Chapter #1, #2, #3Vocab Flashcards
To learn the vocabulary
1
Q
Neurons
A
that receive and transmit electrochemical signals
2
Q
Neuroscience
A
the scientific study of the nervous system
3
Q
Thinking Critically
A
thinking in productive, unconventional ways
4
Q
Clinical
A
pertaining to illness or treatment
5
Q
Evolutionary Perspective
A
the approach that focus on environmental pressures that likely led to the evolution of the characteristics of current species
6
Q
Biopsychology
A
the scientific study of the biology of behavior
7
Q
Comparative Approach
A
It’s a component of the evolution perspective; tries to better understand a biological phenomenon by comparing them in different species
8
Q
Between-Subjects Designs
A
different group tested under each condition
9
Q
Within-Subjects Design
A
test same group under each condition
10
Q
Independent Variable
A
variable being manipulated
11
Q
Confound
A
A variable that is not accounted forA variable that is not accounted for
12
Q
Coolidge Effect
A
a copulating male who becomes incapable of copulating with just one partner can recommence copulating with a new partner
13
Q
Lordosis
A
posture of female rat sexual receptivity
14
Q
Quasi experiment
A
No random but manipulation
15
Q
Case Study
A
focuses on single case or subject
16
Q
Generalizability
A
the degree to which their results can be applied to other studies
17
Q
Pure Research
A
motivated primarily by the curiosity of the researcher
18
Q
Applied Research
A
Research to bring about some direct benefit to humankind
19
Q
Physiological Psychology
A
study of the neural mechanisms of behavior by manipulating the nervous systems of non-human animals in controlled experiments. ex intentionally damage an area of the brain.
20
Q
Psychopharmacology
A
study of the effects of drugs on the brain and behavior. ex develop meds to help disorders
21
Q
Neuropsychology
A
study of the psychological effects of brain damage in human patients. ex HM and Pheus Gage
22
Q
Cerebral Cortex
A
the outer layer of the cerebral hemisphere
23
Q
Psychophysiology
A
Study of the relation between physiological activity and psychological processes in human subjects by noninvasive physiological recording. ex EEG and heart monitors
24
Q
Electroencephalogram
A
measures brain activity in the scalp
25
Autonomic Nervous System
part of peripheral nervous system and regulation of body’s internal environment
26
Cognitive Neuroscience
study of human cognition, through the use of brain imaging
27
Cognition
higher intellectual processes such as thought, memory, attention and complex perceptual processes
28
Comparative Psychology
study of evolution, genetics and adaptiveness of behavior, largely through the use of the comparative method
29
Ethological Research
study of animal behavior in its natural environment
30
Converging Operations
different approaches are focused on a single problem in such a way that the strengths of one approach compensates for the weaknesses of the others
31
Korsakoff’s Syndrome
a neurological disorder that results in brain damage associated with a thiamine-deficiency found in alcoholics and 3rd world countries
32
Scientific Inference
The empirical method used to study the unobservable
33
Morgan’s Canon
The rule that the simplest possible interpretation for a behavioral observation should be given procedure
34
Prefrontal Lobotomy
procedure used to sever the connection between the prefrontal lobe from the rest of the brain
35
Prefrontal Lobes
large areas at the very front of the brain
36
Leucotomy
a procedure where six large cores of prefrontal tissue are cut out with a surgical device
37
Trans-orbital lobotomy
a prefrontal lobotomy performed with a cutting instrument inserted through the eye socket
38
Psychosurgery
any form of brain surgery
39
Zeitgeist
The general intellectual climate of a culture
40
Cartesian Dualism
The philosophical position of Rene Descartes, who argued that the universe is composed of two elements; physical matter and the human mind
41
Nature-Nurture Issue
The debate about the relative contributions of nature (genes) and nurture (experiences) to the behavioral capacities of individuals
42
Ethology
The study of animal behavior in the wild
43
Instinctive Behaviors
Behaviors that occur in all like members of a species even when there seems to have been no opportunity for them to have been learned
44
Asomatognosia
Deficiency in the awareness of parts of one’s own body
45
Evolve
Undergo gradual orderly change
46
Natural Selection
Members of each species vary greatly in their structure and that associated with high rates of survival and reproduction is the most likely ones to be passed on to the future generations
47
Fitness
Ability of an organism to survive and contribute its genes to the next generation
48
Species
Group of organisms that is reproductively isolated from other organisms. Members can produce offspring only by mating with the same species
49
Conspecifics
Members of the same species
50
Chordates
Animals with dorsal nerve cords
51
Vertebrates
First of the chordates and has spinal bones
52
Amphibians
First evolved around 400 million years ago. Frogs toads and salamanders, larval in water, adults can survive on land
53
Mammals
Species whose young are fed by way of the mammary gland
54
Primates
Humans are part of this order. Five families: Prosimians, new world monkeys, old world monkeys, apes and hominids
55
Hominine
Family of primates that includes humans. Two genera: Australopithecus and Homoerectus
56
Expatiations
Evolved to perform one function and were later co-opted to perform another ex. Birds wings were first evolved for walking
57
Homologous
Structures those are similar because they have a common evolutionary origin
58
Analogous
Structures that are similar, but do not have a common evolutionary origin
59
Convergent Evolution
Evolution in unrelated species of similar situations to the same environmental demands
60
Brain Stem
Regulates reflex activates that are critical for survival
61
Cerebrum
Plays a role in complex adaptive process (learning, perception, and motivation)
62
Convolutions
Folds on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres
63
Polygyn
male forms mating bonds with more than one female
64
Polyandry
one female forms mating bonds with more than one male
65
Dichotomous Traits
Traits that occur in one form or another, never in combination ex seed color brown or white never brownish white
66
True-Breeding Lines
Breeding lines in which interbred members always produce offspring with the same trait generation after generation
67
Dominant Trait
The trait of dichotomous pair that is expressed in the phenotypes of heterozygous individuals
68
Recessive Trait
The trait of dichotomous pair that is not expressed in the phenotype of heterozygous individuals
69
Phenotype
An organisms observable traits
70
Genotype
The traits that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genetic material
71
Alleles
The two genes that control the same trait
72
Homozygous
Possessing two identical genes for a particular trait
73
Heterozygous
Possessing two different genes for a particular trait
74
Chromosomes
Threadlike structures in the cell nucleus that contains genes; each chromosome is a DNA molecule
75
Gametes
Eggs cells and sperm cells
76
Meiosis
The process of cell division that produces cells with half the chromosomes of the parent cell
77
Zygote
The cell formed from the combanation of a sperm cell and an ovum
78
Mitosis
The process of cell division that produces cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell
79
Genetic Recombination
The meiotic process by which pairs of chromosomes cross one another at random points, breaks apart, and exchange genes
80
Deoxyribonucleic Acid
DNA; the double stranded, coiled molecule of genetic material; a chromosome
81
Nucleotide Bases
A class of chemical substances that includes adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine- the constituents of genetic code
82
Replication
The process by which DNA molecule duplicates itself
83
Mutations
Accidental alterations in individual’s genes that arise during chromosome duplication
84
Autosomal Chromosomes
Chromosomes that come in matched pairs; in mammals all of the chromosomes expect the sex chromosomes are autosomal
85
Sex Chromosomes
The pair of chromosomes that determines an individual’s sex; XX for female, XY for male
86
Sex-Linked Traits
Traits that are influenced by genes on the sex chromosomes
87
Proteins
Long chains of amino acids
88
Amino acids
building blocks and breakdown of products of proteins
89
Enhancers
Stretches of DNA that control the rate of expression of target genes
90
Gene Expression
The production of the protein specified by a particular gene
91
Transcription Factors
The process of gene expression; DNA base sequence code to an RNA base sequence code
92
Ribonucleic Acid
RNA; A molecule that is similar to DNA except that it has the nucleotide base uracil and a phosphate and ribose backbone
93
Messenger RNA
A strand of RNA that is transcribed from DNA and carries the genetic code out of the cell nucleus to direct the synthesis of a protein
94
Ribosomes
A structure in the cell’s cytoplasm that translates the genetic code from strands of messenger RNA
95
Transfer RNA
Molecules of RNA that carry amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis
96
Mitochondria
The energy generating DNA containing structures in each cell’s cytoplasm
97
Human Genome Project
The international research effort to construct a detailed map of the human chromosomes
98
Micro-RNA’s
A poorly understood class of RNA molecules that exert major effects on development by changing the actions of genes
99
Alternative Splicing
A mechanism by which the actions of individual genes can be controlled or “edited” so that one gene can produce two or more proteins
100
Monoallelic Expression
A mechanism of gene expression that inactivates one gene of a pair of alleles and allows the other gene of the pair to be expressed
101
Ontogeny
The development of individuals over their life span
102
Phylogeny
The evolutionary development of species
103
Phenylketonuria
PKU; neurological disorder whose symptoms are vomiting, seizures, hyperactivity, brain damage etc
104
Phenylpyruvic Acid
A substance that is found in abnormally high concentrations in the urine of those suffering from phenylketonuria
105
Sensory Phase
The first of the two phases of birdsong development, during which young birds do not sing but from memories of the adult songs they hear
106
Sensorimotor Phase
The second of the phases of the bird song development, during which juvenile birds progress form sub songs to adult songs
107
Monozygotic Twins
Identical twins; twins that develop from the same zygote and are thus genetically identical
108
Dizygotic Twins
Fraternal twins; twins that develop from two zygotes and thus ted to be genetically similar as any pair of sibling
109
Heritability Estimate
A numerical estimate of the proportion of variability that occurred in a particular trait in a particular study and that resulted from the genetic variation among the subjects in the study
110
Multiplier Effect
A mechanism by which the behavioral effects of a gene are increased because the gene promotes the choice of the experiences that have the same behavioral effects
111
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The portion of the nervous system within the skull and spine
112
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The portion of the nervous system outside the skull and spine
113
Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
The part of the peripheral nervous system that interacts with the external environment
114
Afferent Nerve
Nerves that carry sensory signals to the CNS; sensory nerves
115
Efferent Nerves
Nerves that carry motor signals from the CNS to the skeletal muscles or internal organs
116
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
The part o the PNS that participates in the regulation of the body’s internal environment
117
Sympathetic Nerves
Those motor nerves of the autonomic nervous system that project from the CNS in the lumbar and thoracic areas of the spinal cord
118
Parasympathetic Nerves
Those motor nerves of the autonomic nervous system that project from the brain (as components of cranial nerves) or from the sacral region of the spinal cord
119
Cranial Nerves
2 pairs of nerves extending from the brain
120
Olfactory Nerves
The first cranial nerve, whose output goes primarily to the amygdale and prefrontal cortex
121
Optic Nerve
Blind spot where all nerves leave eyeball
122
Oculomotor Nerve
Eye movement and papillary constriction; sensory signals from certain eye muscles
123
Trochlear Nerve
Eye movement, sensory signals from certain eye muscles
124
Trigeminal Nerve
Facial sensations, chewing
125
Abducens Nerve
Eye movement, sensory signals from certain eye muscles
126
Facial Nerve
Taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue, facial expression, secretion of tears, salvation, cranial blood vessel dilation
127
Auditory Nerve
, sensory signals from the organs of balance in the inner ear
128
Glossopharyngeal Nerve
Taste from posterior 1/3 of tongue, salvation, swallowing
129
Vagus Nerve
Sensations from abdominal and thoracic organs, control over abdominal and thoracic organs and muscles of the throat
130
Spinal Accessory Nerve
Movement of neck, shoulders, and head; sensory signals from muscles of the neck
131
Hypoglossal Nerve
Tongue movements; sensory signals from tongue muscles
132
Meninges
The three protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (singular meninx)
133
Dura Mater
The tough outer meninx
134
Arachnoid Membrane
The meninx that is located between the dura mater and the pia mater and has the appearance of gauze like spiderweb
135
Subarachnoid Space
The space beneath the arachnoid membrane, which contains many large blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid
136
Pia Mater
The delicate, inner most meninx
137
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
The colorless fluid that fills the subarachnoid space, the central canal, and the cerebral ventricles
138
Central Canal (The small CSF)
filled channel that runs the length of the spinal cord
139
Cerebral Ventricles
The four CSF-filled internal chambers of the brain: the two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle
140
Choroid Plexuses
The network of capillaries that protrude into the ventricles from the pia mater and continuously produce cerebrospinal fluid
141
Hydrocephalus
water head, the swelling can cause brain damage
142
Blood-Brain Barrier
The mechanism that keeps certain toxic substances in the blood from passing into brain tissue
143
Neurons
Cells of the nervous system that are specialized for the reception, conduction, and transmission of electrochemical signals
144
Cell Membrane
The semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.
145
Dendrites
Primary input pathway
146
Axon Hillock
The conical structure at the junction between the axon and cell body
147
Axon
Primary output pathway
148
Cell body
Houses internal information
149
Myelin
A fatty insulating substance found in the extensions of glial cells
150
Node of Ranvier
The caps between adjacent myelin segments on an axon
151
Buttons (Terminal Buttons)
Main output of information
152
Synapse (Synaptic Cleft)
Space between neurons
153
Endoplasmic Reticulum
A system of folded membranes in the cell body – synthesis of proteins and fats
154
Nucleus
The spherical DNA-containing structure of the cell body
155
Mitochondria
The energy-generating, DNA-containing structures in each cell’s cytoplasm
156
Cytoplasm
The clear internal fluids of the cell
157
Ribosomes
Internal cellular structures on which proteins are synthesized; they are located on the endoplasmic reticulum
158
Golgi Complex
A connected system of membranes that packages molecules in vesicles
159
Microtubules
Tubules responsible for the rapid transport of material throughout neurons
160
Synaptic Vesicles
Spherical membrane packages that store neurotransmitter molecules ready for release near synapses
161
Neurotransmitters
Molecules that are released from active neurons and influence the activity of other cells
162
Lipid Bilayer
Signal proteins and channel proteins embedded in it
163
Channel Proteins
Certain proteins can pass
164
Signal Proteins
Transfer a signal to the inside of the neuron when particular molecules bind to them on the outside of the membrane
165
Multipolar Neuron
A neuron with more than two processes extending from its cell body
166
Unipolar Neuron
A neuron with one process extending from its cell body
167
Bipolar Neuron
A neuron with two processes extending from its cell body
168
Inter-neuron
Neurons with short axons or no axons at all, whose function is to integrate neural activity within a single brain structure
169
Nuclei (not within a cell)
Clusters of neuronal cell bodies in the central nervous system (singular nucleus)
170
Ganglia
Clusters of neuronal cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system (singular ganglion)
171
Tracts
Bundles of axons in the central nervous system
172
Nerves
Bundles of axons in the peripheral nervous system
173
Glial Cells
Several classes of nonneural cells of the nervous system, whose important contributions to nervous system function are just starting to be understood
174
Oligodendrocytes
Glial cells that myelinate axons of the central nervous system; also known as obligodendroglia
175
Myelin Sheaths
Coverings on the axons of some CNS neurons that are rich in myelin and increase the speed and efficiency of axonal conduction
176
Schwann cells
The glial cells that compose the myelin sheath of PNS axons and promote their regeneration
177
Microglia
Glial cells that respond to injury or disease by engulfing cellular debris and triggering inflammatory responses
178
Astrocytes
Large, star-shaped glial cells that play a role in the passage of chemicals from the blood into CNS neurons and perform several other important functions that are not yet well understood
179
Golgi Stain
A neural stain that completely darkens a few of the neurons in each slice of tissue, thereby revealing their silhouettes
180
Nissl Stain
- A neural stain that has an affinity for structures in neuron cell bodies
181
Election Microscopy
A neuroanatomical technique used to study the fine details of cellular structure
182
Electron Micrograph
Captures neuronal structure in detail
183
Scanning Electron Microscope
Provides spectacular electron micrographs in 3 dimensions
184
Anterograde Tracing Methods
- Used when an investigator wants to trace the paths of axons projecting away from cell bodies located in a particular area
185
Retrograde Tracing Methods
Used when an investigator wants to trace the paths of axons projecting into a particular area
186
Anterior (Rostral)
Toward the nose end of a vertebrate
187
Posterior (Caudal)
Toward the tail end of a vertebrate or toward the back of the head
188
Dorsal
Toward the surface of the back of a vertebrate or toward the top of the head
189
Ventral
Toward the chest surface of a vertebrate or toward the bottom of the head
190
Medial
Toward the midline of the body of a vertebrate
191
Lateral
Away from the midline of the body of a vertebrate, toward the body’s lateral surface
192
Superior
Toward the top of the primate head
193
Inferior
Toward the bottom of the primate head
194
Proximal
- Nearer the central core of the body (the elbow are proximal to the wrists)
195
Distal
Farther from the central core of the body
196
Horizontal Section
Any slices of brain tissue cut in a plane that is parallel to the top of the brain
197
Frontal Section
Any slices of brain tissue out in a plane that is parallel to the face; also termed coronal section
198
Horizontal Plane
parallel to top of head
199
Sagittal Plane
parallel to side of the brain
200
Cross Section
section cut at a right angle to any long, narrow, structure
201
Gray Matter
composed largely of cell bodies and unmyelinated interneurons
202
White Mater
composed of largely of myelinated axons
203
Dorsal Horn
two dorsal arms of spinal gray matter
204
Ventral Horn
two ventral arms of spinal gray matter
205
Spinal Nerves
nerves are that paired on the spinal whose axons form either the dorsal or ventral root
206
Dorsal Root
some of the axons of the pair spinal nerves that are joined to the cord
207
Ventral Root
some of the axons of the pair spinal nerves that are joined to the cord
208
Dorsal Root Ganglion
structures just outside spinal cord that are composed of the cell bodies of dorsal root axons; ventral root are motor (efferent) multipolar neurons w/ cell bodies in ventral root.
209
Mylencephalon
most posterior of the five divisions of the brain; also called the medulla
210
Medulla
Located in the mylencephalon. it's responsible for life functions such as (hear rate and breathing)
211
Reticular Formation
a complex network of nuclei in the core of the brain stem that contains, among other things, motor programs that regulate complex species-common movements such as walking and swimming
212
Metencephalon
One of the five divisions of the brain that includes the pons and cerebellum
213
Pons
The metencephalic structure that creates a bulge on the ventral surface of the brain stem. responsible for central nervous system and arousal
214
Cerebellum
The metencephalic structure that has been shown to mediate the retention of Pavlovian eye blink conditioning
215
Mesencephalon
One of the five divisions of the brain; contains the tectum and the tegmentum
216
Tectum
the roof or dorsal surface, of the mesencephalon; contains inferior and superior colliculi
217
Inferior Colliculi
The structure of the tectum that receive auditory input from the superior olives
218
Superior Colliculi
Two of the four nuclei that composed the tectum; they receive major visual input
219
Tegmentum
The ventral division of the mesencephalon; contains part of the reticular system, substantia nigra and red nucleus
220
Periaqueductal Gray
The gray matter around the cerebral aqueduct, which contain opiate receptors and activates a descending analgesia circuit
221
Cerebral Aqueduct
duct that connects the third and forth ventricle
222
Substantia Nigra
the midbrain nucleus whose neurons project via the nigrostriatal pathway to the striatum of the basal ganglia; it is part of the mesotelencephalic dopamine system and degenerates in cases of Parkinson’s Disease
223
Red Nucleus
A motor structure that is located in the tectum of the mesencephalon
224
Diencephalon
One of the five divisions of the brain; contains thalamus and hypothalamus
225
Thalamus
The large two-lobed diencephalic structure that constitutes the anterior end of the brain stem; many of its nuclei are sensory relay nuclei that project to the cortex
226
Massa Intermedia
the neural structure that is located on the third ventricle and connects the two lobes of the thalamus
227
Sensory Relay Nuclei
those nuclei of the thalamus whose main function is to relay sensory signals to the appropriate areas of the cortex
228
Lateral Geniculate Nuclei
the six layered thalamic structures that receive input from the retinas and transmit their output to the primary visual cortex
229
Medial Geniculate Nuclei
The auditory thalamic nuclei that receives input from the inferior colliculi and project to primary auditory cortex
230
Ventral Posterior Nuclei
A thalamic relay nucleus in both the somatosensory and gustatory systems
231
Hypothalamus
diencephalic structure that sit just below the anterior portion of the thalamus; it plays a role in motivated behaviors, in part by controlling the pituitary gland
232
Pituitary Gland
the gland that dangles from, and is controlled, by the hypothalamus
233
Optic Chiasm
the X shaped structure on the inferior surface of the diencephalon; the point where the optic nerve decussate
234
Decussate
to cross over to the other side of the brain
235
Contralateral
projecting from one side of the brain to another
236
Ipsilateral
On the same side of the brain
237
Mammillary Bodies
the pair of spherical nuclei that are located on the inferior surface of the posterior hypothalamus
238
Telencephalon
The most superior of the brain’s five major divisions; also called the cerebral hemispheres
239
Cerebral Cortex
layer to neural tissue covering the cerebral hemispheres of humans and other animals
240
Lissencephalic
smoothed brain
241
Fissures
deep indentation in that separate regions of the brain
242
Sulcus
Shallow indentation in the brain
243
Gyrus
The fold between the fissure and the sulcus
244
Longitudinal fissure
the largest of the fissures that almost completely separates the cerebral hemispheres
245
Cerebral Commissures
hemisphere connecting tract
246
Corpus Callosum
the largest cerebral commissures
247
Central Fissure
separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
248
Lateral Fissure
separates the temporal lobe from the frontal lobe
249
Frontal Lobe
the most anterior of the four cerebral lobes responsible for executive functions and complex functions
250
Parietal Lobe
located posterior to the central fissure responsible for sensory information.
251
Temporal Lobe
it lies adjacent to the temples and contains the hippocampus and the amygdala it is the primary auditory cortex.
252
Occipital Lobe
The most posterior of the cerebral lobes which primary function is visual
253
Precentral gyrus
gyrus located anterior to the central fissure; its function is primarily motor
254
Superior Temporal Gyrus
the largest gyrus of the temporal lobe adjacent to the lateral fissure; the location of the auditory cortex
255
Neocortex
Six layered cerebral cortex of relatively recent evolution; it constitute 90% of the human cerebral cortex
256
Pyramidal Cells
Large, multipolar cortical neurons with a pyramid-shaped cell body, an apical dendrite and a very long axon
257
Apical Dendrite
a large dendrite that extends from the apex of the pyramidal cell straight towards the cortex surface
258
Stellate Cells
small star-shaped interneurons
259
Columnar Organization
the functional organization of the neocortex in vertical columns; the cells in each column form a mini-circuit that performs a single function
260
Hippocampus
A structure of the medial temporal lobe that plays a role in memory for spatial location
261
Limbic System
A collection of interconnected nuclei and tracts that border the talalmus and is widely assumed to play a role in emotion
262
Amygdala
a structure in the anterior temporal lobe, just anterior to the hippocampus; plays a role in emotion
263
Cingulate Cortex
the cortex of the cingulate gyri, which are located on the medial surface of the frontal lobes
264
Cingulate Gyrus
Large gyrus located on the medial surfaces of the frontal lobes; just superior to the corpus callosum
265
Fornix
major tract of the limbic system; it connects the hippocampus with the sectum and mammillary bodies
266
Septum
a midline nucleus of the limbic system located near the anterior tip of the cingulate cortex
267
Basal Ganglia
– A collection of subcortical nuclei that have important motor functions
268
Caudate
tail-like structure that is part of the striatum
269
Putamen
A structure that is joined to the caudate by a series of fiber bridges; together the putamen and caudate form the striatum
270
Striatum
A structure of the basal ganglia that is the terminal of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway and is damaged in Parkinson’s patients; it seems to play a role in memory for consistent relationships between stimuli and responses in multiple-trial tasks
271
Globus Pallidus
One of the basal ganglia; located between the putamen and the thalamus
272
Parkinson’s Disease
A movement disorder that is associated with degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway
273
Nucleus Accumbens
Nucleus of the ventral striatum and a major terminal of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine theory
