Biopsychology Flashcards
What is a genotype?
Genetic makeup
What is a phenotype?
Inherited physical characteristics
What are dominant alleles?
(capital letter) always result in phenotype
What are recessive alleles?
(lower-case) results in the phenotype when two recessive genes are paired
What is homozygous?
2 copies of the same allele
What is heterozygous?
Combination of alleles
What are genetic mutations?
Sudden, permanent change in a gene
What are the two cell types?
Glial cells and neurons
What are glial cells? What do they manufacture?
support system cells; they manufacture myelin
What are neurons?
interconnected information processors. building blocks of the nervous system.
What is a synapse?
space between two neurons
What are receptors in neurons?
where neurotransmitters attach; vary in shape
When does neuron’s membrane start?
at the resting potential
What does “lock-and-key” mean regarding neurotransmitters?
Specific neurotransmitters fit specific receptors
What is the action potential?
an explosion of electrical activity that is created by a depolarizing current.
What releases neurotransmitters?
Synaptic vesicles
What do neurotransmitters do?
used by the nervous system to transmit chemical messages between neurons
What is reuptake?
Neurotransmitter pumped right back into the neuron that released it.
What is an agonist?
Neurotransmitter which mimics a neurotransmitter at the receptor list
What is an antagonist?
Neurotransmitter which blocks the activity of a neurotransmitter.
What two things is acetylcholine involved in? What does it increase? What does it enhance?
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter which is involved in muscle action + memory and increases arousal + enhances cognition.
What two things is beta-endorphin involved in? What does it decrease?
A neurotransmitter which is involved in pain, pleasure and decreases anxiety + tension.
What three things is dopamine involved in? What does it increase? What does it suppress?
A neurotransmitter that is involved in mood, sleep, learning and increases pleasure + suppresses appetite.
What two things does Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) involve in? What does it decrease?
A neurotransmitter that is involved in brain function and sleep. It decreases anxiety + tension.
What two things is a glutamate involved in? What does it increase? What does it enhance?
A neurotransmitter involved in memory, learning and increases learning + enhances memory.
What 3 things is norepinephine involved in and what does it increase and suppress?
A neurotransmitter involved in heart, intestines, alertness and increases arousal + suppresses appetite.
What two things is serotonin involved in? What does it modulate? What does it suppress?
A neurotransmitter involved in mood and sleep. It modulates mood + suppresses appetite.
What is the endocrine system?
Series of glands responsible for producing chemical substances.
