuron

Messages pass to neurons

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9
Q

Myelin sheath

A

Fatty tissue encasing many neurons

Enhances transmission

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10
Q

Action potential

A

Neural impulse

Brief electrical charge travels down axon

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11
Q

Threshold

A

Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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12
Q

Synapse

A

Junction Between neurons

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13
Q

Reputake

A

Neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

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14
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure

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15
Q

Nervous system

A

Bodys speedy electrochemical communication network,
Nerve cells
Peripheral and central nervous systems

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16
Q

Central nervous system

A

Brain and spinal chord

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17
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

Sensory and motor neurons

Connect CNS to the body

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18
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

Division of PNS
Controls skeletal muscles
Skeletal nervous system

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19
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A
Part of PNS
Controls glands and muscles of internal organs
Ex heart
-------
Parasympathetic = calms
Sympathetic = arouses
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20
Q

Reflex

A

Automatic response to sensory stimulus

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21
Q

Endocrine system

A

Bodys slow chemical communication system

Set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream

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22
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers

Affect tissues

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23
Q

Adrenal glands

A

A pair of endocrine glands
Sit above the kidneys
Help arouse body in times of stress

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24
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Endocrine system most influential gland
Under influence of hypothalamus
Regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

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25
Q

Lesion

A

Tissue destruction

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26
Q

Electroencephalogram

EEG

A

Amplified recording of waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface

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27
Q

Computed tomography scan

CT

A

Series of X-ray photos taken from diff angles and combined to represent slice of body
Also called CAT scan

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28
Q

Positron emission tomography scan

(PET) scan

A

Visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a task

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29
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging

MRI

A

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue
Brain anatomy

30
Q

Functional MRI

fMRI

A

Reveals blood-flow therefore brain activity

Show brain function

31
Q

Brain stem

A

Oldest and central core part of brain

Automatic survival functions

32
Q

Medulla

A

Base of brain stem
Heartbeat
Breathing

33
Q

Reticular formation

A

Nerve network in brain stem
Controls arousal
Sleep

34
Q

Thalamus

A

Sensory switchboard
Located on top of the brain stem
Directs messages to sensory receiving areas

35
Q

Cerebellum

A
Little brain 
Rear of brain stem 
Process sensory input 
Coordinate movement
Balance
36
Q

Limbic system

A

(Hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus)

Emotions and drives

37
Q

Amygdala

A

Emotion
Fear
Two Lima bean shaped neural clusters

38
Q

Hypothalamus

A
Below thalamus
Maintenance activities
Eating drinking body temp
Emotion and reward 
Helps govern pituitary gland
39
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

Covers cerebral hemispheres

Control center

40
Q

Glial cells

A

Protect neurons

41
Q

Frontal lobes

A

Behind forehead
Speaking
Muscle movements
Planning and judgements

42
Q

Parietal lobes

A

Cerebral cortex lying at top of head toward the rear
Touch and body position
Sensory input

43
Q

Occipital lobes

A

Portion of cerebral cortex lying at back of head

Visual fields

44
Q

Temporal lobes

A

Lying above ears

Includes auditory areas

45
Q

Motor cortex

A

Area at the rear of the frontal lobes

- controls voluntary movements

46
Q

Sensory cortex

A

Area at the front of the parietal lobe

Registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

47
Q

Association areas

A

Areas of cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor or sensory functions
They are involved in higher mental functioning
- learning
- remembering
- thinking
- speaking

48
Q

Aphasia

A

Language impairment
Caused by damage to broca’s area ( impaired speaking) or wernicke’s area (impaired understanding)
Left hemisphere damage

49
Q

Broca’s area

A

Controls language expression
Usually left frontal lobe
Directs muscles to speak

50
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Controls language reception
Comprehension
Expression
Left temporal lobe

51
Q

Plasticity

A

Brains ability to change
Reorganize after damage
Build new pathways based on experience

52
Q

Neurogenesis

A

Formation of new neurons

53
Q

Corpus callosum

A

Large band of neural fibers connecting two brain hemispheres & carries messages between them

54
Q

Split brain

A

Condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them
Cut corpus callosum

55
Q

Consciousness

A

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment

56
Q

Cognitive neuroscience

A

Interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition
(perception, thinking, memory, language)

57
Q

Dual processing

A

Principal that info is simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

58
Q

Behavior genetics

A

Study of relative power and Limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

59
Q

Environment

A

Non genetic influences

60
Q

Chromosomes

A

Threadlike structures
DNA molecules
Contain genes

61
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleicacid)

A

Complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

62
Q

Genes

A

The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes
Segments of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

63
Q

Genome

A

Complete instructions for making an organism

All genetic material in their chromosomes

64
Q

Identical twins

A

One single fertilized egg splits

Genetically identical organisms

65
Q

Fraternal twins

A

Separate eggs develop

66
Q

Heritability

A

Proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes
Varies

67
Q

Interaction

A

Interplay that occurs when effect of one factor depends on another factor

68
Q

Molecular genetics

A

The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structures and function of genes.

69
Q

Evolutionary psychology

A

Study of the evolution of behavior and the mind

Natural selection

70
Q

Natural selection

A

Principal that among the range of inherited trait variations those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

71
Q

Mutation

A

A random error in gene replication that leads to a change