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Psychology 100B > Chapter 3 Biology and Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Biology and Behavior Flashcards

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
GABA
Gamma-aminobutyric acid; the primary inhibitory transmitter in the nervous system
26
Genes
The unit of heredity that helps determine the characteristics of an organism
27
Genotype
The genetic constitution of an organism, determined at the moment of conception
28
Glutamate
The primary excitatory transmitter in the nervous system
29
Gonads
The main endocrine glands involved in sexual behavior: in males, the testes; in females, the ovaries
30
Heritability
A statistical estimate of the extent to which variation in a trait within a population is due to genetic factors
31
Hippocampus
A brain structure that is associated with the formation of memories
32
Hormones
Chemical substances, released from endocrine glands, that travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues; the tissues are subsequently influenced by the hormones
33
Hypothalamus
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
Interneurons
One of the three types of neurons; these neurons communicate only with other neurons
35
Monozygotic twins
Also called identical twins; twin siblings that result from one zygote spitting in two and therefore share the same genes
36
Motor Neurons
One of the three types of neurons; these efferent neurons direct muscles to contract or relax, thereby producing movement
37
Myelin Sheath
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
Neurons
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
Neurotransmitter
Chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another
40
Nodes of Ranvier
Small gaps of exposed axon, between the segments of myelin sheath, where action potentials are transmitted
41
Norepinehprine
A monoamine neurotransmitter involved in states of arousal and awareness
42
Occipital Lobes
Regions of the cerebral cortex--at the back of the brain--important for vision
43
Parasympathetic division
A division of the autonomic nervous system; it returns the body to its resting state
44
Parietal lobes
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
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
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
Phenotype
Observable physical characteristics, which result from both genetic and environmental influences
47
Pituitary Gland
A gland located at the base of the hypothalamus; it sends hormonal signals to other endocrine glands, controlling their release of hormones
48
Plasticity
A property of the brain that allows it to change as a result of experience, drugs or injury
49
Prefrontal cortex
The frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, especially prominent in humans; important for attention, working memory, decision making, appropriate social behavior and personality
50
Receptors
In neurons, specialized protein molecules on the postsynaptic membrane; neurotransmitters bind to these molecules after passing across the synaptic cleft
51
Recessive gene
A gene that is expressed only when it is matched with a similar gene from the other parent
52
Resting membrane potential
The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active
53
Reuptake
The process whereby a neurotransmitter is taken back into the presynaptic terminal buttons, thereby stopping its activity
54
Sensory neurons
One of the three types of neurons; these afferent neurons detect information from the physical world and pass that information to the brain
55
Serotonin
A monoamine neurotransmitter important for a wide range of psychological activity, including emotional states, impulse control and dreaming
56
Somatic Nervous Sytstem
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
Substance P
A neurotransmitter involved in pain perception
58
Sympathetic division
A division of the autonomic nervous system; it prepares the body for action
59
Synapse
The cite at which chemical communication occurs between neurons
60
Synaptic cleft
The gap between the axon of a "sending" neuron and the dendrites of a "receiving" neurons; it contains extracellular fluid
61
Synesthesia
Cross-sensory experience (e.g., a visual image has a taste)
62
Temporal lobes
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
Terminal buttons
Small nodules, at the end of axons, that release chemical signals from the neuron into the synapse
64
Thalamus
The gateway to the brain; it receives almost all incoming sensory information before that information reaches the brain
65
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 __________.
genotypes; phenotypes
66
People, even from the same family, can vary in skin color. This fact suggests that skin color is:
polygenic
67
Which part of the brain is involved in the maintenance of life functions?
brain stem
68
In general, a signal travels through a neuron in which of the following orders?
dendrite, soma, axon, terminal buttons

Psychology 100B (15 decks)

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