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Psychology 101 > Chapter 2: How does Biology influence our behavior? > Flashcards

Chapter 2: How does Biology influence our behavior? Flashcards

Vocab for Chapter 2

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1
Q

neurosciencie

A

the study of how the brain and nervous system affect mental processes and behavior

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2
Q

neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that transmit information

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3
Q

glia

A

brain cells that provide important support functions for the neurons and are involved in the formation of myelin

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4
Q

myelin

A

fatty, waxy substance that insulates portions of some neurons in the nervous system

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5
Q

cell body

A

the part of the neuron that contains the genetic blueprint that guides development in the organism

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6
Q

dendrites

A

branchlike structures on the head of the neuron that receive incoming signals from other neurons in the nervous system

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7
Q

axon

A

a long tail-like structure growing out of the cell body of a neuron that carries action potentials that convey infomration form the cell body to the synapse

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8
Q

myelin sheath

A

the discontinuous segments of myelin that cover the outside of some axons in the nervous system

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9
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that carry nerual signals across the synapse

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10
Q

synapse

A

the connection formed between 2 neurons when the axon bulb of one neuron comes into close proximity with the dendrite of another neuron

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11
Q

presynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that is sending the signal at a synapse in the nervous system

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12
Q

postsynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that is receiving the signal at a synapse in the nervous system

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13
Q

ions

A

charged particles that play an important part in the firing of action potentials in the nervous system

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14
Q

resting potential

A

potential difference that exists in the neuron when it is resting (approximately -70 mv in mammals)

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15
Q

threshold of excitation

A

potential difference at which a neuron will fire an action potential (-55 millivolt in humans)

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16
Q

action potential

A

neural impulse fierd by a neuron when it reaches -55 mv (millivolt)

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17
Q

all-or-none fashion

A

all action potentials are equal in strength; once a neuron begins to fire an action potential, it fires all the way down the axon

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18
Q

refractory period

A

brief period of time after a neuron has fired an action potential during which the neuron is inhibited and unlikely to fire another action potential

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19
Q

excitation

A

when a neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic cell more positive inside, it becomes more likely to fire an action potential

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20
Q

inhibition

A

when a neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic cell more NEGATIVE inside, it becomes less likely to fire an action potential

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21
Q

reuptake

A

process through which neurotransmitters are recycled back into the presynaptic neuron

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22
Q

acetylcholine ACh

A

neurotransmitter related to muscle movement, and perhaps consciousness, learning, and memory
Excites skeletal muscles
Inhibits hear action; memory

Related Disorder = Alzheimer’s Disease

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23
Q

dopamine

A

neurotransmitter that plays a role in movement, motivation, learning, and attention
Movement; learning; attnetion; motivation & reward
Related Disease: Parkinsons, schizophrenia, substance abuse

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24
Q

serotonin

A

neurotransmitter that plays a role in many different behaviors, including sleep, arousal, mood, eating, and pain perception
Sleep; arousal; mood; eating; pain perception
Related Diseases: depression, OCD and other anxiety disorders, eating disorders, chronic pain

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25
Q

norepinephrine

A

neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating sleep, arousal, and mood
sleep; arousal; mood
Related Diseases: depression and other mood disorders

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26
Q

gamma amino butyric GABA

A

the body’s chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, which plays a role in regulating arousal
Chief inhibitor
regulates arousal
Related Diseases: some anxiety disorders; some seizure disorders

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27
Q

glutamate

A

the chief excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, found at more than 50% of the synapses in the brain
Chief excitatory neurotransmitter
many diverse functions
Related Diseases: neural death following head injuries (Too much is a bad thing!)

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28
Q

endorphins

A

neurotransmitters that act as a natural painkiller
suppression of pain; eating; cardiovascular functioning
Related Diseases: some possible link to mood

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29
Q

nervous system

A

an electrochemical system of communicationwithin the body that uses cells called neurons to convey information

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30
Q

central nervous system CNS

A

the brain and the spinal cord

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31
Q

peripheral nervous system PNS

A

all of the nervous system EXCEPT the brain and spinal cord

32
Q

sensory neurons

A

neurons that transmit information from the sense organs (eyes, ears, etc) to the central nervous system

33
Q

motor neurons

A

neurons that transmit commands from the brain to the muscles of the body

34
Q

somatic nervous system

A

branch of the peripheral nervous system (all those things but NOT the brain/spinal cord) that governs sensory and voluntary motor action in the body

35
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

branch of the peripheral nervous system that primarily governs involuntary organ functioning and actions in the body - has 2 branches - parasympathetic nervous system + sympathetic nervous system

36
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

branch of AUTOnomic nervous system most active during times of normal functioning

37
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

branch of the autonomic nervous system most active during times of danger or stress

38
Q

hindbrain

A

primitive part of the brain that comprises the MEDULLA, PONS< and CEREBELLUM (bottom part of brain)

39
Q

forebrain

A

brain structures, including the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus, and corext, that govern HIGHER ORDER mental processes - such as cognition, sensory processing, and the planning and execution of behaviors - see, you have choices and YOU can make choices. ….

40
Q

midbrain

A

brain structure that connects the hindbrain with the forebrain

41
Q

medulla

A

part of the hindbrain that controls basic, life-sustaining functions such as respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Mom’s sister died because she had a stroke in this part of her brain.

42
Q

pons

A

hindbrain structure
plays a role in respiration, consciousness, sleep, dreaming, facial movement, sensory processes and the transmission of neural signals from one part of the brain to another.

43
Q

cerebellum

A

hindrain structure

plays a role in balance, muscle tone, and coordination of motor movements

44
Q

reticular formation

A

midbrain

regulates arousal and plays in important role in attention, sleep, and consciousness

45
Q

limbic system

A

system of structures (amygdala & hippocampus) that govern certain aspects of emotion, motivation, and memory

46
Q

cerebral cortex

A

thin, wrinkled outer covering of the brain in which high-level processes such as thinking, planning, language, interpretation of sensory data, and coordination of sensory and motor information take place

47
Q

cerebral hemispheres

A

right and left sides of the brain that to some degree govern different functions in the body

48
Q

amygdala

A

part of the LIMBIC system

plays a role in the emotions of fear and aggression

49
Q

hippocampus

A

part of LIMBIC system
plays a role in the transfer of information from short- to long-term memory
THIS is an issue for YOU!

50
Q

neuroplasticity

A

the nervous system’s ability to rewire its structures as a result of experience

51
Q

thalamus

A

FOREBRAIN part

functions as a sensory relay station

52
Q

hypothalamus

A

FOREBRAIN
plays a role in maintaing homeostasis in the body, involving sleep, body temperature, sexual behaviors, thirst, and hunger

also the point where the nervous system intersects with the endocrine system

53
Q

homeostasis

A

an internal state of equilibrium in the body

54
Q

frontal lobe

A

1 of the 4 cortical areas (part of the cortex)
it is directly behind the forehad that plays a role in thinking, planning, decision making, language, and motor movement

55
Q

parietal lobe

A

another cortical area
located on the top sides of the brain
plays a role in touch and certain cognitive processes

56
Q

occipital lobe

A

cortical area at the back of the brain

plays a role in visual processing

57
Q

temporal lobe

A

cortical area directly below the ears

plays a role in auditory processing and language

58
Q

Broca’s area

A

a region in the LEFT fronta lobe that plays a role in the production of speech

59
Q

Broca’s aphasia

A

a condition resulting from damage to Broca’s area of the brain tha tleaves the person unable to produce speech

60
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

region of the LEFT temproal lobe that plays a role in comprehension of speech *understanding of speech…

61
Q

Wernicke’s aphasia

A

a condition resulting from damage to Wernicke’s area of the brain

a person is unable to comprehend speech

62
Q

corpus callosum

A

a thick band of neurons that connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain

63
Q

split brain

A

a brain with its corpus callosum severed *cut

sometimes done to control epilepsy in people who do not respond to medication/other therapies

64
Q

association cortex

A

areas of the cortex involved in the association or integration of infomration from the motor-sensory areas of the cortex
75% of cortex does this higher order work - integration of information, planning, decision making, language, etc.

65
Q

motor cortex

A

a strip of cortex at the back of the frontal lobe that governs the execution of motor movement in the body

66
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

a strip of cortex at the front of the PARIETAL lobe that governs the sense of touch

67
Q

visual cortex

A

a region of cortex found at the back o fthe OCCIPITAL lobe that processes visual information in the brain

68
Q

auditory cortex

A

a region of cortex
found in the TEMPORAL lobe
governs the processing of auditory information in the brain

69
Q

endocrine system

A

a chemical system of communication in the body that uses chemical messengers (hormones) to affect organ function and behavior

70
Q

endocrine glands

A

organs of the endocrine system

they produce and release hormones into the blood

71
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers of the endocrine system

72
Q

pituitary gland

A

master gland of the Endocrine System

controls the action of all other glands in the body!

73
Q

gonads

A 
endocrine glands
directly affect sexual reproduction
produces sperm (male gonads = testes) or eggs (femail gonads = ovaries)
74
Q

estrogens

A

class of female hormones
regulates many aspects of sexuality
found in both Males and Females

75
Q

androgens

A

a class of male hormones
regulates many aspects of sexualtiy
found in both Males & Females

76
Q

adrenal medulla

A

center part of the adrenal gland

plays a crucial role in functioning of the sympathetic nervous system (Stress or danger response)

77
Q

adrenal cortex

A

outside part of adrenal gland

manufacture & release of androgens - therefore influences sexual characteristics

Psychology 101 (11 decks)

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