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Psychology 101 > Chapter 3: Biopsychology > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Action Potential

A

Electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

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2
Q

Adrenal gland

A

Sits atop the kidneys and secretes stress-response hormones

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3
Q

Agonist

A

Drug that mimics/strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

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4
Q

All-or-none

A

Signal from a neuron is either enough or not enough to reach threshold of excitation

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5
Q

Allele

A

Variation of a gene

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6
Q

Amygdala

A
  • Structure in the limbic system
  • Involved in the experience of emotion & tying it to memories
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7
Q

Antagonist

A

Drug that blocks/impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmitter

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8
Q

Auditory cortex

A
  • Strip of cortex in the temporal lobe
  • Responsible for processing auditory info
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9
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

Controls internal organs and glands

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10
Q

Axon

A

Carries nerve impulses away from the cell body

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11
Q

Biological perspective

A

Psychological disorders are associated
with imbalances in one/more neurotransmitter systems

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12
Q

Broca’s area

A
  • Region in the left hemisphere
  • Important in language production
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13
Q

Central nervous system

A
  • Consists of the brain and spinal cord
  • Receive, process, and responds to sensory info
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14
Q

Cerebellum

A
  • In the hindbrain
  • Controls balance, coordination, movement, motor skills
  • Important in processing (some) memories
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15
Q

Cerebral cortex

A
  • Surface of the brain
  • Associated with “highest” mental capabilities
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16
Q

Chromosome

A
  • Long strand of genetic info
  • Contain genes (segments of DNA)
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17
Q

Computerized tomography (CT) scan

A
  • Imaging technique
  • Computer coordinates & integrates
    multiple x-rays of a given area
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18
Q

Corpus callosum

A
  • Thick band of neural fibers
  • Connects the brain’s two hemispheres
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19
Q

Dendrite

A

Branched extension of a neuron that receives signals from other neurons

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20
Q

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A
  • Double helix molecule made of nucleotide base pairs
  • Genetic info in the cells of the body that code for different traits
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21
Q

Diabetes

A

Disease due to insufficient insulin production

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22
Q

Dominant allele

A
  • Phenotype will be expressed
  • Big letter
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23
Q

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A

Recording the electrical activity of the brain using electrodes on the scalp

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24
Q

Endocrine system

A

Series of glands that produce hormones

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25
Q

Epigenetics

A
  • Studies gene-environment interactions
  • How the same genotype leads to a different phenotype
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26
Q

Flight or fight response

A
  • Activated by the sympathetic autonomic NS
  • Allows access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity (fight or flight)
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27
Q

Forebrain

A
  • Largest part of the brain
  • Contains cerebral cortex, thalamus, limbic system, etc
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28
Q

Fraternal twins

A
  • Developed from 2 different eggs and fertilized by different sperm
  • Genetic material varies
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29
Q

Frontal lobe

A
  • Part of the cerebral cortex
  • Reasoning, motor control, emotion, language
  • Contains motor cortex
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30
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time

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31
Q

Gene

A
  • Sequence of DNA
  • Dictates physical traits
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32
Q

Genetic environmental correlation

A

Idea that genes affect our
environment and our environment influences gene expression

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33
Q

Genotype

A

Genetic makeup of an individual

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34
Q

Glial cell

A
  • Nervous system cell
  • Aids in neuronal insulation, communication, nutrient/waste transport
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35
Q

Gonad

A
  • Secretes sexual hormones
  • Important in reproduction
  • Mediates sexual motivation/behavior
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36
Q

Gyrus

A

Bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex

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37
Q

Heterozygous

A
  • Two different alleles
  • Ie: Aa
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38
Q

Hindbrain

A
  • Division of the brain
  • Contains medulla, pons, cerebellum
39
Q

Hippocampus

A
  • Structure in the temporal lobe
  • Associated with learning and memory
40
Q

Homeostasis

A

State of equilibrium in the body

41
Q

Homozygous

A
  • Two dominant or recessive alleles
  • Ie: AA or aa
42
Q

Hormone

A
  • Chemical messenger released by endocrine glands
  • Travels through the blood
43
Q

Hypothalamus

A
  • Forebrain structure
  • Regulates sexual motivation and behavior
  • Connection between the nervous and endocrine system
44
Q

Identical twins

A

Twins developed from the SAME sperm and egg

45
Q

Lateralization

A

Concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

46
Q

Limbic system

A

Collection of structures involved in processing emotion & memory

47
Q

Longitudinal fissure

A
  • Deep groove in the brain’s cortex
  • Separates brain’s hemispheres
48
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

Magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged

49
Q

Medulla

A
  • Hindbrain structure that controls automated processes
  • Ie: breathing, BP, heart rate, etc
50
Q

Membrane potential

A

Difference in charge across the neuronal membrane

51
Q

Midbrain

A
  • Located between forebrain and hindbrain
  • Contains the reticular formation
52
Q

Motor cortex

A
  • Strip of cortex
  • Involved in planning/coordinating movement
53
Q

Mutation

A

Permanent change in a gene sequence

54
Q

Myelin sheath

A
  • Fatty substance that insulates axons
  • Allows electrical impulses to travel along nerve cells
55
Q

Neuron

A
  • A nerve cell
  • Responsible for sending/receiving neurotransmitters
56
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

The nervous system’s ability to change

57
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemicals that carry info between brain cells

58
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

Open spaces on the myelin sheath that encase the axon

59
Q

Occipital lobe

A
  • Part of the cerebral cortex
  • Associated with visual processing
  • Contains primary visual cortex
60
Q

Pancreas

A

Secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar

61
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Associated with routine operations of the body

62
Q

Parietal lobe

A
  • Part of cerebral cortex
  • Involved in processing sensory & perceptual info
  • Contains the primary somatosensory cortex
63
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Consists of the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord

64
Q

Phenotype

A

Physical manifestation of genetics

65
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Regulates growth, metabolism, reproduction by releasing hormones

66
Q

Polygenic

A

Multiple genes affecting a trait

67
Q

Pons

A
  • Hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord
  • Regulates brain activity during sleep
68
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

A
  • Injects people with radioactive substance
  • Monitors changes in blood flow to the regions of the brain
69
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A
  • Area in the frontal lobe
  • Responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
70
Q

Psychotropic medication

A

Drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

71
Q

Range of reaction

A
  • Genes set the boundaries within which we can operate
  • Environment interacts with genes to determine where in the range we fall
72
Q

Receptor

A

Protein on cell surface where neurotransmitters attach

73
Q

Recessive allele

A
  • Ie: aa
  • Cannot be expressed in the presence of a dominant allele
74
Q

Resting potential

A

Electrical potential difference across plasma membrane when the cell is in a non-excited state

75
Q

Reticular formation

A
  • Midbrain structure
  • Regulates sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, motor activity
76
Q

Reuptake

A

Neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it

77
Q

Semipermeable membrane

A
  • Selectively permeable
  • Think: bouncer
78
Q

Soma

A

Cell body

79
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

Relays sensory and motor info to and from the CNS

80
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A
  • Important in processing sensory info from across the body
  • Ie: touch, temp, pain, etc
81
Q

Substantia nigra

A
  • Midbrain structure
  • Where dopamine is produced
  • Involved in control of movement
82
Q

Sulcus

A

Depressions/grooves in cerebral cortex

83
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A
  • Involved in stress-related activities/functions
  • “Fight or flight” response
84
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

Gap between neurons where communication occurs

85
Q

Synaptic vesicle

A

Storage site for neurotransmitters

86
Q

Temporal lobe

A
  • Part of cerebral cortex
  • Hearing, memory, emotion, language
  • Contains primary auditory cortex
87
Q

Terminal button

A
  • Terminal portion of the axon
  • Contains apparatus necessary to release neurotransmitters
88
Q

Thalamus

A

Sensory relay for the brain

89
Q

Theory of evolution by natural selection

A

Organisms best suited for their environments will persist and reproduce

90
Q

Threshold of excitation

A

Level of charge in the membrane that causes neurons to become active

91
Q

Thyroid

A

Secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite

92
Q

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

A
  • Midbrain structure
  • Where dopamine is produced
  • Associated with mood, reward, addiction
93
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Important for speech comprehension

Psychology 101 (4 decks)

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