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PSYCH 140: Developmental Psychology > Chapter 3: Biology and Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Biology and Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

alleles

A

two or more different forms of a gene

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2
Q

association areas

A

parts of the brain that lie between the major sensory and motor areas and that process and integrate input from those areas

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3
Q

axons

A

neural fibers that conduct electrical signals away from the cell body to connections with other neurons

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4
Q

behavior genetics

A

the science concerned with how variation in behavior and development results from the combination of genetic and environmental factors

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5
Q

cell body

A

a component of the neuron that contains the basic biological material that keeps the neuron functioning

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6
Q

cerebral cortex

A

the “grey matter” of the brain that plays a primary role in what is thought to be particularly humanlike functioning, from seeing and hearing to writing to feeling emotion

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7
Q

cerebral hemispheres

A

the two halves of the cortex; for the most part, sensory input from one side of the body goes to the opposite hemisphere of the brain

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8
Q

cerebral lateralization

A

the specialization of the hemispheres of the brain for different modes of processing

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9
Q

chromosomes

A

molecules of DNA that transmit genetic information; chromosomes are made up of DNA

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10
Q

corpus callosum

A

a dense tract of nerve fibers that enable the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate

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11
Q

crossing over

A

the process by which sections of DNA switch from one chromosome to the other; crossing over promotes variability among individuals

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12
Q

dendrites

A

neural fibers that receive input from other cells and conduct it toward the cell body in the form of electrical impulses

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13
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

molecules that carry all the biochemical instructions involved in the formation and functioning of an organism

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14
Q

dominant allele

A

the allele that, if present, gets expressed

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15
Q

environment

A

every aspect of an individual and his or her surroundings other than genes

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16
Q

event-related potentials (ERPs)

A

changes in the brain’s electrical activity that occur in response to the presentation of a particular stimulus

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17
Q

experience-dependent plasticity

A

the process through which neural connections are created and reorganized throughout life as a function of an individual’s experiences

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18
Q

experience-expectant plasticity

A

the process through which the normal wiring of the brain occurs in part as a result of experiences that every human who inhabits any reasonably normal environment will have

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19
Q

failure to thrive (nonorganic)

A

a condition in which infants become malnourished and fail to grow or gain weight for no obvious medical reason

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20
Q

frontal lobe

A

associated with organizing behavior; the one that is thought responsible for the human ability to plan ahead

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21
Q

genes

A

sections of chromosomes that are the basic unit of heredity in all living things

22
Q

genome

A

the complete set of genes of any organism

23
Q

genotype

A

the genetic material an individual inherits

24
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the brain that provide a variety of critical supportive functions

25
Q

heritability

A

a statistical estimate of the proportion of the measured variance on a trait among individuals in a given population that is attributable to genetic differences among those individuals

26
Q

heritable

A

refers to any characteristics or traits that are influenced by heredity

27
Q

heterozygous

A

having two different alleles for a trait

28
Q

homozygous

A

having two of the same allele for a trait

29
Q

lobes

A

major areas of the cortex associated with general categories of behavior

30
Q

multifactorial

A

refers to traits that are affected by a host of environmental factors as well as genetic ones

31
Q

mutation

A

a change in a section of DNA

32
Q

myelin sheath

A

a fatty sheath that forms around certain axons in the body and increases the speed and efficiency of information transmission

33
Q

myelination

A

the formation of myelin (a fatty sheath) around the axons of neurons that speeds and increases information-processing abilities

34
Q

neurogenesis

A

the proliferation of neurons through cell division

35
Q

neurons

A

cells that are specialized for sending and receiving messages between the brain and all parts of the body, as well as within the brain itself

36
Q

norm of reaction

A

all the phenotypes that can theoretically result from a given genotype in relation to all the environments in which it can survive and develop

37
Q

occipital lobe

A

the lobe of the cortex that is primarily involved in processing visual information

38
Q

parietal lobe

A

governs spatial processing as well as integrating sensory input with information stored in memory

39
Q

phenotype

A

the observable expression of the genotype, including both body characteristics and behavior

40
Q

phenylketonuria (PKU)

A

a disorder related to a defective recessive gene on chromosome 12 that prevents metabolism of phenylalanine

41
Q

plasticity

A

the capacity of the brain to be affected by experience

42
Q

polygenic inheritance

A

inheritance in which traits are governed by more than one gene

43
Q

recessive allele

A

the allele that is not expressed if a dominant allele is present

44
Q

regulator genes

A

genes that control the activity of other genes

45
Q

secular trends

A

marked changes in physical development that have occurred over generations

46
Q

sex chromosomes

A

the chromosomes (X and Y) that determine an individual’s gender

47
Q

spines

A

formations on the dendrites of neurons that increase the dendrites’ capacity to form connections with other neurons

48
Q

synapses

A

microscopic junctions between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendritic branches or cell body of another

49
Q

synaptic pruning

A

the normal developmental process through which synapses that are rarely activated are eliminated

50
Q

synaptogenesis

A

the process by which neurons form synapses with other neurons, resulting in trillions of connections

51
Q

temporal lobe

A

the lobe of the cortex that is associated with memory, visual recognition, and the process of emotion and auditory information

PSYCH 140: Developmental Psychology (14 decks)

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