Chapter 2 terms

Question 1

What is Behavioral Genetics

Answer 1

The study of the relative effects of genetic and environmental influences on behavior and mental processes

Question 2

What is Evolutionary psychology

Answer 2

The study of how natural selection and adaptation help explain behavior and mental processes.

Question 3

What is a Neuron

Answer 3

Nerve cell that processes and transmits information; basic building block of the nervous system responsible for receiving and transmitting electrochemical information.

Question 4

What is a Myelin sheath

Answer 4

This sheath blankets the axon, with the exception of periodic nodes, points at which are very thin or absent.

Question 5

What are Nerotransmitters

Answer 5

Chemicals that release, which affect other neurons.

Question 6

What are Hormones

Answer 6

Chemicals manufactured by endocrine glands and circulate in the bloodstream to produce bodily changes or maintain normal bodily function.

Question 7

What is Acetylcholine?(Ach)

Answer 7

Muscle action, learning memory, REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep , emotion; decreased ACh plays a suspected role in Alzheimer’s disease.

Question 8

What is Dopamine (DA)

Answer 8

Movement, attention, memory, learning, and emotion; excess DA associated with schizophrenia; too little DA linked with Parkinson’s disease; also plays a role in addiction and the reward system.

Question 9

What are Edorphins

Answer 9

Mood, pain , memory, learning, blood pressure, appetite, and sexual activity.

Question 10

What is Epinephrine (adrenaline)

Answer 10

Emotional arousal, memory storage, and metabolism of glucose necessary for energy release.

Question 11

What is Gaba (Gamma -Aminobutyric-Acid)

Answer 11

Neural inhibition in the central nervous system; tranquilizing drugs, like valium, increase Gamma-Aminobutyric-Acid’s inhibitory effects and thereby decreases anxiety.

Question 12

What is Norepinephrine( NE) [or noradrenaline(NA)]

Answer 12

Learning, Memory, Dreaming, Emotion, Waking from sleep, Eating, Alertness, Wakefulness, Reactions to Stress; Low levels of NE associated with depression; high levels of NE linked with agitated, manic states.

Question 13

What is Serotonin

Answer 13

Mood, sleep, appetite, sensory perception, arousal,, temperature regulation, pain suppression, and impulsivity; low levels of serotonin associated with depression.

Question 14

Central nervous system(CNS)

Answer 14

The brain and spinal cord

Question 15

What is the Peripheral Nervous system

Answer 15

All the nerves and neurons outside the brain and spinal cord that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.

Question 16

What is Neuroplasticity

Answer 16

The brains ability to reorganize and change its structure and function throughout the lifespan

Question 17

What is Neurogenesis

Answer 17

The division and differentiation of non-neornalcells to produce neurons

Question 18

What are Stem-cells

Answer 18

Pre cursor ( immature) cells that give birth to new specialized cells; a stem cell holds all the information it needs to make bone, blood, brain – any part of a human body– and can also copy itself to maintain a stock of stem cells.

Question 19

What is the Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 19

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that connects the sensory receptors and controls the skeletal muscles.

Question 20

What is the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Answer 20

Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that controls involuntary functions. It includes the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.