Chapter 2: The Biology of Behavior

Question 1

Cells in the Brain

Neuron & Glial Cells

Answer 1

-Neuron: nerve cells: transmits information through electrical and chemical signals

Question 2

Parts of a Neuron

Answer 2

• cell body
• dendrite
• axon
• mylien sheath
• axon terminal
• neurotransmitters
• synapse
• reuptake

Question 3

Action Potential

Answer 3

-neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

Question 4

Dendrites

Answer 4

• receives information from other neurons

- bushy, finger like structure

Question 5

Axon

Answer 5

-long thin fiber that transmits signals away from the neuron

Question 6

Myelin Sheath

Answer 6

• fatty substance around axons

- speeds up transmission of signals along axon

Question 7

Axon Terminal

Answer 7

• small knobs that secrete chemical messengers called neurotransmitters
• usually at the end of the axon

Question 8

Synapse

Answer 8

-gap or space between two neurons

Question 9

Neurotransmitters

Answer 9

-are chemicals used to sent a signal across the synaptic gap

Question 10

Reuptake

Answer 10

• recycles neurotransmitters
• after the neurotransmitter stimulate the receptors on the receiving neuron the chemicals are taken back up through the sending neuron to be used again

Question 11

Neurotransmitters & their Functions

Answer 11

• Endorphins: elevate mood ease poing
• Dopamine: movement, learning, attention, and emotion (Parkinsons)
• Serotonin: mood & arousal
• Norepinephrine: alterness & arousal

Question 12

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Answer 12

• The brain and spinal cord

- body’s design maker

Question 13

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Answer 13

• Sensory and motor neurons connect the CNS to the body

- responsible for gathering information and transmitting CNS decisions (NERVES)

Question 14

Nerves

Answer 14

Bundled axon that link the CNS with muscles, and glands

Question 15

Types of Neurons

Answer 15

• Sensory: receive information take to brain and spinal cord
• Motor: carry instructions from CNS to the muscles
• Interneurons: process information from sensory input to motor input

Question 16

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Answer 16

-brain
-spinal cord: connects PNS and brain
-neural networks: clusters of neurons
simple reflexes

Question 17

What are the two components of The Peripheral Nervous System and what do they do?

Answer 17

• Somatic Nervous System: controls voluntary movements

- Autonomic Nervous System: controls automatic and involuntary functions

Question 18

What does The Endocrine System do?

Answer 18

• uses hormones to transmit messages through the bloodstream
• endocrine system and nervous system are close
• both produce molecules that act on receptors

Question 19

The Endocrine Glands

Answer 19

-secrete into bloodstream that target specific organs

Question 20

The Brainstem

Answer 20

• Brainsteam: connects spinal cord to brain
• Medulla: controls heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure
• Reticular formation: nerve network enables arousal
• Cerebellum: coordinates voluntary movement

Question 21

The Thalamus

Answer 21

• sensory switch board
• all sensory messages (except smell) are routed through the thalamus
• messages cross over from one side to the opposite side of the brain

Question 22

The Limbic System

Answer 22

• Hypothalamus
• Hippocampus
  
  • processes episodic memories
• Amygdala
  
  • helps process emotions (fear, aggression)

Question 23

The Hypothalamus

Answer 23

• below (‘hypo’) the thalamus
• regulates body temperature
• ensures adequate food and water intake (homeostasis)
• involved in sex drive
• directs endocrine system via messages to pituitary gland

Question 24

Hippocampus

Answer 24

• forms new memories
• consolidates and stores memories
• damage and difficulty forming new memories

Question 25

Amygdala

Answer 25

- generates emotional process and reactions - helps form emotional memories - attaches significance to events associated with fear, punishment, or reward

Question 26

The Cerebrum & Cerebral Cortex

Answer 26

- Cerebrum: 2 hemispheres (L & R) - Cerebral Cortex: A layer that covers both R & L hemispheres - interconnected neural cells

Question 27

Cerebral Cortex Lobes

Answer 27

- Frontal lobes: speaking and muscle movements: (Motor Cortex) - Parietal lobes: mathematical and spatial reasoning (Sensory Cortex) - Temporal lobes: auditory processing (Auditory Cortex) - Occipital lobes: receives visual information (Vision Cortex)

Question 28

Plasticity

Answer 28

- if brain is damaged can't usually Repair but can Reorganize some functions - forms new connections, reorganize, and reassign brain areas - Neurogenesis: brain's attempt to self-repair found in animals only

Question 29

Cerebral Hemispheres

Answer 29

- brain is separated into 2 hemispheres - control the opposite side of the body (contralateral control) - connected by corpus callous - functionally symmetrical (motor/sensory cortex) - speciallized abilities

Question 30

Specialization of Brains Left Hemispheres

Answer 30

- left - language = logic - understanding spoken language, sign language, and written language - speech - math calculation (logic)

Question 31

Specialization of Right Brain Hemispheres

Answer 31

- spatial and perceptual abilities - interpretation of non-verbal stimuli (art, music) - face recognition - self- awareness (left neglect)

Question 32

Separating the Hemispheres

Answer 32

- each hemisphere controls opposite side (aware of visual field) - without corpus callous halves of the body and visual field don't work together - left hemisphere has enough verbal ability

Question 33

Genes: Building blocks of heredity

Answer 33

- ability to direct the assembly of proteins that build the body - active (expressed) or inactive - turned on and off by environment

Question 34

Human Genome

Answer 34

- Genome: organisms entire collection of genes - nearly identical - tiny genetic difference make a difference - 0.5-4% (Chimp) - 50% (Bananas)

Question 35

Fraternal and Identical Twins

Answer 35

- fraternal "twins" from separate eggs - Identical Twins develop from single fertilized eggs splits in two (same sex only) - Fraternal Twins develop form two separate fertilized eggs (same or opposite sex)

Question 36

Interaction of Genes and Environment

Answer 36

- Gene- Environment Interaction: genes turn each other on/off response to environmental conditions - Epigenetic: environment acts on the surface of genes to alter their activity

Question 37

Sensory (Somatosensory) Cortex

Answer 37

- located at the front end of the Parietal lobe - registers and processes body touch and movements sensations - larger areas devoted to more sensitive body areas (e.g. lips)

Question 38

Motor Cortex

Answer 38

- located at the back of the Frontal lobe next to the Parietal lobe - represents body parts opposite side - larger areas devoted to body ares requiring precise control