Chapter 2: The Biology of Behavior Flashcards
Biological Psychology
The scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes
Neuron
A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
Dendrites
A neurons often bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
Axon
The neuron extensiom that passes messages through it’s branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Myelin sheath
A 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
Glial cells
Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning, thinking and memory
Action potential
A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Threshold
The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Refractory period
A brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired; subsequent action potentials cannot occur until that axon returns to its resting state
All-or-none response
A neurons reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing
Synapse
The junction between the axon tip of the 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
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that’s neuron will generate a neural impulse
Reuptake
A neurotransmitters reabsorbtion by the sending neuron
Endorphins
Morphine within- natural, opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Agonist
A molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action
Antagonist
A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitters action
Nervous system
The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Nerves
Bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands and sense organs
Sensory (afferent) neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
Motor(efferent) neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord; communicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Somatic nervous system
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also call the skeletal nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
The part of the nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs such as the heart. It’s symphathetic division arouses; it’s parasympathetic division calms
Sympathetic nervous system
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing it’s energy
Parasympathetic nervous system
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving it’s energy
Reflex
A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee jerk response
Endocrine
The body’s slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the Endocrine glands, travel trough the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.
Adrenal glands
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in timed of stress
Pituitary gland
The endocrine systems most inflential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Lesion
Tissue destruction a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
PET (positron emission tomography) scan
A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy
fMRI(functional MRI)
A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure.
Brain stem
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions
Medulla
The base of the brain stem; controls the heartbeat and breathing.m
Thalamus
The brains sensory control center, located on top of the brain stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Reticular formation
A nerve network that travels through the brain stem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal
Limbic system
Neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drive
Amygdala
Two Lima bean sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
Hypothalamus
A neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities ( eating, drinking, body tempurature) , helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and award.
Hippocampus
A neural center located in the limbic system ; helps process explicit memories for storage
Cerebral
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information processing center
Frontal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements
Parietal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Occipital lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields
Temporal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears ; including the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
Motor cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
Somatosensory cortex
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
Association areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking
Plasticity
The brains ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Neurogenesis
The formation of new neurons
Corpus callosum
The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Split brain
A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them
Environment
Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
Heredity
The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring
Behavior genetics
The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
Chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
DNA
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
Genes
The biochemical units of hereditary that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
Genome
The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organisms chromosomes
Identical (monozygotic) twins
Develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms
Fraternal(dizygotic) twins
Develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a parental environment
Interaction
The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor such as heredity
Epigenetics
The study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change
Evolutionary psychology
They study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
Mutation
A random error in gene replication that leads to a change
When a neuron fires an action potential, the information travels through the axon, the dendrites and the cell body, but not in that order. Place these three structures in the correct order
Dendrites, cell body, axon
How does our nervous system allow us to experience the difference between a slap and a tap on the back?
Stronger stimuli ( the slap) cause more neurons to fire and to fire more frequently than happens with weaker stimuli ( the tap)
What happens in the synaptic gap?
Neurons and neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) across this tiny space between one neurons terminal branch and the next neurons dendrite or cell body
What is reuptake? What two other things can happen to excess neurotransmitters after a neuron reacts
Reuptake occurs when excess neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) across this tiny space between one neurons terminal branch and the next neurons dendrite or cell body
Serotonin, dopamine and endorphins are all chemical messengers called
Neurotransmitters
Curare poisoning paralyzes it’s victims by blocking ACh receptors involved in muscle movements. Morphine mimics endorphin actions. Which is an agonist, and which is an antagonist
Morphine is an agonist; curare is an antagonist
