Ch. 4 - Bio Psych Key Terms Flashcards
(59 cards)
1
Q
epigenetics
A
changes in gene expression expression that are due to non-genetic influences
1
Q
eugenics (francis galton)
A
the idea that the human gene pool would be improved if certain people didn’t have kids
2
Q
heredity
A
the genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring
3
Q
heritability
A
an estimate of the genetic proportion of the variation in some specific trait
-within a particular POPULATION*
4
Q
neurons
A
- basic unit of the nervous system
- operate through electrical impulses
- communicate with other neurons through chemical signals
5
Q
what are the three types of neurons?
A
- sensory (afferent)
- motor (efferent)
- interneurons
6
Q
action potential
A
- neural impulse that passes along the axon
- causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons
7
Q
resting potential
A
- polarized state
- more NEGATIVE inside cell
- approx -70 mV
8
Q
excitatory signals
A
- increase the likelihood that the neuron will fire
9
Q
inhibitory signals
A
- decrease the likelihood that the neuron will fire
10
Q
when do neurons generate an action potential?
A
if the excitatory input reaches a certain threshold (e.g., -55mV)
11
Q
resting state (resting potential)
A
- neurons are polarized at about -70mV
- the inside of the cell is more negative than the outside
- there’s more potassium inside while there’s more sodium outside
11
Q
all-or-none principle
A
a neuron fires with the same magnitude each time (it either does or doesn’t fire)
12
Q
depolarization
A
- the neuron will depolarize when it reaches its excitatory threshold
- an action potential is generated
- sodium channels open and the charge in the membrane changes
- cell becomes positive inside bc of sodium influx
13
Q
peak action potential and hyperpolarization
A
- at peak action potential sodium channels close and potassium channels open
- potassium leaves the cell
- outflow of potassium leads to temporary hyperpolarization
- potassium channels close and returns to polarized resting state
14
Q
neurotransmitters
A
- chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another
- stored in vesicles inside terminal buttons
15
Q
presynaptic membrane
A
membrane of the neuron that’s sending the signal
16
Q
postsynaptic membrane
A
membrane of the neuron receiving the signal
17
Q
glutamate
A
- primary EXCITATORY neurotransmitter
- GO signal
18
Q
GABA
A
- primary inhibitory neurotransmitter
- STOP signal
19
Q
dopamine
A
reward and motivation, voluntary movement
20
Q
serotonin
A
mood, impulsiveness, hunger, sleep
21
Q
acetylcholine
A
- movement; memory, cognition, sleep
- Key neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system
22
Q
epinephrine & norepinephrine
A
- stress response, fight or flight
- epinephrine: arousal
- norepinephrine: Arousal, vigilance, released by the sympathetic nervous system
23
drugs as agonists
drugs that bind to receptors and produce a response that mimics the effects of an endogenous neurotransmitter
- *can increase the release of neurotransmitters or block the re-uptake of them*
- basically like imposter keys
24
drugs as antagonists
- inhibit the action of an endogenous by:
Blocking the release of neurotransmitters
- Destroying neurotransmitters in the synapse
- Mimicking a neurotransmitter (& blocking
neurotransmitter binding
- broken keys that jam the lock
25
neuroplasticity
- the brain is plastic
- it can be changed and/or reorganized as a result of experience, drugs, or injury
26
brainstem
- life sustaining functions
of the autonomic nervous system,
including breathing, digestion, heartbeat,
etc.
- The part of the brain containing the midbrain, pons, and medulla
27
cerebellum
- coordinated movement and balance
- in the back of the brain, like a ball
28
hypothalamus
- participates in the regulation of thirst, temperature, hunger, sexual behaviour, and aggression
- 4 Fs: feeding, fleeing, fighting, and fornication
- connects nervous system to endocrine system
29
thalamus
- relay station
- all incoming sensory info EXCEPT SMELL
- involved with learning and memory
30
basal ganglia
- control of movement
- regulates and controls voluntary movement
31
hippocampus
- forming and storing long-term memory
32
amygdala
- processing fear
- associate things with emotional responses
- in front of hippocampus
33
cerebral cortex
- outer layer of the brain
- each cerebral hemisphere has four lobes
34
corpus callosum
- connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres
- allows info to flow between them
35
occipital lobes (hint: two c's for?)
- located in the back of the brain
- primary visual cortex
- vision
36
temporal lobes
- primary auditory cortex
- hearing
37
parietal lobes
- lies at the top of the brain between the frontal and the occipital lobes
- primary somatosensory cortex
- touch
38
frontal lobes
- primary motor cortex
- prefrontal cortex
- planning, movement
39
peripheral nervous system
- carry sensory and motor information to and from the rest of the body
40
somatic nervous system
- part of the pns that brings sensory info to the cns and transmits commands to the muscles
41
autonomic nervous system
- The division of the peripheral nervous system that directs the activity of glands, organs, and smooth muscles
- Contains three subdivisions: sympathetic, parasympathetic, enteric
42
sympathetic nervous system
- The division of the autonomic nervous system that coordinates arousal
- prepares for fight or flight
43
parasympathetic nervous system
- returns body to normal state
- The division of the autonomic nervous system associated with rest, repair, and energy storage
44
endocrine system
A system responsible for the release of hormones into the bloodstream
45
reticular formation
A collection of structures located along the midline of the brainstem that participate in mood, arousal, and sleep
46
HPA-axis
- a communication system between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands that releases hormones into the blood in response to stress
-regulates physiological processes like metabolism, immune responses, and the autonomic nervous system
47
axon
- branch of a neuron that is usually responsible for transmitting information to other neurons
48
dendrite
A branch from the neural cell body that usually receives input from other neurons
49
myelin sheath
- The insulating material covering some axons
- Makes neural signalling fast and efficient
50
cell body
- The large, central mass of a neuron, containing the nucleus
- Housekeeping tasks like protein manufacture or translation of genetic codes
51
Resting Potential
The measure of the electrical charge across a neural membrane when the neuron is not processing information
52
action potential
The electrical signal arising in a neuron’s axon
53
receptor
- A special channel in the membrane of a neuron that interacts with neurotransmitters released by other neurons
- Only a neurotransmitter with the right shape (the key) can attach itself or bind to a particular receptor (the lock)
54
glia
- Nervous system cells that perform a variety of support functions, including formation of the blood-brain barrier and myelin
- Some provide structural matrix for neurons to help them stay in place
- Others may move to a location where neurons have been damaged to clean up debris
55
neurogenesis
The generation of new neurons
56
orbitofrontal cortex
A part of the prefrontal cortex located right behind the eyes that participates in impulse control
57
cingulate cortex
A subcortical structure above the corpus callosum. Its anterior (forward) segment participates in decision making and emotion, and its posterior (rear) segment participates in memory and visual processing
