Ch.3 Flashcards
Heritability
an estimate of the variance within a population that is due to heredity
genes
composed of chemical DNA that controls the production of another chemical RNA
Reduction
the attempt to explain complex phenomena in terms of simple components
sensory functions
taste, sight, touch, smell, hearing
Psychoactive drugs
affect synapses, can attach to receptors and activate them
motor functions
fine movements example(wiggling a toe)
major classes of drugs
- stimulants: increase energy, alertness, and activity
- Hallucinogens: induce sensory distortions
- Depressants: decrease arousal
- Narcotics: produce drowsiness, insensitivity to pain, and decreased responsiveness
terminal button
presynaptic ending
4 different lobes
- Occipital lobe: rear of the head, specialized in vision
- Temporal lobe: left and right side of the head; main area for hearing and certain aspects of vision
- Parietal lobe: forward of the occipital lobe; specializes in body senses
- frontal lobe: anterior (forward) pole of the brain, primary motor cortex
neurotransmitters(serotonin and dopamine)
neurotransmitter: a chemical that activates receptors on other neurons
Dopamine: one path important for movement another path is important for memory and cognition
Serotonin: modifies many types of motivated and emotional behavior
Cerebral Cortex
The outer covering of the forebrain(prominent in humans)
Brain Plasticity
Changes as a result of experience
Neurons and basic structure and function
Structure: cell body, dendrites, and an axon
Cell body: contains the nucleus
Dendrites: receive input from the other neurons
Axon: transmits info to other cells
Chromosomes
strands of heredity material
resting potential
an electrical polarization across the membrane of an axon
