Ch2. Neuroscience and Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Behavioral Neuroscientist

A

psychologists who specialize in considering the ways in which the biological structures and functions of the body affect behavior

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2
Q

Neurons

A

nerve cells

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3
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the nervous system that supports, nourish, and protect neurons

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4
Q

dendrites

A

a cluster of fibers at one end of a neuron that receives messages from other neurons

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5
Q

Axon

A

carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons

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6
Q

Terminal Buttons

A

The part of the axon that sends messages to other neurons. They look like a small bulge at the end of the axon.

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7
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

a protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon

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8
Q

Resting state

A

state before a neuron is triggered, in which there is a negative electrical charge of about -70 millivolts within the neuron

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9
Q

Action Potential

A

an electrical nerve impulse that travels through a neuron’s axon when it is set off by a trigger changing the neurons charge from negative to positive. Speed is determined by axon’s size and the thickness of myelin sheath.

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10
Q

Neurons differ in terms of

A

Quickness of an impulse moving along the axon
Potential rate of firing

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11
Q

mirror neurons

A

a specialized neuron that fires not only when a person enacts a particular behavior but also when a person simply observes another individual carrying out the same behavior

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12
Q

Synapse

A

the space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages

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13
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical that carry messages across the synapse to the dendrite (sometimes the cell body) of a receiving neuron

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14
Q

excitory message

A

a chemical message that makes it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire and an action potential will travel down its axon

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15
Q

inhibitory message

A

a chemical message that prevents or decreases the likelihood that a receiving neuron will fire

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16
Q

Central Nervous System

A

brain and spinal cord

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17
Q

Spinal cord

A

the bundle of neurons that leaves the brain and runs down the length of the back

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18
Q

Reflex

A

an automatic, involuntary response to an incoming stimulus

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19
Q

sensory (afferent) neurons

A

transmit information from the perimeter of the body to the central nervous system

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20
Q

motor (efferent) neurons

A

communicate information from the nervous system to muscles and glands

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21
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

the part of nervous system that includes the autonomic and somatic subdivisions. made of neurons with long axons and dendrites

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22
Q

somatic division

A

specializes in the control of voluntary movements and the communication of information to and from the sense organs

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23
Q

autonomic division

A

Controls involuntary movement of the heart, glands, lungs, and other organs

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24
Q

sympathetic division

A

The part of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body to deal with perceived threats.

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25
Q

parasympathetic division

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that acts the body to calm down after an emergency has ended

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26
Q

behavioral genetics

A

the study of the effects of heredity on behavior

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27
Q

endocrine system

A

A chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream

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28
Q

hormones

A

chemicals that circulate through the blood and regulate the functioning or growth of the body

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29
Q

pituitary glands

A

The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

30
Q

thyroid glands

A

produces hormones that regulate metabolism

31
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

record of the electrical activity of the brain through electrodes placed on the outside of the skull

32
Q

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

Provides a detailed, three dimensional computer-generated image of brain structures and activity by aiming a powerful magnetic field at the body

33
Q

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A

show biochemical activity within the brain at a given moment that begins with an injection of a radioactive liquid

34
Q

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A

electrical activity in a tiny region of the brain is interrupted by bombarding it with a strong magnetic field, and researchers note the effects on brain functioning. may be used to treat certain psychological disorders

35
Q

optogenetic

A

views individual circuits of neurons

36
Q

hydrogel-embedding

A

allows observation of individual brain cells and the wiring of brain circuitry

37
Q

Neuropixels

A

implanted probes that allow neuroscientists to read activity in hundreds of neurons in multiple parts of the brain simultaneously

38
Q

central core

A

The “old brain,” which controls basic functions such as eating and sleeping and is common to all vertebrates.

39
Q

Hindbrain

A

medulla, pons, cerebellum

40
Q

Medulla

A

controls heartbeat and breathing

41
Q

Pons

A

sleep and arousal

42
Q

Cerebellum

A

Balance and coordination

43
Q

reticular formation

A

the part of the brain extending from medulla through the pons; it is related to changes in the level of arousal of the body. Passes through the middle of the brain, called the midbrain, and into the front-most part of the brain, called the forebrain

44
Q

Thalamus

A

the part of the brain located in the middle of the central core that acts primarily to relay information about the senses

45
Q

Hypothalamus

A

a tiny part of the brain, located below the thalamus, that maintains homeostasis and produces and regulates behavior critical to the basic survival of the species. Eating, drinking, and sexual behavior.

46
Q

limbic system

A

he part of the brain that controls eating, aggression, and reproductions–functions related to emotions and self-preservation. Includes the amygdala and hippocampus.

47
Q

Amygdala

A

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression.

48
Q

Hippocampus

A

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage

49
Q

cerebral cortex

A

The “new brain,” responsible for the most sophisticated information processing in the brain; contains four lobes.

50
Q

Lobes

A

frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital

51
Q

Frontal lobe

A

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

52
Q

parietal lobe

A

touch, spatial awareness

53
Q

temporal lobe

A

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information

54
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

processes visual information

55
Q

Sulci

A

shallow grooves of the brain that separate lobes

56
Q

motor area

A

the part of the cortex that is largely responsible for the body’s voluntary movement

57
Q

sensory area

A

the site in the brain of the tissue that corresponds to each of the senses, with the degree of sensitivity related to the amount of tissue

58
Q

association area

A

One of the major regions of the cerebral cortex; the site of the higher mental processes, such as thought, language, memory, and speech.

59
Q

Broca’s aphasia

A

inability to produce speech

60
Q

Wernicke’s aphasia

A

inability to comprehend speech

61
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

the brain’s ability to change throughout the life span through the addition of new neurons, new interconnections between neurons, and the reorganization of information-processing areas,

62
Q

Neurogensis

A

creation of new neurons in the adult brain

63
Q

brain hemisphere

A

symmetrical left and right halves of the brain that control the side of the body opposite to their location

64
Q

left hemisphere

A

controls the right side of the body; process information sequentially, particularly verbal areas

65
Q

right hemisphere

A

controls the left side of the body; process information globally, particularly in nonverbal areas

66
Q

Lateralization

A

the dominance of one hemisphere of the brain in specific functions, such as language

67
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction

68
Q

Glutamate

A

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

69
Q

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)

A

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system; involves in eating, aggression and sleeping

70
Q

Dopamine (DA)

A

regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal

71
Q

Serotonin

A

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger ,sleep, arousal, mood, pain and depression

72
Q

Endorphins

A

neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure feeling, appetites and placebos