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Psychology 100B > Chapter 3 Biology and Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Biology and Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

The neurotransmitter responsible for motor control at the junction between nerves and muscles; also involved in mental process such as learning, memory, sleeping and dreaming.

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2
Q

Action potential

A

The neural impulse that passes along the axon and subsequently causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons; neuron firing

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3
Q

Agonist

A

Drugs that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters

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4
Q

All-or-none principle

A

The principle whereby a neuron fires with the same potency each time, although frequency can vary; a neuron either fire or not, it cannot partially fire.

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5
Q

Amygdala

A

A brain structure that serves a vital role in our learning to associate things with emotional responses and in processing emotional information

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6
Q

Antagonists

A

Drugs that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters

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7
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

A component of the peripheral nervous system; it transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and the body’s glands and internal organs

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8
Q

Axon

A

A long narrow outgrowth of a neuron by which information is transmitted to other neurons

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9
Q

Basal ganglia

A

A system of subcortical structures that are important for the production of planned movement

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10
Q

Brain stem

A

An extension of the spinal cord; it houses the structures that control functions associated with survival, such as breathing, vomiting, swallowing, urination and orgasm

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11
Q

Broca’s area

A

A small portion of the left frontal region of the brain, crucial for the production of language

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12
Q

Cell body

A

Site, in the neuron, where information from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated

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13
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

The brain and the spinal cord

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14
Q

Cerebellum

A

A large, convoluted protuberance at the back of the brain stem; it is essential for coordinated movement and balance

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15
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The outer layer of brain tissue, which forms the convoluted surface of the brain

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16
Q

Chromosomes

A

Structures within the cell body that are made up of DNA; DNA consists of genes

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17
Q

Dendrites

A

Branchlike extensions of the neuron that detect information from other neurons

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18
Q

Dizygotic twins

A

Also called fraternal twins; two siblings that result from two separately fertilized eggs and therefore are no more similar genetically than nontwin siblings

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19
Q

Dominant gene

A

A gene that is expressed in the offspring whenever it is present

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20
Q

Dopamine

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in motivation, reward, motor control over voluntary movement

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21
Q

Endocrine system

A

A communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts, behaviors and actions

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22
Q

Endorphins

A

Neurotransmitters involved in natural pain reduction and reward

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23
Q

Epinephrine

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter responsible for bursts of energy after an event that is exciting or threatening

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24
Q

Frontal lobes

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex–at the front of the brain–important for movement and higher-level psychological processes associated with the prefrontal cortex

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25
Q

GABA

A

Gamma-aminobutyric acid; the primary inhibitory transmitter in the nervous system

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26
Q

Genes

A

The unit of heredity that helps determine the characteristics of an organism

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27
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic constitution of an organism, determined at the moment of conception

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28
Q

Glutamate

A

The primary excitatory transmitter in the nervous system

29
Q

Gonads

A

The main endocrine glands involved in sexual behavior: in males, the testes; in females, the ovaries

30
Q

Heritability

A

A statistical estimate of the extent to which variation in a trait within a population is due to genetic factors

31
Q

Hippocampus

A

A brain structure that is associated with the formation of memories

32
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical substances, released from endocrine glands, that travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues; the tissues are subsequently influenced by the hormones

33
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A brain structure that is involved in the regulation of bodily functions, including body temperature, blood pressure and blood glucose levels; it also influences our basic motivated behaviors

34
Q

Interneurons

A

One of the three types of neurons; these neurons communicate only with other neurons

35
Q

Monozygotic twins

A

Also called identical twins; twin siblings that result from one zygote spitting in two and therefore share the same genes

36
Q

Motor Neurons

A

One of the three types of neurons; these efferent neurons direct muscles to contract or relax, thereby producing movement

37
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

A fatty material, made up of glial cells, that insulates the axon and allows for the rapid movement of electrical impulses along the axon

38
Q

Neurons

A

The basic units of the nervous system; cells that receive, integrate and transmit information in the nervous system. They operate through electrical impulses, communicate with other neurons through chemical signals, and form neural networks

39
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another

40
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

Small gaps of exposed axon, between the segments of myelin sheath, where action potentials are transmitted

41
Q

Norepinehprine

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in states of arousal and awareness

42
Q

Occipital Lobes

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex–at the back of the brain–important for vision

43
Q

Parasympathetic division

A

A division of the autonomic nervous system; it returns the body to its resting state

44
Q

Parietal lobes

A

Regions of the cerebral cortex–in front of the occipital lobes and behind the frontal lobes–important for the sense of touch and for conceptualizing the spacial layout of an environment

45
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

All nerve cells in the body that are not part of the central nervous system. The peripheral nervous system involves the somatic and autonomic nervous system

46
Q

Phenotype

A

Observable physical characteristics, which result from both genetic and environmental influences

47
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

A gland located at the base of the hypothalamus; it sends hormonal signals to other endocrine glands, controlling their release of hormones

48
Q

Plasticity

A

A property of the brain that allows it to change as a result of experience, drugs or injury

49
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

The frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, especially prominent in humans; important for attention, working memory, decision making, appropriate social behavior and personality

50
Q

Receptors

A

In neurons, specialized protein molecules on the postsynaptic membrane; neurotransmitters bind to these molecules after passing across the synaptic cleft

51
Q

Recessive gene

A

A gene that is expressed only when it is matched with a similar gene from the other parent

52
Q

Resting membrane potential

A

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active

53
Q

Reuptake

A

The process whereby a neurotransmitter is taken back into the presynaptic terminal buttons, thereby stopping its activity

54
Q

Sensory neurons

A

One of the three types of neurons; these afferent neurons detect information from the physical world and pass that information to the brain

55
Q

Serotonin

A

A monoamine neurotransmitter important for a wide range of psychological activity, including emotional states, impulse control and dreaming

56
Q

Somatic Nervous Sytstem

A

A component of the peripheral nervous system; it transmits sensory signals and motor signals between the central nervous system and skin, muscles and joints

57
Q

Substance P

A

A neurotransmitter involved in pain perception

58
Q

Sympathetic division

A

A division of the autonomic nervous system; it prepares the body for action

59
Q

Synapse

A

The cite at which chemical communication occurs between neurons

60
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

The gap between the axon of a “sending” neuron and the dendrites of a “receiving” neurons; it contains extracellular fluid

61
Q

Synesthesia

A

Cross-sensory experience (e.g., a visual image has a taste)

62
Q

Temporal lobes

A

Region of the cerebral cortex–below the parietal lobes and in front of the occipital lobes–important for processing auditory information, for memory and for object and face perception

63
Q

Terminal buttons

A

Small nodules, at the end of axons, that release chemical signals from the neuron into the synapse

64
Q

Thalamus

A

The gateway to the brain; it receives almost all incoming sensory information before that information reaches the brain

65
Q

Identical twins Ken and Ben were adopted by different families shortly after birth. Both brothers have green eyes and blond hair, but because there was a famine where Ken grew up, he did not get enough protein as a child and is four inches shorter than Ben. The twins shared eye and hair color because they have the same __________, and the difference in height is because they have different __________.

A

genotypes; phenotypes

66
Q

People, even from the same family, can vary in skin color. This fact suggests that skin color is:

A

polygenic

67
Q

Which part of the brain is involved in the maintenance of life functions?

A

brain stem

68
Q

In general, a signal travels through a neuron in which of the following orders?

A

dendrite, soma, axon, terminal buttons

Psychology 100B (15 decks)

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