Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP Psychology Prep > Biological Perspective > Flashcards

Biological Perspective Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

Association Area

A

Any area of the cerebral cortex that is not associated with receiving sensory information or controlling muscle movements

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

Amygdala

A

Small area of the brain within the limbic system.

Vital to our experiences of basic emotions, such as fear and aggression.

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

Hippocampus

A

Vital to our memory system.

Located in the limbic system.

Memories are not permanently stored in this area of the brain.

Memories are processed through this area and then sent to other locations in the cerebral cortex for permanent storage.

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

Hypothalamus

A

Small structure next to the thalamus.

The small size of the hypothalamus belies the importance of its functions.

The hypothalamus controls several metabolic functions, including body temperature, sexual arousal (libido), hunger, thirst, and the endocrine system.

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

Cerebral Cortex

A

Wrinkled surface of the brain.

A thin (1-mm) layer of densely packed neurons.

This layer covers the rest of the brain, including most of the structures we have described.

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

Limbic System

A

Name for a group of brain structures: thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus.

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

Hemispheres

A

The cerebral cortex is divided into two hemispheres left and right

Each hemisphere has four lobes.

The hemispheres look like mirror images of one another, but they exert some differences in function.

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

Parietal Lobes

A

Located behind the frontal lobe on the top of the brain.

Contain the sensory cortex (also known as the somato-sensory cortex), which is located right behind the motor cortex in the frontal lobe.

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

Brain Lateralization (Hemispheric Specialization)

A

Specialization of function in each brain hemisphere.

Right hemisphere may be more active during spatial and creative tasks.

Left hemisphere may be more active during spoken language, logic, and sequential tasks.

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

Flynn Effect

A

Performance on intelligence tests has been increasing steadily throughout the century.

Since the gene pool has remained relatively stable, this finding suggests that environmental factors such as nutrition, education, and, perhaps, television and video games play a role in intelligence.

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

Broca’s Area

A

Located in the frontal lobe and responsible for controlling the muscles involved in producing speech.

Damage to Broca’s area might leave us unable to make the muscle movements needed for speech.

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

Wernicke’s Area

A

Located in the left temporal lobe.

Interprets both written and spoken speech.

Damage to this area would affect our ability to understand language.

Our speech might sound fluent but lack the proper syntax and grammatical structure needed for meaningful communication.

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

Motor Cortex

A

Thin vertical strip at the back of the frontal lobe.

This part of the cerebral cortex sends signals to our muscles, controlling our voluntary movements.

The top of the body is controlled by the neurons at the bottom of this cortex (by the ears), progressing down the body as you go up the cortex.

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

Right Hemisphere

A

Gets sensory messages and controls the motor function of the right half of the body.

Left hemisphere may be more active during spoken language, logic, and sequential tasks.

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

Corpus Callosum

A

Nerve bundle that connects the two brain hemispheres.

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

Lobes

A

Areas of the cerebral cortex: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.

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

Lesions

A

Removal or destruction of part of the brain.

Sometimes doctors decide that the best treatment for a certain condition involves surgery that will destroy or incapacitate part of the brain.

Doctors closely monitor the patient’s subsequent behavior for changes.

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

Hindbrain

A

Structures in the top part of the spinal cord.

The life support system; it controls the basic biological functions that keep us alive.

Some of the important specific structures within the hindbrain are the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

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

Synapse

A

Space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron.

Neurotransmitters travel across the synaptic gap from one neuron to another.

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

Forebrain

A

Controls what we think of as thought and reason.

The size of our forebrain makes humans human, and most psychological researchers concentrate their efforts in this area of the brain.

Specific areas of interest to us in the forebrain are the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus.

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

Thalamus

A

Located on top of the brain stem.

Responsible for receiving the sensory signals coming up the spinal cord and sending them to the appropriate areas in the rest of the forebrain.

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

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

A

Chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that inhibit the next neuron from firing.

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

Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan)

A

Measures how much of a certain chemical (glucose, for example) parts of the brain are using.

The more used, the higher the activity.

Different types of scans are used for different chemicals such as neurotransmitters, drugs, and oxygen flow.

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

Functional MRI (fMRI)

A

Combines elements of the MRI and PET scans.

Can show details of brain structure with information about blood flow in the brain, tying brain structure to brain activity during cognitive tasks.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Neural Firing

A

Electrochemical process.

Electricity travels within the cell (moves from the dendrites to the terminal buttons-called action potential), and chemicals (neurotransmitters) travel between cells in the synapse.

Electricity does not jump between the neurons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Afferent Neurons (or Sensory Neurons)

A

Neurons that take information from the senses to the brain.

Afferent neurons are responsible for transmitting neural impulses from the rest of the body to the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

Procedure that detects brain waves.

Researchers can examine what type of waves the brain produces during different stages of consciousness and use this information to generalize about brain function.

Widely used in sleep research to identify the different stages of sleep and dreaming.

28
Q

Receptor Sites

A

Areas on a dendrite designed to receive a specific neurotransmitter.

29
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

Controls the automatic functions of the human body- heart, lungs, internal organs, glands, and so on.

Controls responses to stress-the fight or flight response that prepares the body to respond to a perceived threat.

Divided into two categories: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

30
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Responsible for slowing down the body after a stress response.

Carries messages to the stress response system that causes the body to slow down.

Think of the parasympathetic nervous system as the brake pedal that slows down the body’s autonomic nervous system.

31
Q

Cerebellum

A

Located on the bottom rear of the brain.  

Looks like a smaller version of our brain stuck onto the underside of our brain.
    
Cerebellum means little brain.    
  
Coordinates some habitual muscle movements, such as tracking a target with our eyes or playing the saxophone.     

32
Q

Axon

A

Wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons that extends from the cell body.  

33
Q

Midbrain

A

Located just above the hindbrain.
   
Controls some very important functions, such as the ability to focus attention and the ability to regulate arousal via the reticular formation/ reticular activating system. 
 
Coordinates simple movements with sensory information.      

34
Q

Reticular Formation (Reticular Activating System)     

A

Netlike collection of cells throughout the midbrain that controls general body arousal and the ability to focus attention. 
   
If the reticular formation does not function, we fall into a deep coma. 

35
Q

Terminal Buttons  

A

(also called End Buttons, Axon Terminal, Terminal Branches of Axon, and Synaptic Knobs) 
  
Branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters.   

36
Q

Endorphins  

A

Neurotransmitter associated with pain control. 
 
Also involved in drug addictions.   

37
Q

Serotonin

A

Neurotransmitter associated with mood control and memory.   

Lack of serotonin is associated with clinical depression.   

38
Q

Pons

A

Located just above the medulla and toward the front.  

Connects the hindbrain with the midbrain and forebrain.     

Involved in the control of facial expressions and sleep regulation.  

39
Q

Action Potential  

A

Electric charge that spreads down the length of a neuron after the threshold is achieved. 

Travels like a bullet from a gun.   

40
Q

Medulla

A

Involved in the control of our blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.   
  
Also known as the medulla oblongata and is located above the spinal cord.     

41
Q

Excitatory Neurotransmitters  

A

Chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that excite the next neuron into firing.     

42
Q

Cell Body (also called the Soma)    

A

Contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life.  

43
Q

Neurotransmitters 

A

Chemicals (such as dopamine and serotonin) contained in terminal buttons that enable neurons to communicate.    
  
Neurotransmitters fit into receptor sites on the dendrites of neurons like a key fits into a lock.    

44
Q

Myelin Sheath     

A

Fatty covering around the axon of some neurons that speeds neural impulses.   

45
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI Scan)     

A

Does not use X-rays as the CAT scan does, so the patient is not exposed to carcinogenic radiation. 
   
Like the CAT scan, the MRI gives doctors information about only the structure of the brain, not the function.     

46
Q

Dendrites   

A

Rootlike parts of the cell that stretch out from the cell body.   

Dendrites grow to make synaptic connections with other neurons.  
 
Receive incoming information (neurotransmitters) across the synapse from other neurons

47
Q

Efferent Neurons (or Motor Neurons) 

A

Neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body. 
  
Efferent neurons carry information that exits the brain.    

48
Q

Peripheral Nervous System     

A

All the nerves in your body other than the brain and spinal cord nerves; all the nerves not encased in bone. 
     
The peripheral nervous system is divided into two categories: the somatic and the autonomic nervous systems.  

49
Q

Endocrine System  

A

System of glands that secrete hormones-chemicals that travel through the blood stream.    

Affects many different biological processes in the body, such as reproduction 

50
Q

Acetylcholine

A

Associated with motor movement.     

Lack of acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.     

51
Q

Somatic Nervous System  

A

Controls voluntary muscle movements.  
    
The motor cortex of the brain sends impulses to the somatic nervous system (also called the skeletal nervous system), which controls the muscles that allow us to move. 

52
Q

Neuron

A

Neural cell.   
   
Made up of specific structures: dendrites, cell body, axon, and terminal buttons.   

53
Q

Central Nervous System  

A

Part of the nervous system that consists of our brain and spinal cord.  

All the nerves are housed within bone (the skull and vertebrae).  

54
Q

Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT or CT Scan)  

A

A sophisticated X-ray.  

Uses several X-ray cameras that rotate around the brain and combine all the pictures into a detailed three-dimensional picture of the brain’s structure.   
 
Can show only the structure of the brain, not the functions or the activity of different brain structures.  

55
Q

Brain Plasticity  

A

Parts of the brain can adapt themselves to perform other functions if needed. 

The cerebral cortex is made up of a complex network of neurons connected by dendrites that grow to make new connections.  
    
Since dendrites grow throughout our lives, if one part of the brain is damaged, dendrites might be able to make new connections in another part of the brain that would be able to take over the functions usually performed by the damaged part of the brain.  
  
Dendrites grow most quickly in younger children. Researchers know that younger brains are more plastic and are more likely to be able to compensate for damage.   

56
Q

Temporal Lobes    

A

Process sound sensed by the ears.   
Sound waves are processed by the ears, turned into neural impulses, and interpreted in the auditory cortices.     

The auditory cortex is not lateralized like the visual cortices are.    

Sound received by the left ear is processed in the auditory cortices in both hemispheres. 

57
Q

Accidents   

A

Early psychologists studied accidents as a way to investigate brain function. 

Accidents resulting in injuries to specific brain areas (such as the Phineas Gage case study) helped psychologists get an idea about the function of each part of the brain.  

58
Q

Spinal Cord 

A

A bundle of nerves that run through the center of the spine.    
  
Transmits information from the rest of the body to the brain.     

59
Q

Threshold   

A

Level of neurotransmitters required to “fire” a neuron.  

60
Q

Frontal Lobes     

A

Located at the top front part of the brain behind the eyes. 

The anterior or front of the frontal lobe is called the prefrontal cortex and is thought to play a critical role in directing thought processes.      

The prefrontal cortex is said to act as the brain’s central executive and is believed to be important in foreseeing consequences, pursuing goals, and maintaining emotional control.  
    
Researchers believe this part of the brain is responsible for abstract thought and emotional control. 

61
Q

Dopamine

A

Associated with motor movement and alertness.  
 
Lack of dopamine is associated with Parkinson’s disease; an overabundance is associated with schizophrenia. 

62
Q

Sensory Cortex    

A

Also called the somato-sensory cortex.  
  
Thin vertical strip of the cerebral cortex that receives incoming touch sensations from the rest of the body.
     
Organized similarly to the motor cortex.
  
The top of the sensory cortex receives sensations from the bottom of the body, progressing down the cortex to the bottom, which processes signals from the face and head.     

63
Q

Occipital Lobes   

A

Located at the very back of our brain, farthest from our eyes. 
   
One of the major functions of this lobe is to interpret messages from our eyes in our visual cortex.  

Impulses from the retinas in our eyes are sent to the visual cortex to be interpreted.    
Impulses from the right half of each retina are processed in the visual cortex in the right occipital lobe.

Impulses from the left part of each retina are sent to the visual cortex in our left occipital lobe.  

64
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System    

A

Mobilizes our body to respond to stress.  
Part of the nervous system that carries messages to the control systems of the organs, glands, and muscles that direct the body’s response to stress. 

The alert system of the human body. It accelerates some functions (such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration) but conserves resources needed for a quick response by slowing down other functions (such as digestion).    

65
Q

All-or-None Principle   

A

The neuron either fires completely or it does not fire at all.  
  
If the dendrites of a neuron receive enough excitatory neurotransmitters to push the neuron past its threshold, the neuron will fire completely every time. 

AP Psychology Prep (14 decks)

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