Ch 3- Biology and Behavior

Question 1

PNS (peripheral nervous system)

Answer 1

all nerve cells outside of spinal cord and brain

Question 2

sensory neurons

Answer 2

• aka afferent neurons- takes stimulus -> brain

Question 3

somatosensory nerves

Answer 3

sensory nerves that give info from skin to muscles

Question 4

motor neurons

Answer 4

aka efferent neurons - signals from brain -> muscles

Question 5

interneurons

Answer 5

communicate within local/short distance circuits

Question 6

nodes of Ranvier

Answer 6

gaps between Myelin Sheath in a neuron

Question 7

resting membrane potential

Answer 7

(polarization) neuron at rest is different electrically inside and outside

Question 8

sodium- potassium pump

Answer 8

in the membrane, helps with polarization (keeping inside pf neuron more negative)

Question 9

action potential

Answer 9

electric signal that travels along axon ad causes release of neurotransmitters

Question 10

all or one principle

Answer 10

neuron fires with same potency each time, although frequency can vary

Question 11

receptors

Answer 11

protein molecules that accept neurotransmitters

Question 12

reputake

Answer 12

neurotransmitter is taken back into presynaptic terminal buttons cycle: reputake, release

Question 13

agonists

Answer 13

drugs enhance action of neurotransmitters

Question 14

antagonists

Answer 14

drugs that inhibit action of neurotransmitters

Question 15

Broca’s area

Answer 15

small part of left frontal region of brain- crucial for language

Question 16

brain stem

Answer 16

needed for survival: does basic functions (breathing, etc)

Question 17

Cerebellum

Answer 17

large bulk in the back

-Motor function/ learning, memory, balance

Question 18

limbic system

Answer 18

border between evolutionarily old/new

Question 19

Subcortical Structures

Answer 19

some are part of limbic system,

Question 20

Hippocampus

Answer 20

memory forming/storing/sorting

-spacial memory (where things are in trunk)

Question 21

Amgydala

Answer 21

emotional response, perception, processing

-sensitive to fear -motivation

Question 22

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 22

whole outer surface

Question 23

prefontal cortex

Answer 23

-behind forehead, behind eyes
-complex: personality, “uniquely human,” decisions
working memory (multitask)
-COMPLEXITY/organization of neurons make it special
-better developed in humans than primates

Question 24

Phineas Gage

Answer 24

man w pole through head

-learned about prefontal cortex

Question 25

plasticity

Answer 25

brain will change as a result of experience, drugs, or injury = nature and nurture are important

Question 26

critical periods

Answer 26

generally pre- adolescence- a more malleable period of brain