CH 3 Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards
Neuron
a cell of the nervous system that receives information and transmits it to other cells by conduction electrochemical impulses
Axon
Single, long, thin, straight fiber that transmits information from a neuron to other neurons or to muscle cells
Dendrites
one of the widely branching structures of a neuron that receive transmissions from other neurons
Terminal Buttons
bulge at the end of an axon from which the axon releases a chemical called neurotransmitter
Neurotransmitter
chemical that is stored in the terminal of an axon and that, when released, activates receptors of other neurons
Dopamine
neurotransmitter that promotes activity levels and facilitates movement
Serotonin
a neurotransmitter, derived from tryptophan, that is involved in sleep, depression, memory, and other neurological processes.
Myelin Sheath
Speeds insulators
Action potential
an excitation that travels along an axon at a constant strength, no matter how fast it must travel
Threshold
neurons are “all or nothing” firing. They either do or don’t (flushing toilet)
Synapse
GAP, neurons do not touch
Endorphins
chemical produced by the brain that have effects resembling those of opiates such as inhibiting pain
sensory neuron
a nerve cell that conducts impulses from a sense organ to the central nervous system.
Motor neuron
movement
Interneuron
any neuron having its cell body, axon, and dendrites entirely within the central nervous system, especially one that conveys impulses between a motor neuron and a sensory neuron.
Refractory Period
time between neural firings
Reuptake
the process by which the presynaptic terminal of a neuron reabsorbs and recycles the molecules of neurotransmitter it has previously secreted in conveying an impulse to another neuron.
Acetylcholine
A white crystalline derivative of choline that is released at the ends of nerve fibers in the somatic and parasympathetic nervous systems and is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses in the body.
Gaba
a neurotransmitter of the central nervous system that inhibits excitatory responses.
Glutamate
a salt or ester of glutamic acid.
Central Nervous System
Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
bundles of axons that convey messages between the spinal cord and the rest of the body
Sympathetic nervous system
The part of the autonomic nervous system that tends to act in opposition to the parasympathetic nervous system, as by speeding up the heartbeat and causing contraction of the blood vessels. It regulates the function of the sweat glands and stimulates the secretion of glucose in the liver. The sympathetic nervous system is activated especially under conditions of stress.
Parasympathetic nervous system
The part of the autonomic nervous system originating in the brain stem and the lower part of the spinal cord that, in general, inhibits or opposes the physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system, as in tending to stimulate digestive secretions or slow the heart.
Autonomic Nervous System
system of neurons that controls internal organs such as heart
Somatic Nervous Systems
peripheral nerves that communicate with skin and muscles
Reflex
rapid, automatic response to a stimulus
`Blood Brain Barrier
a layer of tightly packed cells that make up the walls of brain capillaries and prevent substances in the blood from diffusing freely into the brain: passage across the cell membranes is determined by solubility in the lipid bilayer or recognition by a transport molecule.
Pons
Structure adjacent to the medulla that receives sensory input from the head and controls many muscles in the head
Medulla
structure that is located in the hindbrain and is an elaboration of the spinal cord; controls many muscles in the head and several life-preserving functions, such as breathing
Thalamus
forebrain area that relays information to the cerebral cortex
Brainstem
the portion of the brain that is continuous with the spinal cord and comprises the medulla oblongata, pons, midbrain, and parts of the hypothalamus, functioning in the control of reflexes and such essential internal mechanisms as respiration and heartbeat.
Reticular Formation
a network of neurons in the brainstem involved in consciousness, regulation of breathing, the transmission of sensory stimuli to higher brain centers, and the constantly shifting muscular activity that supports the body against gravity.
Cerebellum
(little brain) hindbrain structure that is active in control of movement, especially for complex, rapid motor skills and behaviors that require precise timing
Limbic System
midline of the brain around the hypothalamus, involved with emotion and memory and with homeostatic regulatory systems.
Hypothalamus
main control center for the autonomic nervous system by regulating sleep cycles, body temperature, appetite, etc., and that acts as an endocrine gland by producing hormones, including the releasing factors that control the hormonal secretions of the pituitary gland.
Hippocampus
an enfolding of cerebral cortex into the lateral fissure of a cerebral hemisphere, having the shape in cross section of a sea horse.
Amygdala
fear and aggression
cerebral cortex
outer surface of forebrain
Frontal lobe
portion of each cerebral hemisphere at the anterior pole, with sections that control movement and and certain aspects of memory
Temporal lobe
portion of each cerebral hemisphere; main processing area for hearing complex aspects of vision, and certain aspects of emotional behavior
Parietal Lobe
portion of each cerebral hemisphere; main receiving area for the sense of touch and for the awareness of one’s own body and perception of location of the body in space
Occipital lobe
rear portion of each cerebral hemisphere, critical for vision
Sensory cortex
the region of the cerebral cortex concerned with receiving and interpreting sensory information from various parts of the body.
Motor cortex
the region of the cerebral cortex concerned with transmitting impulses to the voluntary muscles.
Aphasia
the loss of a previously held ability to speak or understand spoken or written language, due to disease or injury of the brain.
Broca’s area
located in the left inferior frontal cortex and is associated with language outputs.
Wernicke’s Area
a portion of the left posterior temporal lobe of the brain, involved in the ability to understand words.
Plasticity
brain’s ability to change—physically, functionally, and chemically—throughout life.
Corpus Collosum
large set of axons connecting left and right hemispheres of the cerebral cortex and thus enabling the two hemispheres to communicate with each other
Split Brain
having, involving, or pertaining to a severed corpus callosum.
Dual processing
mental processing of information on a conscious and unconscious level occurring at the same time.
Endocrine system
a set of glands that produce hormones and release them into bloodstream
Hormones
chemical released by glands and conveyed by the blood to other parts of the body, where it alters activity
Testosterone
the sex hormone, secreted by the testes, that stimulates the development of male sex organs, secondary sexual traits, and sperm.
Estrogen
female sex hormones produced primarily by the ovarian follicles of female mammals, capable of inducing estrus, developing and maintaining secondary female sex characteristics, and preparing the uterus for the reception of a fertilized egg: used, especially in synthetic form, as a component of oral contraceptives, in certain cancer treatments, and in other therapies.
Adrenal Glands
one of a pair of ductless glands, located above the kidneys, consisting of a cortex, which produces steroidal hormones, and a medulla, which produces epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Pituitary gland
master endocrine gland, attached by a stalk to the base of the brain. Its two lobes (the adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis) secrete hormones affecting skeletal growth, development of the sex glands, and the functioning of the other endocrine glands
Ovaries
female gonad or reproductive gland, in which the ova and the hormones that regulate female secondary sex characteristics develop.
Testes
the male gonad or reproductive gland, either of two oval glands located in the scrotum.
Biopsychology
a field of psychology that deals with the effects of biological factors on behavior.
EEG
Electroencephalograph-device that uses electrodes on the scalp to record rapid changes in brain electrical activity
PET
Position-emission tomography- technique that provides high-resolution image of brain activity by recording radioactivity emitted from injected chemicals
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging: a noninvasive diagnostic procedure employing an MR scanner to obtain detailed sectional images of the internal structure of the body.
FMRI
functional magnetic resonance imaging: a technique that directly measures the blood flow in the brain, thereby providing information on brain activity
PAUL BROCA
French neuroscientist, who discovered a brain lesion in a deceased patient that was unable to produce language, despite having the ability to understand language.
CHARLES DARWIN
1809–82, English naturalist who formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection, expounded in On the Origin of Species (1859) and applied to man in The Descent of Man (1871)
MICHAEL GAZZANIGA
primary responsibility for initiating human split-brain research. functional lateralization and how hemispheres communicate
ROGER SPERRY
neuropsychologist nobel prize for split brain research
CARL WERNICKE
German physician, anatomist, psychiatrist and neuropathologist.work on sensory aphasia and poliomyelitis hemorrhagia superior.
