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AP Psychology > Ch. 3 - The Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Ch. 3 - The Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

Absolute refractory period

A

The minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin.

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2
Q

Action potential

A

A brief change in a neuron’s electrical charge.

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3
Q

Adaptation

A

An inherited characteristic that increased in a population (through natural selection) because it helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction during the time it emerged.

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4
Q

Adoption studies

A

Research studies that assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and their adoptive parents.

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5
Q

Afferent nerve fibers

A

Axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body.

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6
Q

Agonist

A

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.

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7
Q

Antagonist

A

A chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter.

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8
Q

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

The system of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands.

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9
Q

Axon

A

A long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the neuron cell body to other neurons, or to muscles or glands.

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10
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

The brain and the spinal cord.

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11
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

The convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum.

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12
Q

Cerebral hemispheres

A

The right and left halves of the cerebrum.

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13
Q

Chromosomes

A

Threadlike strands of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules that carry genetic information.

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14
Q

Corpus callosum

A

The structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

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15
Q

Critical period

A

A limited time span in the development of an organism when it is optimal for certain capacities to emerge because the organism is especially responsive to certain experiences.

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16
Q

Dendrites

A

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

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17
Q

Dominant gene

A

A gene that is expressed when paired genes are heterozygous (different).

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18
Q

Efferent nerve fibers

A

Axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body.

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19
Q

Electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)

A

Sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate (activate) it.

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20
Q

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

A device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp.

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21
Q

Endocrine system

A

A group of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning.

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22
Q

Epigenetics

A

Refers to external modifications to DNA that turn genes “on” or “off.” These modifications do not change the DNA sequence, but instead, they affect how cells “read” genes.

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23
Q

Family studies

A

Scientific studies in which researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much they resemble each other on a specific trait.

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24
Q

Fitness

A

The reproductive success (number of descendants) of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success of the population.

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25
Q

Forebrain

A

The largest and most complicated region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

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26
Q

Fraternal twins

A

Twins that result when two eggs are fertilized simultaneously by different sperm cells, forming two separate zygotes. Also called dizygotic twins.

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27
Q

Genes

A

DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission.

28
Q

Genetic mapping

A

The process of determining the location and chemical sequence of specific genes on specific chromosomes.

29
Q

Genotype

A

A person’s genetic makeup.

30
Q

Glia

A

Cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons.

31
Q

Heterozygous condition

A

The situation that occurs when two genes in a specific pair are different.

32
Q

Hindbrain

A

The part of the brain that includes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brainstem: the medulla and the pons.

33
Q

Homozygous condition

A

The situation that occurs when two genes in a specific pair are the same.

34
Q

Hormones

A

The chemical substances released by the endocrine glands.

35
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A structure found near the base of the forebrain that is involved in the regulation of basic biological needs.

36
Q

Identical twins

A

Twins that emerge from one zygote that splits for unknown reasons. Also called monozygotic twins.

37
Q

Lesioning

A

Destroying a piece of the brain.

38
Q

Limbic system

A

A densely connected network of structures roughly located along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas.

39
Q

Midbrain

A

The segment of the brain stem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain.

40
Q

Mirror neurons

A

Neurons that are activated by performing an action or by seeing another monkey or person perform the same action.

41
Q

Natural selection

A

Principle stating that heritable characteristics that provide a survival reproductive advantage are more likely than alternative characteristics to be passed on to subsequent generations and thus come to be “selected” over time.

42
Q

Nerves

A

Bundles of neuron fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system.

43
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The formation of new neurons in the brain. Occurs in the hippocampus.

44
Q

Neurons

A

Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information.

45
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another.

46
Q

Oxytocin

A

A hormone released by the pituitary gland, which regulates reproductive behaviors. Fosters bonding, empathy, and trust.

47
Q

Parasympathetic division

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources.

48
Q

Perceptual asymmetries

A

Left-right imbalances between the cerebral hemispheres in the speed of visual or auditory processing.

49
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

All those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord.

50
Q

Phenotype

A

The ways in which a person’s genotype is manifested in observable characteristics.

51
Q

Pituitary gland

A

The master gland of the endocrine system; it releases a great variety of hormones that fan out through the body, stimulating actions in the other endocrine glands.

52
Q

Polygenic traits

A

Characteristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes.

53
Q

Postsynaptic potential (PSP)

A

A voltage change at the receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.

54
Q

Recessive gene

A

A gene whose influence is masked when paired genes are different (heterozygous).

55
Q

Resting potential

A

The stable, negative charge of a neuron when it is inactive.

56
Q

Reuptake

A

A process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane.

57
Q

Soma

A

The cell body of a neuron; it contains the nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells.

58
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

The system of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors.

59
Q

Split-brain surgery

A

A procedure in which the bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres (the corpus callosum) is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures.

60
Q

Sympathetic division

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body’s resources for emergencies.

61
Q

Synapse

A

A junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next.

62
Q

Terminal buttons

A

Small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters.

63
Q

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A

A technique that permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain.

64
Q

Twin studies

A

A research design in which hereditary influence is assessed by comparing the resemblance of identical twins and fraternal twins with respect to a trait.

65
Q

Zygote

A

A one-celled organism formed by the union of a sperm and an egg.

AP Psychology (16 decks)

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