Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

EPPP - Mometrix Cards > Biological Basis of Behavior > Flashcards

Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Sensations

A

The result of our senses collecting and registering input from our environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Perception

A

How our brains interpret signals received by our senses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How are sensory signals transmitted from sensory organs to the brain for interpretation?

A

Nerves (specialized for each sense organ)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Neurons

A

Alternate name for brain nerve cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Two branches of a neuron

A

Axon and dendrite

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Dendrite

A

Neuron extensions that receive messages from another neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Axon

A

Neuron extensions that send message to another neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Synapse

A

Gap between on neuron’s axon and another’s dendrite where a chemical exchange takes place.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Face recognition

A

-Ability to identify someone’s face as belonging to someone we know each time we see it
-Old thought: a couple of brain areas were responsible for facial recognition.
-Current research: an entire network of areas in cerebral cortex interact and collaborate during facial recognition.
-Will needs to study the “system as a whole” to understand how we individuate faces.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Prosopagnosia

A

Neurological condition in which individuals cannot recognize faces- they know who the people are once they are told, but cannot identify them by their faces.
-Colloquial description = “face blindness”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Spatial maps

A

They increase or decrease neural activity in various brain areas that process different sensory information and function at different levels in a hierarchy.

Ex: Can stimulate orienting behaviors, such as eye movements in the case of visual stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

5 types of brainwaves

A

Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Alpha brainwaves

A

-Frequency of ~9-13 Hz
-During relaxed states (daydreaming, fantasizing)
-Stimulated by sensory input and serve as bridges to unconscious information.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Beta brainwaves

A

-Frequency of ~14-30 Hz
-“Normal” waking state of consciousness
-Involved with outward attention and conscious, logical, and analytical thought.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Gamma brainwaves

A

-Frequency of ~30-100+ Hz
-Synchronize broad activity across brain regions.
-Associated with peak performance states (“flow”), high attentional focus/concentration, meditation, and transcendental and mystical experiences
-Also associated with schizophrenia, hyperactivity, and anxiety.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Theta brainwaves

A

-Frequency of ~4-8 Hz
-Associated with dreaming/REM sleep, meditation, creative states, and peak experiences.
-Bridge with Alpha waves to make unconscious information conscious/committed to memory.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Delta brainwaves

A

-Frequency of ~0.5-3
-Associated with deep sleep with they occur in isolation.
-When combined with other frequencies, associated with intuition, hunches, “radar/”feelings” for people and situations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

True or False: We recall memories due to external stimuli acting alone as cues.

A

False: External stimuli and brain activity interact.

Eg: Theta waves present in higher before external prompts is associated with better memory performance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Four major neurotransmitters

A

1- Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
2- Dopamine
3- Serotonin
4- Cholinergic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Norepinephrine/noradrenaline system

A

-Originates in the locus ceruleus and the lateral tegmental field
-Excites the brain’s systems of arousal and reward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Dopamine system

A

-Travels the following pathways: mesocortical, mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, tuberoinfundibular
-Affects motor system, reward circuits, cognitive functions, endocrine functions, feelings of nausea.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Serotonin system

A

-Originates in the caudal dorsal raphe nucleus and rostral dorsal raphe nucleus.
-Enhances introversion, mood, satiety, body temperature, sleep.
-Reduces nociception

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Satiety

A

Sense of fullness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Nociception

A

Sense of pain and processing of noxious, or harmful, stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Cholinergic system
-Originates in the pontomesencephalotegmental complex, the basal optic nucleus of Meynert, and the medial septal nucleus. -Has effects on learning, short-term memory, states of arousal, and the reward circuits
26
True or False: All neural system interact and coordinate
True
27
Neurotransmitter
A brain chemical
28
GABA
-Gamma Amino Butyric Acid -Produced by a gene whose expression is decreased in individuals with schizophrenia -Deficiency/under production of which could account for hallucinations and delusions, and marked disruption of cognitive process associated with schizophrenia
29
Neurotransmitter implicated in schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease (affecting motor control), and the brain's reward circuits
Dopamine
30
Neurotransmitter associated with calm, tranquil, and happy moods.
Serotonin
31
Glutamate's receptors
-Mostly excite action potentials -Glutamate is a neurotransmitter
32
GABA's receptors
Mostly inhibit action potentials
33
Acetylcholine
-Neurotransmitter -Acetylcholine's receptor are both excitatory and inhibitory
34
2 effects of drinking alcohol on the brain
1- Initially, intense depressive effect on CNS: temporary 2- After, agitates CNS: less intense impact but lasts six times as long
35
Impact of drinking environment and drinker's personality on perception of effects
1- Non-social, quiet environments, the excitation of the nervous system can be impeded- makes drinker/others more aware of alcohol's depressant, sedative effects. 2- Social settings where there is more sensory stimulation, mistake small amounts of alcohol as stimulating, but this is due to its ability to suppress inhibitions in some parts of the brain.
36
Impact of Cocaine on Neurochemical Mechanisms (2 things)
1- Prevents the brain's sodium channels from generating action potentials, resulting in a deadening of pain impulses. 2- Inhibits reuptake of various neurotransmitter (e.g., norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin) and binds to dopamine receptors, increasing feelings of pleasure (a "high").
37
Two substances formed in the brains of Alzheimer's patients
1- Neurofibrillary tangles: Twisted fibers that form in brain cells, are insoluble, composed of abnormal tau protein resulting in collapsed microtubules. 2- Amyloid plaques: Beta amyloid fragments that detach from an amyloid precursor protein that accumulate (instead of breaking down/dissolving) and form hard plaques between neurons.
38
Roles of tangles and plaques in Alzheimer's diseae
Old thought: Plaques were the primary cause of destroyed/damaged neurons Recent thought: Neurofibrillary tau tangles cause neuron destruction, while amyloid plaque is the brain's attempt to protect it Metaphor: NTTs are the irritant and AP is a pearl in the case of an oyster
39
How many parts are there of the Cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical loop?
Three: Thalamus, Basal Ganglia, and Prefrontal Cortex
40
What are the structures of the limbic system implicated in?
Neuroanatomy of emotion, affecting chronic mood
41
Describe the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical loop?
Sensory input goes to the thalamus, then to the prefrontal cortex, then the basal ganglia, then back to the thalamus
42
Hypothalamus
-Limbic system's major output center -Regulates several body functions (temperature, sexual behavior)
43
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
Perceives and reacts to stress by eliciting physiological neuroendocrine-immune responses and releasing glucocorticoid
44
Dysregulation of Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis contributes to...
-Depression -Anxiety -PTSD -Bipolar disorder -Schizophrenia
45
Thalamus (What does it regulate and in what is it implicated)
-Regulates: mood, motivation, arousal, pain, language, cognition, some sensory experiences -Implicated in: major depression, PTSD, schizophrenia
46
Basal Ganglia
-Responsible for motor control (movement), executive functioning, emotional processing, decision making, motivation -Conditions affecting the BG: substances use disorder, Lewy body dementia, ADHD, anxiety, and affective disorders
47
Prefrontal cortex
-Higher order thinking to modulate emotions involving working memory, planning, and impulsive reactions -Associated disorder: ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia
48
Emotional responses signal emotional states that appear as:
1- verbal expressions (This is upsetting) 2- nonverbal expressions (a frown) 3- neurovegetative responses (sleep, appetite changes)
49
Evolutionary theorists believe emotional responses are:
Automatic, Purposeful, Primary (the CNS evaluates and interprets info without conscious effort)
50
Other theorists suggest emotional responses are:
Controlled by cognitions through an individual's awareness, appraisal, and subjective response
51
Regarding emotional responses there is some consensus that:
-Basic emotions (happiness, sadness) are automatic -Complex emotions (love, pride) are more malleable and distinct
52
When it comes to emotional responses, individuals with mood disorders are thought to (3 things):
1- process brain signals differently; 2- show extreme sensitivity to stimuli; and, 3- lack the ability to appraise emotional expressions accurately.
53
CNS
-Central Nervous System -Made up of the brain and the spine -Associated with neurobehavioral disorders with symptoms impacting cognition and memory
54
PNS
-Peripheral Nervous System -Includes the somatic NS (voluntary movements) and autonomic NS (involuntary movements)
55
Autonomic NS (ANS)
-Part of the PNS -Includes the sympathetic NS (prep four fight or flight) and parasympathetic NS (promote relaxation and recovery (or rest/digest)
56
A well-regulated ANS
Returns to homestatis
57
A dysregulated ANS
Gets stuck in threat response, resulting in an imbalance of stress hormones that can lead to mental disorders (e.g., OCD, ADHD, anxiety, depression)
58
Frontal Lobe is involved in these 9 processes
1- learning and information retrieval 2- voluntary movements 3- attention and working memory 4- reasoning 5- sexual behavior 6- impulse control 7- problem solving 8- social cognition 9- language
59
Neurocognitive disorder involving the frontal lobe include:
-Delirium -ADHD -Autism -Expressive aphasia -Lewy body dementia -Frontotemporal dementia
60
Temporal Lobe (location and structures)
Encompasses region on the right and left side of the brain. Includes the hippocampus and amygdala
61
Temporal lobe (functions)
Manages emotions and information processed from each of the senses: 1- Object and facial recognition 2- Memory storage and recall 3- Emotional processing and expression 4- Language comprehension and expression 5- Auditory processing
62
Frontotemporal Disorders
- Result from damage to frontal and temporal lobes -Result in changes in thinking and behavior, including communication, personality, movement (walking), and comprehension -Include: temporal lobe epilepsy, Alzheimer's, some amnesia, Wernicke's aphasia
63
Amygdala
-Part of fight-or-flight component of midbrain and limbic system -Emotional processing center of the brain -Encodes dangerous threats into memory -In the subcortical region of brain -Associated with maladaptive social and emotional functioning
64
Hippocampus
-Aids in memory storage and retrieval, including spatial memory -In the subcortical region of brain
65
Dysfunctional Hippocampus
Misinterprets events and sends faulty messages to the amygdala
66
Orbitofrontal Cortex
Responsible for higher order thinking associated with decision making and stimulus-response learning
67
Dysfunctional Orbitofrontal Cortex
Linked to borderline personality disorder and impulsivity
68
Brain functioning of individuals with dissociative identity disorder
-Reduced activity in OFC -Reduced brain volume in amygdala and hippocampus
69
Pharmacodynamics
Scientific discipline addressing the way drugs act on the body.
70
Pharmacokinetics
Scientific discipline addressing the way the body acts on a drug.
71
Four basic and quantifiable processes of pharmacokinetics (ADME)
1- Absorption 2- Distribution 3- Metabolism 4- Excretion
72
What does understanding of ADME allow for?
-Knowing the effectiveness of drug dosages on specific patients (determined by drug concentrations in patient body) -Allows for health professionals to design suitable drug regimens for patients
73
How are drug concentrations measured?
-Usually whole blood -Sometimes in cerebrospinal fluid, urine, or saliva
74
"Drug levels"
In pharmacokinetics, often refers to total drub concentration in blood plasma or serum.
75
"Total" as related to concentration of drug in the blood refers to:
The amount of drug that is bound to receptors AND the amount of drug that is circulating freely in the system.
76
Where is the ideal place to measure drug concentration in a patient?
-Neuroreceptor -Cannot measure at this sight in a living person.
77
Two applications for measuring drug levels
1- Ascertain optimal therapeutic dosing 2- Monitoring (as some drugs have narrow therapeutic ranges)
78
Drug potency
The relationship between a drug's effect and its concentration
79
"DR"
Drug-Receptor Complex
80
Drug-Receptor Complex leads to...
a drug effect
81
Equation for drug potency
Observed drug effect = (maximal drug effect)*[D]/Kd + [D] D = concentration of free drug in the body Kd = dissociation constant for the DR
82
Four drugs/drug groupings that require close monitoring with narrow therapeutic ranges
1- aminoglycosides 2- digitalis 3- theophylline 4- phenobarbital
83
Aminoglycosides (Treats and Risks)
Treats: Serious and systemic gram-negative infections Risks: Kidney damage/failure, ototoxicity, damage to sense of balance by damaging the vestibular system
84
Ototoxicity
Damage to the auditory system
85
Digitalis (Treats and Risks)
Treats: Regulates heartbeat Risks at toxic levels: arrhythmias, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, anorexia, hypersalivation, changes in color vision
86
Theophylline (Treats and Risks)
Treats: improves breathing in those with pneumonia, tracheitis, asthma Risks: Seizures, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, agitation, life-threatening arrhythmias
87
Phenobarbital (Treats and Risks)
Treats: Used for sedation, control of seizures Risks: Depress the CNS, cause ataxia, hypothermia, low blood pressure, tachycardia, irregular breather, kidney damage, coma
88
Zero-order elimination
-Drug is eliminated from the body at a constant rate, independently of the drug's concentration in the body -Drug can accumulate in the blood -E.g., Alcohol
89
First-order elimination
-Drug is eliminated in proportion to the amount of it remaining in the body -Residual amounts of the drug do not accumulate in the user's system. -Majority of drugs are first-order elimination
90
Accidental and intentional overdoses occur when...
ADME processes change due to too much of an increase in the system of a drug, regardless of whether it is zero-order or first-order elimination
91
6 factors impacting an individual's drug response
1- Pharmacokinetic effect (concentration of drug that reaches corresponding receptor can vary) 2- Concentration of endogenous receptor ligands can vary 3- Number and/or function of receptors change 4- Individual hypersensitivity to drug 5- Idiosyncratic responses (unique, atypical, and unpredictable 6- Tachyphylactic responses (faster desensitization than normal)
92
Another name for a macromolecule
Receptor
93
The 3 roles of receptors
1- Ascertaining measurable relationships between drug doses and their effects 2- Determining selective drug effects 3- Mediating agonist and antagonist drug effects
94
Agonist
Activating
95
Antagonist
Blocking
96
Receptors are:
1- Usually regulatory proteins 2- Can be: structural proteins or enzymes
97
Lipid-soluble drugs:
1- are drugs that are attracted to fatty tissue 2- cross the cell membrane and then interact with intracellular receptors
98
Earl W. Sutherland Jr.
-Discovered "second messengers" -Specifically, Adrenaline activates cAMP in liver to convert glycogen to glucose
99
Second messengers
-Molecules that transmit messages from receptors on the surface of a cell to certain molecules within the cell -SMs bind to and activate proteins, perpetuating the signaling cascade
100
Three types of Second Messengers
1- Hydrophobic (water insoluble): membrane associated 2- Hydrophilic (water soluble): found within the intracellular fluid/cytosol 3- Gases: can diffuse through intracellular fluid and across cell membranes
101

EPPP - Mometrix Cards (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions