Chapter 3 Flashcards
natural selection
organisms that are better suited for their environment will survive and reproduce, while those that are poorly suited for their environment will die off
genotype
genetic make up
phenotype
physical characteristics
gene-environment interaction
- genes influence our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genetic make up
- one’s genotype predisposes them to high levels of intellectual potential
- in a rich environment, they will reach full potential
- in a poor environment, they will exhibit adverse psychological conditions throughout adulthood
neuron
cell of the nervous system
terminal buttons
passes information through connection to dendrites of other neurons
myelin sheath
lubricates axon, where information is interpreted
multiple sclerosis
disease, myelin sheath is not lubricated and does not pass thoughts
agonist
chemicals that mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site
antagonist
blocks or impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
where information from the PNS are made sense of and processed
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
carries information coming from muscles, organs, nerves, and senses to the spinal chord up to the brain
somatic nervous system
conscious or voluntary
relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
- CNS -> efferent fibers/motor neurons
- CNS <- afferent fibers/sensory neurons
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
unconscious involuntary
functions of internal organs and glands
homeostasis
body is at balance
sympathetic nervous system (SNS)
body’s response into a stressful activity: fight, flight, or freeze
panic messes with homeostasis
parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)
bodily functions or systems of the body: rest and digest
body returns to homeostasis after stressful state
spinal cord function
posture
routes messages to and from brain through brain stem
30 vertebrae connect to specific part of the body, connect to nerves that control that part
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
flows throughout the brain to distribute nutrients
limbic system
nervous system of the brain itself
hippocampus
memory
amygdala
emotion
left hemisphere
controls right side of the body
responsible for speech, memory, selective attention, emotions
right hemisphere
controls left side of the body
responsible for perception, arousal, and negative emotions
corpus callosum
think band of neural fibers that divides two hemispheres
frontal lobe
located in forward part
involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, language
motor cortex
frontal lobe
planning and coordination
prefrontal cortex
frontal lobe
cognitive thinking
parietal lobe
located behind frontal lobe
responsible for body’s senses
Broca’s area
frontal lobe
language production
somatosensory cortex
parietal lobe
touch and sensation
temporal lobe
side of the brain
associated with hearing, memory, emotion, speech
auditory cortex
houses Wernicke’s area
language comprehension
occipital lobe
back of the brain
primary visual cortex
occipital lobe
understanding visual information
EEG
provide measure of brain’s electrical activity
glands
where hormones are produced
hormones
secretes through rest of bloodstream
pituitary gland
also: master gland
growth, pain relief, fluid regulation
thyroid gland
development, metabolism, appetite
adrenal gland
stress response hormones: epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinphrine
pineal gland
melatonin (sleep)
pancreas
insulin and glucagon (regulate blood sugar levels)
gonads
sexual hormones:
- ovaries in females - estrogens (e.g. progesterone)
- testes in males - androgens (e.g. testosterone)
