Ch. 4 - Bio Psych Key Terms Flashcards
epigenetics
changes in gene expression expression that are due to non-genetic influences
eugenics (francis galton)
the idea that the human gene pool would be improved if certain people didn’t have kids
heredity
the genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring
heritability
an estimate of the genetic proportion of the variation in some specific trait
-within a particular POPULATION*
neurons
- basic unit of the nervous system
- operate through electrical impulses
- communicate with other neurons through chemical signals
what are the three types of neurons?
- sensory (afferent)
- motor (efferent)
- interneurons
action potential
- neural impulse that passes along the axon
- causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons
resting potential
- polarized state
- more NEGATIVE inside cell
- approx -70 mV
excitatory signals
- increase the likelihood that the neuron will fire
inhibitory signals
- decrease the likelihood that the neuron will fire
when do neurons generate an action potential?
if the excitatory input reaches a certain threshold (e.g., -55mV)
resting state (resting potential)
- 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
all-or-none principle
a neuron fires with the same magnitude each time (it either does or doesn’t fire)
depolarization
- 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
peak action potential and hyperpolarization
- 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
neurotransmitters
- chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another
- stored in vesicles inside terminal buttons
presynaptic membrane
membrane of the neuron that’s sending the signal
postsynaptic membrane
membrane of the neuron receiving the signal
glutamate
- primary EXCITATORY neurotransmitter
- GO signal
GABA
- primary inhibitory neurotransmitter
- STOP signal
dopamine
reward and motivation, voluntary movement
serotonin
mood, impulsiveness, hunger, sleep
acetylcholine
- movement; memory, cognition, sleep
- Key neurotransmitter in the autonomic nervous system
epinephrine & norepinephrine
- stress response, fight or flight
- epinephrine: arousal
- norepinephrine: Arousal, vigilance, released by the sympathetic nervous system
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
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
neuroplasticity
- the brain is plastic
- it can be changed and/or reorganized as a result of experience, drugs, or injury
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
cerebellum
- coordinated movement and balance
- in the back of the brain, like a ball
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
thalamus
- relay station
- all incoming sensory info EXCEPT SMELL
- involved with learning and memory
basal ganglia
- control of movement
- regulates and controls voluntary movement
hippocampus
- forming and storing long-term memory
amygdala
- processing fear
- associate things with emotional responses
- in front of hippocampus
cerebral cortex
- outer layer of the brain
- each cerebral hemisphere has four lobes
corpus callosum
- connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres
- allows info to flow between them
occipital lobes (hint: two c’s for?)
- located in the back of the brain
- primary visual cortex
- vision
temporal lobes
- primary auditory cortex
- hearing
parietal lobes
- lies at the top of the brain between the frontal and the occipital lobes
- primary somatosensory cortex
- touch
frontal lobes
- primary motor cortex
- prefrontal cortex
- planning, movement
peripheral nervous system
- carry sensory and motor information to and from the rest of the body
somatic nervous system
- part of the pns that brings sensory info to the cns and transmits commands to the muscles
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
sympathetic nervous system
- The division of the autonomic nervous system that coordinates arousal
- prepares for fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system
- returns body to normal state
- The division of the autonomic nervous system associated with rest, repair, and energy storage
endocrine system
A system responsible for the release of hormones into the bloodstream
reticular formation
A collection of structures located along the midline of the brainstem that participate in mood, arousal, and sleep
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
axon
- branch of a neuron that is usually responsible for transmitting information to other neurons
dendrite
A branch from the neural cell body that usually receives input from other neurons
myelin sheath
- The insulating material covering some axons
- Makes neural signalling fast and efficient
cell body
- The large, central mass of a neuron, containing the nucleus
- Housekeeping tasks like protein manufacture or translation of genetic codes
Resting Potential
The measure of the electrical charge across a neural membrane when the neuron is not processing information
action potential
The electrical signal arising in a neuron’s axon
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)
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
neurogenesis
The generation of new neurons
orbitofrontal cortex
A part of the prefrontal cortex located right behind the eyes that participates in impulse control
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
