Chapter 2 The Biology Of Behavior Flashcards
Study of interaction between biological, psychological, and social systems
Biopsychosocial
Brains ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Plasticity
Nerve cell: the basic building block of the nervous system
Neuron
Part of a neuron that contains the nucleus, the cells life support center
Cell body
Neuron’s often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body
Dendrites
Neuron extension that passes messages through it’s branches
Axon
Fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next
Myelin sheath
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory
Glial cells
Neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Action potential
Junction between the terminal button of the message sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny Gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft
Synapse
Chemical Messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by The sending neuron, this will travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether the neuron will generate a neural impulse
Neurotransmitters
(a process) neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron (the absorption of transmitters by terminal button)
Reuptake
Messenger between our motor neurons and our muscles. Also helps with learning and memory as well as attention, alertness, and mental health. Helps with sleep cycles. Helps protect us against infections. An overabundance can lead to schizophrenia and panic disorder. Only an excitatory neurotransmitter. (Memory)
Acetylcholine
(Morphine within) Primarily inhibitory. Naturally occurring opiate in the body. Involved in pain suppression, appetite, decreases stress, can bring on depression due to its inhibitory properties. Responsible for the runner’s high. (
Endorphins
Both excitatory and inhibitory. It increases attention, improves cognitive functioning, and stimulates creativity. Alertness, focus, sex drive, motivation, and happiness are also affected by this (rewards, movements, sensations)
Dopamine
Primarily inhibitory. It is involved in sleeping, eating, and pain. Other benefits include memory, happiness, hunger, and body temperature regulation. Also involved in sexual arousal and behavior. Eye and heart health also. Major depressive disorder, OCD, and anxiety can result from low levels. (Mood, hunger, sleep)
Serotonin
Carry incoming information from the body’s tissue and sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
Sensory neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Motor neurons
The neurons within the brain and spinal cord, they communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Interneurons
Responsible for gathering information and for transmitting CNS decisions to other body parts. Consists of two sub systems: The autonomic and somatic nervous systems
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Controls involuntary responses. Part of the peripheral nervous system. Controls more self regulating internal functions like heartbeat, swallowing, blinking, digestion, and breathing. Gets broken down into parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
Autonomic nervous system
(fight or flight) Sub-set of the nervous system responsible for arousing and expending energy (making heartbeat faster)
Sympathetic nervous system