Ch.6 Bio Psych

Question 1

Absorptive Phase

Answer 1

The period of a few hours following a meal during which the body relies on the nutrients arriving from the digestive system.

Question 2

Agouti-Related Protein (Agrp)

Answer 2

A transmitter released by NPY/AgRP neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus when nutrients diminish, which stimulates feeding.

Question 3

Amino Acids

Answer 3

The building blocks of peptides, which in turn make up proteins. In digestion, the result of the breakdown of proteins.

Question 4

Angiotensin II

Answer 4

A hormone that signals lowered blood volume and, thus, volemic thirst to the brain.

Question 5

Anorexia Nervosa

Answer 5

An eating disorder in which the person restricts food intake to maintain weight at a level so low that it is threatening to health.

Question 6

Arcuate Nucleus

Answer 6

A structure in the hypothalamus that monitors the body’s nutrient condition and regulates eating behavior.

Question 7

Area Postrema

Answer 7

A brain area unprotected by the blood-brain barrier; blood-borne toxins entering here induce vomiting.

Question 8

Arousal Theory

Answer 8

The hypothesis that people behave in ways that keep them at their preferred level of arousal.

Question 9

Basal Metabolism

Answer 9

The amount of energy required to fuel the brain and other organs and to maintain body temperature.

Question 10

Binge Eating Disorder

Answer 10

A disorder characterized by frequent consumption of excessive amounts of food during a short interval of time and a feeling of loss of control over what and how much is eaten.

Question 11

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Answer 11

The person’s weight in kilograms divided by the squared height in meters; an indication of the person’s deviation from the ideal weight for the person’s height.

Question 12

Bulimia Nervosa

Answer 12

An eating disorder involving bingeing on food, followed by purging by vomiting or using laxatives.

Question 13

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

Answer 13

A peptide hormone released as food passes into the duodenum. CCK acts as a signal to the brain that reduces meal size

Question 14

Diabetes

Answer 14

An insulin disorder in which the person produces too little insulin (type 1), resulting in overeating with little weight gain, or the person’s brain is insensitive to insulin (type 2), resulting in overeating with weight gain.

Question 15

Diabetes Gene

Answer 15

A gene on chromosome 4 that produces diabetes and obesity; mice with the gene are insensitive to leptin.

Question 16

Drive

Answer 16

An aroused condition resulting from a departure from homeostasis, which impels the individual to take appropriate action, such as eating.

Question 17

Drive Theory

Answer 17

Hypothesis based on the assumption that an unmet need will result in behavior that will satisfy that need in order to maintain a condition of homeostasis.

Question 18

Duodenum

Answer 18

The first section of the small intestine, where most digestion occurs.

Question 19

Epigenetic

Answer 19

Referring to inheritable characteristics resulting from modifications in gene expression.

Question 20

Fasting Phase

Answer 20

The period following the absorptive phase, when the glucose level in the blood drops and the body must rely on its energy stores.

Question 21

Fatty Acids

Answer 21

Breakdown product of fat, which supplies the muscles and organs of the body (except for the brain).

Question 22

Ghrelin

Answer 22

A hormone released by the stomach during fasting; initiates eating.

Question 23

Glucagon

Answer 23

A hormone released by the pancreas that stimulates the liver to transform stored glycogen back into glucose during the fasting phase.

Question 24

Glucose

Answer 24

One of the sugars; the body’s main source of energy, reserved for the nervous system during the fasting phase; a major signal for hunger and satiation.

Question 25

Glycerol

Answer 25

A breakdown product of fats, which is converted to glucose for the brain during the fasting period.

Question 26

Glycogen

Answer 26

The form in which glucose is stored in the liver and muscles during the absorptive phase; converted back to glucose for the brain during the fasting phase.

Question 27

Homeostasis

Answer 27

A body system seeks and maintains this condition of balance or equilibrium and has mechanisms to minimize changes to the system.

Question 28

Hypovolemic Thirst

Answer 28

A fluid deficit that occurs when the blood volume drops due to a loss of extracellular water.

Question 29

Incentive Theory

Answer 29

A theory that recognizes that people are motivated by external stimuli (incentives), not just internal needs.

Question 30

Instinct

Answer 30

A complex behavior that is automatic and unlearned and occurs in all the members of a species.

Question 31

Insulin

Answer 31

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that enables entry of glucose into cells (not including the nervous system) during the absorptive phase and facilitates storage of excess nutrients.

Question 32

Lateral Hypothalamus

Answer 32

A nucleus of the hypothalamus with roles in feeding and metabolism, aggression, and waking arousal.

Question 33

Learned Taste Aversion

Answer 33

Learned avoidance of a food (based on its taste) eaten prior to becoming ill.

Question 34

Learned Taste Preference

Answer 34

Preference for a food containing a needed nutrient (identified by the food’s taste), learned, presumably, because the nutrient makes the individual feel better.

Question 35

Leptin

Answer 35

A hormone secreted by fat cells, which is proportional to the percentage of body fat and which signals fat level to the brain.

Question 36

Median Preoptic Nucleus

Answer 36

A nucleus of the hypothalamus that initiates drinking in response to osmotic and volumetric deficits.

Question 37

Motivation

Answer 37

factors that initiate, sustain, and direct behavior.

Question 38

Neuropeptide Y (NPY)

Answer 38

A transmitter released by NPY/AgRP neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus when nutrient levels diminish; it is a powerful stimulant for eating and conserves energy.

Question 39

Nucleus of the Solitary Tract (NST)

Answer 39

A part of the medulla that monitors several signals involved in the regulation of eating.

Question 40

Obesity Gene

Answer 40

A gene on chromosome 6 that causes obesity; in mice, it results in an inability to produce leptin.

Question 41

Orexin

Answer 41

A neuropeptide released by lateral hypothalamic neurons that increases feeding and arousal; also known as hypocretin.

Question 42

Organum Vasculosum Lamina Terminalis (OVLT)

Answer 42

A structure bordering the third ventricle that monitors fluid content in the cells and contributes to the control of osmotic thirst.

Question 43

Osmotic Thirst

Answer 43

Thirst that occurs when the fluid content is low inside the body’s cells.

Question 44

Paraventricular Nucleus (PVN)

Answer 44

A structure in the hypothalamus that monitors several signals involved in the regulation of eating, including input from the NST; it helps regulate metabolic processes.

Question 45

Peptide YY3-36 (PYY)

Answer 45

An appetite-suppressing peptide hormone released in the intestines in response to food.

Question 46

Preoptic Area

Answer 46

A structure in the hypothalamus that contains warmth-sensitive cells and cold-sensitive cells and participates in the control of body temperature. See medial preoptic area regarding regulation of sexual behavior.

Question 47

Satiety

Answer 47

Satisfaction of appetite.

Question 48

Sensory-Specific Satiety

Answer 48

Decreased attractiveness of a food as the person or animal eats more of it.

Question 49

Set Point

Answer 49

A value in a control system that is the system’s point of equilibrium or homeostasis; departures from this value initiate actions to restore the set-point condition.

Question 50

Subfornical Organ (SFO)

Answer 50

One of the structures bordering the third ventricle that increases drinking when stimulated by angiotensin II.