Biology and Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

The doctrine of phrenology (the idea that if one trait was well developed, then the part of the brain responsible for that trait would expand) was created by?

A

Frantz Gall

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2
Q

The 1st person to study functions of the brain through extirpation (ablation) on rabbits and pigeons was?

A

Pierre Flourens

-Various parts of the brain removed to note behavioral consequences

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3
Q

The father of Psychology that developed functionalism (study of how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment) was?

A

William James

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4
Q

The idea that Psychology should focus on the study of the organism as a whole as it functions to adapt to the environment is credited to?

A

John Dewey

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5
Q

The 1st person to demonstrate that specific functional impairment could be linked to specific brain lesions was?

A

Paul Broca

-Broca’s area (left side of brain)

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6
Q

The 1st person to measure the speed of a nerve impulse was?

A

Hermann von Helmholtz

-Credited with transition of psych out of philosophy realm and into quantifiable natural science realm

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7
Q

The existence of synapses was 1st inferred by?

A

Sir Charles Sherrington

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8
Q

Neurons that transmit sensory info from receptors to spinal cord and brain are?

A

Sensory Neurons (afferent neurons)

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9
Q

Neurons that transmit motor info from brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands are?

A

Motor neurons (efferent neurons)

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10
Q

Neurons linked between other neurons, located primarily in the brain and spinal cord, and are often linked to reflexive behavior are?

A

Interneurons

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11
Q

The _____ consists of sensory & motor neurons distributed throughout the skins, joints, and muscles

A

Somatic nervous system

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12
Q

The _______ regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretions. (Involuntary muscles)

A

Autonomic nervous system (Automatic)

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13
Q

The main role of the parasympathetic nervous system is to do what ?

A

Conserve energy

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14
Q

The PNS components are…?

A
  • Constricts pupils
  • Stimulates flow of saliva
  • Constricts bronchi
  • Slows heartbeat
  • Stimulates peristalsis & secretion
  • Stimulates bile release
  • Contracts bladder
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15
Q

The sympathetic nervous system is activated by?

A

Stress

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16
Q

The SNS components are…?

A
  • Increases heart rate
  • Redistributes blood to muscles of locomotion
  • Increases blood glucose conc
  • Relaxes the bronchi
  • Decreases digestion and peristalsis
  • Dilates the eyes
  • Releases epinephrine
  • Stimulates orgasm
  • Inhibits bladder contraction
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17
Q

The thick 3-layered tissue region that covers the brain…?

A

Meninges

  • Dura mater (connected to skull)
  • Pia mater (connected to brain)
  • Arachnoid mater (inbetween)
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18
Q

A group of neural structure primarily associated with emotion and memory…?

A

Limbic system

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19
Q

The region of the brain that controls balance, breathing, motor coordination, digestion, and general arousal processes is the ?

A

Hindbrain (rhombencephalon)
-During embryonic development, rhombencephalon branches into myelencephalon (medulla oblongata) and metencephalon (pons and cerebellum)

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20
Q

The lower brain structure responsible for regulating vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion is…?

A

Medulla oblongata

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21
Q

Pons contain sensory and motor pathways between which 2 regions?

A

Cortex and medulla

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22
Q

The structure that helps maintain balance, posture, and coordinate body movements is…?

A

Cerebellum

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23
Q

The region associated with involuntary reflex responses triggered by visual and/or auditory stimuli is the..?

A

Midbrain (mesencephalon)

  • Superior colliculus: visual sensory input
  • Inferior colliculus: auditory sensory input
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24
Q

The region associated with the intellectual and emotional capacities within human characteristics is the..?

A

Forebrain (prosencephalon)
-During prenatal development prosencephalon divides to form telencephalon (basal ganglia, limbic system, and cerebral cortex) and diencephalon (hypothalamus, thalamus, posterior pituitary gland, and pineal gland)

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25
Q

Inserting ultrasensitive microelectrodes into individual brain cells to record electrical activity is which method?

A

EEG (electroencephalogram)

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26
Q

Inhaling a harmless radioactive gas to detect increased blood flow to different regions of the brain is conducted by?

A

rCBF (regional cerebral blood flow)

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27
Q

Multiple X-rays taken @ different angles that show cross sectional images of the tissue is which scanning device?

A

CT/CAT (computed [axial] tomography) scan

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28
Q

The method that involves radioactive sugar to be injected and absorbed into the body to produce tissue image is…?

A

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

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29
Q

A magnetic field that interacts with the hydrogen atoms to map out hydrogen dense regions of the body is which method ?

A

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

-fMRI (functional) uses same technique but more specific for changes associated with blood flow

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30
Q

A structure in the forebrain that serves as a relay station for incoming sensory info (except for smell) is the ?

A

Thalamus

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31
Q

The structure in the forebrain that is essential for homeostatic functions is the?

A

Hypothalamus

32
Q

The “hunger center” of the hypothalamus that detects whenever the body is low on fluids is the?

A

LH (lateral)

-Triggers eating and drinking

33
Q

The “satisfy center” of the hypothalamus that provides signals to stop eating is the ?

A

-VMH (ventromedial)

34
Q

The part of the hypothalamus that controls sexual behavior is the?

A
  • AH (anterior)

- Also regulates sleep & body temp

35
Q

The site of release for the hypothalamic hormones, antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin, is which structure ?

A

Posterior pituitary gland

-Comprised of axonal projections from the hypothalamus

36
Q

The structure responsible for maintaining biological rhythms is the?

A

Pineal gland

  • Secretes melatonin
  • Receives direct signals from retina
37
Q

The group of structures that coordinate muscle movement as they recieve info from the cortex & relay this info to the brain & spinal cord is known as?

A

Basal ganglia

-Help make our movements smooth and posture steady

38
Q

The ____ gathers info about body position & carries this info to the CNS, but doesn’t function directly through motor neurons.

A

extrapyramidal system

39
Q

The disease characterized by jerky movements and uncontrollable resting tremors due to the destruction of the basal ganglia is known as?

A

Parkinson’s disease

-Associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons in basal ganglia

40
Q

What contains one of the primary pleasure centers in the brain?

A

Septal nuclei

41
Q

A structure that plays an essential role in aggressive and defensive behaviors is the ?

A

Amygdala

42
Q

Which part of the limbic system plays a vital role in learning & memory?

A

Hippocampus

-Communicates w/ the rest of the limbic system through fornix (long projection)

43
Q

The inability to establish new long term memories is termed?

A

Anterograde amnesia

-memories before brain injury usually still in tact

44
Q

The loss of long-term memories before injury transpired is termed?

A

Retrograde amnesia

45
Q

The structure of the limbic system that functions in high order cognitive processes is the ?

A

Anterior cingulate cortex

-Impulse control, decision-making, emotion, and motivation

46
Q

The outer surface of the brain is termed?

A

Cerebral cortex

-Composed of gyri and sulci

47
Q

The cerebrum is divided into 2 halves termed?

A

Cerebral hemispheres

48
Q

Role and functions of the prefrontal cortex are ?

A
  • supervise and direct operations of other regions of the brain
  • emotion
  • memory
  • impulse control
  • long-term planning
  • perception
49
Q

An area that integrates input from diverse regions of the brain is termed ?

A

Association area

50
Q

Areas of the brain that perform more rudimentary perceptual and motor tasks is termed ?

A

Projection areas
-Ex: primary motor cortex: initiates voluntary motor movements by sending neural impulses down the spinal cord toward the muscles

51
Q

A region in the left hemisphere of the brain that is essential for speech production is known as?

A

Broca’s area

52
Q

Components of the parietal lobe include?

A
  • Sensory signals (touch, temp, pressure, pain)

- Spatial processing and manipulation

53
Q

The primary site of most sound processing is where ?

A

Auditory cortex

54
Q

The area of the brain associated with language reception and comprehension is ?

A

Wernicke’s area

55
Q

A chemical used by neurons to send signals to other neurons is a ?

A

Neurotransmitter

  • Agonist: drugs that mimic actions of neurotransmitters
  • Antagonists: drugs that block the action of neurotransmitters
56
Q

Which neurotransmitter in the PNS transmits nerve impulses to the muscles ?

A

Acetylcholine

-Used by parasympathetic & sympathetic (small portions)

57
Q

Which neurotransmitter in the CNS is linked to arousal and attention?

A

Acetylcholine

58
Q

The neurotransmitters responsible for controlling wakefulness & alertness are ?

A

Epinephrine (adrenaline) & norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

-Fight or flight response

59
Q

A catecholamine (essential role in emotions) that plays an important role in posture and movement is ?

A

Dopamine

-Dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia (disease arises from too much dopamine or oversensitivity to it)

60
Q

____ is thought to play an essential role in regulating mood, eating, sleeping, and dreaming.

A

Serotonin

61
Q

Which neurotransmitter produces inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in order to stabilize neural activity in the brain?

A

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

-Causes hyperpolarization of postsynaptic membrane

62
Q

The amino acid that also functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS by increasing Cl- influx into the neuron is ?

A

Glycine

-Similar to GABA (hyperpolarizes postsynaptic membrane)

63
Q

The amino acid that also acts a excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS is?

A

Glutamate

64
Q

The neuromodulator/neuropeptide that acts as a natural pain killer produced in the brain are?

A

Endorphins

-Have similar actions to morphine

65
Q

Which part of the pituitary gland is the “master” and why?

A

Anterior because it releases hormones that regulate activities of endocrine glands elsewhere in the body
-Controlled by the hypothalamus itself

66
Q

The part of the adrenal glands that releases norepinephrine and epinephrine is the?

A

Adrenal medulla

67
Q

The part of the adrenal glands that releases corticosteroids and cortisol (stress hormones), and also aids in sexual functioning by producing sex hormones is the ?

A

Adrenal cortex

68
Q

The extent to which a trait or behavior positively benefits a species by influencing the evolutionary fitness of the species is termed?

A

Adaptive value

-Leads to adaptation through natural selection

69
Q

What is the difference between nature vs nurture?

A

Nature is the influence of inherited characteristics on behavior while nurture is the influence of environment on behavior

70
Q

_____ refer to the likelihood that both twins exhibit the same trait.

A

Concordance rates

71
Q

What is occuring when the ectoderm overlying the notochord begins to furrow (forming a neural groove surrounded by 2 neural folds) ?

A

Neurulation

  • Cells at end of neural fold are called neural crest
  • When neural tube closes, CNS forms
72
Q

The ____ is the automatic turning of the head when a stimulus touches the cheek of a baby

A

Rooting reflex

73
Q

The Moro reflex is characterized by a baby doing what?

A

Reacting to abrupt movements of their head by flinging their arms out, then slowly retracting their arms and crying

74
Q

Which reflex causes for the toes of a baby to spread apart automatically when the sole of their foot is stimulated ?

A

Babinski reflex

75
Q

Movement from large muscle groups and whole body motion such as sitting, crawling, and walking is termed ?

A

Gross motor skills

76
Q

Movement of smaller muscles such as finger, toes, and eyes is termed ?

A

Fine motor skills