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Psychology > Biopsychology > Flashcards

Biopsychology Flashcards

1
Q

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

A

Action potential

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2
Q

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

A

Adrenal gland

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3
Q

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

A

Agonist

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4
Q

phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation

A

All-or-none

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5
Q

specific version of a gene

A

Allele

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6
Q

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

A

Antagonist

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6
Q

structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional
meaning to our memories

A

Amygdala

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7
Q

strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory
information

A

Auditory complex

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8
Q

controls our internal organs and glands

A

Autonomic nervous system

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9
Q

major extension of the soma

A

Axon

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10
Q

view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are
associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems

A

Biological perspective

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11
Q

region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production

A

Broca’s Area

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12
Q

brain and spinal cord

A

Central nervous system

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13
Q

hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and
it is thought to be important in processing some types of memories

A

Cerebellum

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14
Q

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

A

Cerebral Cortex

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15
Q

imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates
multiple x-rays of a given area

A

Computerized Tomography (CT) scan

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16
Q

long strand of genetic information

A

Chromosome

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17
Q

thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemisphere

A

Corpus Callosum

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18
Q

ranch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons

A

Dendrite

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19
Q

helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

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20
Q

disease related to insufficient insulin production

A

Diabetes

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21
Q

allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

A

Dominant allele

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22
Q

recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp

A

Electroencephalography (EEG)

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23
Q

series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

A

Endocrine system

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24
study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes
Epigenetics
25
activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety
Flight or fight response
26
twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic material varies the same as in non-twin siblings
Fraternal twins
26
art of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex
Frontal lobe
26
MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time
Functional Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
26
largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures
Forebrain
26
sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics
Gene
27
genetic makeup of an individual
Genotype
27
view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes
Genetic environmental correlation
28
nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport
Glial cell
29
secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior
Gonad
30
bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex
Gyrus (plural: Gyri)
31
left or right half of the brain
Hemisphere
32
consisting of two different alleles
heterozygous
33
division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
hindbrain
34
structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory
Hippocampus
35
state of equilibrium—biological conditions, such as body temperature, are maintained at optimal levels
Homeostasis
36
consisting of two identical alleles
Homozygous
37
chemical messenger released by endocrine glands
Hormone
38
forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and behavior and a number of homeostatic processes; serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system
Hypothalamus
39
twins that develop from the same sperm and egg
Identical twins
40
concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions
laterization
41
deep groove in the brain’s cortex
Longitudinal fissure
42
collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory
Limbic system
43
hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate
Medulla
44
magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged
Magnetic resonance imaging
45
difference in charge across the neuronal membrane
Membrane potential
46
division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular formation
Midbrain
46
strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement
Motor cortex
46
sudden, permanent change in a gene
Mutation
46
fatty substance that insulates axons
Myelin sheath
46
cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system
Neurons
47
nervous system's ability to change
Neuroplasticity
47
chemical messenger of the nervous system
Neurotransmitter
47
open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon
Nodes of ranvier
48
part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex
Occipital lobe
49
secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar
Pancreas
50
associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body
Parasympathetic nervous system
51
part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex
Parietal lobe
52
connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses in the periphery of the body
Peripheral nervous system
53
secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system
Pituitary gland
53
individual’s inheritable physical characteristics
Phenotype
54
multiple genes affecting a given trait
Polygenic
55
hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep
Pons
56
involves injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
57
area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
Prefrontal cortex
58
drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance
Psychotropic medication
59
asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall
Range of reaction
60
protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach
Receptor
61
allele whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that allele
Recessive allele
62
the state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals
Resting potential
62
midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity
reticular formation
63
neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it
Reuptake
64
cell membrane that allows smaller molecules or molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules
semipermeable membrane
65
cell body
Soma
66
relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
Somatic nervous system
67
essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain
Somatosensory cortex
68
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement
Substantia nigra
69
depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex
Sulcus (sulci)
70
involved in stress-related activities and functions
Sympathetic nervous system
71
small gap between two neurons where communication occurs
Synaptic cleft
72
storage site for neurotransmitters
Synaptic vesicle
73
part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language; contains primary auditory cortex
Temporal lobe
74
axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles
Terminal button
75
sensory relay for the brain
Thalamus
76
states that organisms that are better suited for their environments will survive and reproduce compared to those that are poorly suited for their environments
Theory of evolution by natural selection
77
level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active
Threshold of excitation
78
secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite
Thyroid
79
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addiction
Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
80
important for speech comprehension
Wernicke's area

Psychology (17 decks)

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