Biological terminology Flashcards
Heritability
The extent to which a behaviour can be attributed to genetic inheritance
Epigenetics
The study of gene-environment interaction (nature and nurture)
Concordance rate
The probability that the same trait will be present in a pair of twins
Localisation of function
Each part of the brain is responsible for a different thing
Neural pathways
A sequence of neurons that fire in your brain
Synaptic connections
The connections between neurons- they are what make up neural pathways
Cortical remapping
Remapping certain parts of the brain if one is damaged
Neurotransmission
The process where messages are sent from one neuron to another
Acetylcholine
Learning neurotransmitter, involved in thought, learning and memory
Excitatory (neurotransmitters)
Neurotransmitters increase the likelihood of a neuron firing by hyperpolarising it
Inhibitory (neurotransmitters)
Decreases the likelihood that neurons will fire
Endogenous (neurotransmitters)
The neurotransmitters that are produced in the body
Exogenous (neurotransmitters)
The neurotransmitters that are not produced in the body
Agonist (neurotransmitters)
The neurotransmitters are agonists, they activate receptor sites on post synaptic neurons
Antagonist (neurotransmitters)
They block receptor sites on post synaptic neurons
Anterograde amnesia
A type of memory loss that occurs when you can’t form new memories
Retrograde amnesia
Loss of memory for information acquired before the onset of amnesia
Neuroplasticity
The ability of the brain to form and reorganise synaptic connections
Synaptic pruning
Where the brain eliminates extra neurons and synapses
Scopolamine
Acetylcholine inhibitor, drug that stops acetylcholine
