Biopsychology Flashcards
electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon
Action potential
sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response
Adrenal gland
drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter
Agonist
phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation
All-or-none
specific version of a gene
Allele
drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter
Antagonist
structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional
meaning to our memories
Amygdala
strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory
information
Auditory complex
controls our internal organs and glands
Autonomic nervous system
major extension of the soma
Axon
view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are
associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems
Biological perspective
region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production
Broca’s Area
brain and spinal cord
Central nervous system
hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and
it is thought to be important in processing some types of memories
Cerebellum
surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities
Cerebral Cortex
imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates
multiple x-rays of a given area
Computerized Tomography (CT) scan
long strand of genetic information
Chromosome
thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemisphere
Corpus Callosum
ranch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons
Dendrite
helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
disease related to insufficient insulin production
Diabetes
allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele
Dominant allele
recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp
Electroencephalography (EEG)
series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones
Endocrine system
study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes
Epigenetics
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
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
art of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language;
contains motor cortex
Frontal lobe
MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time
Functional Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures
Forebrain
sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics
Gene
genetic makeup of an individual
Genotype
view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect
our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes
Genetic environmental correlation
nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including
neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport
Glial cell
secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both
sexual motivation and behavior
Gonad
bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex
Gyrus (plural: Gyri)
left or right half of the brain
Hemisphere
consisting of two different alleles
heterozygous
division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
hindbrain
structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory
Hippocampus
state of equilibrium—biological conditions, such as body temperature, are maintained at
optimal levels
Homeostasis
consisting of two identical alleles
Homozygous
chemical messenger released by endocrine glands
Hormone
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
twins that develop from the same sperm and egg
Identical twins
concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions
laterization
deep groove in the brain’s cortex
Longitudinal fissure
collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory
Limbic system
hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart
rate
Medulla
magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged
Magnetic resonance imaging
difference in charge across the neuronal membrane
Membrane potential
division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular
formation
Midbrain
strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement
Motor cortex
sudden, permanent change in a gene
Mutation
fatty substance that insulates axons
Myelin sheath
cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system
Neurons
nervous system’s ability to change
Neuroplasticity
chemical messenger of the nervous system
Neurotransmitter
open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon
Nodes of ranvier
part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual
cortex
Occipital lobe
secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar
Pancreas
associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body
Parasympathetic nervous system
part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual
information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex
Parietal lobe
connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses in the periphery of the body
Peripheral nervous system
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
individual’s inheritable physical characteristics
Phenotype
multiple genes affecting a given trait
Polygenic
hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity
during sleep
Pons
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
area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
Prefrontal cortex
drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance
Psychotropic medication
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
protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach
Receptor
allele whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that
allele
Recessive allele
the state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals
Resting potential
midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness,
and motor activity
reticular formation
neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it
Reuptake
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
cell body
Soma
relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
Somatic nervous system
essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch,
temperature, and pain
Somatosensory cortex
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement
Substantia nigra
depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex
Sulcus (sulci)
involved in stress-related activities and functions
Sympathetic nervous system
small gap between two neurons where communication occurs
Synaptic cleft
storage site for neurotransmitters
Synaptic vesicle
part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of
language; contains primary auditory cortex
Temporal lobe
axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles
Terminal button
sensory relay for the brain
Thalamus
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
level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active
Threshold of excitation
secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite
Thyroid
midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood,
reward, and addiction
Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
important for speech comprehension
Wernicke’s area
