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Psychology > Chapter 3 - Biopsychology > Flashcards

Chapter 3 - Biopsychology Flashcards

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1
Q

theory of evolution by natural selection

A
  • states that organisms that are better suited for environment will survive and reproduce while those poorly suited will die off
  • coined by Charles Darwin
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2
Q

chromosones

A
  • are long strings of genetic material known as DNA
  • 23 from each parent, 46 total to create genetic makeup of a person
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3
Q

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A
  • a helix-shaped molecule made up of nucleotide base pairs
  • make up genes that hold genetic traits
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4
Q

genes

A
  • control or partially control a number of visible characteristics, known as traits, such as eye color, hair color
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5
Q

allele

A
  • a specific version of a gene
  • a single gene may have multiple alleles (e.g. hair color, mult. alleles w/mult. color possibilites)
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6
Q

phenotype

A

the individual’s inherited physical characteristics, which are a combination of genetic and environmental influences

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7
Q

genotype

A

the genetic makeup of that individual

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8
Q

dominant allele

A

having the dominant allele either from one parent (Bb) or both parents (BB) will always result in the phenotype associated with the dominant allele

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9
Q

heterozygous

A

When someone has a combination of alleles for a given gene (ex. Bb)

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10
Q

homozygous

A

When someone has two copies of the same allele (ex. BB or bb)

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11
Q

recessive allele

A

that an individual will only display the smooth chin phenotype if they are homozygous for that recessive allele (bb)

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12
Q

polygenic

A
  • but few human characteristics are controlled by a single gene
  • most traits are polygenic: controlled by more than one gene.
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12
Q

mutation

A
  • a sudden, permanent change in a gene
  • can be harmful or could give someone an advantage
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13
Q

range of reaction

A
  • our genes set the boundaries on how we can react, while environment interacts with genes to determine where in that range we react
  • some people disagree with this idea
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14
Q

genetic environmental correlation

A
  • our genes influence our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes
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15
Q

epigenetics

A

how the same genotype can lead to very different phenotypes

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16
Q

identical twins

A
  • develop from a single fertilized egg that split, so the genetic material is exactly the same in each
  • have the same genetic makeup but still have variability in how genes show up
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17
Q

fraternal twins

A

usually result from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so the genetic material varies

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18
Q

nervous system

A

composed of two basic cell types: glial cells (also known as glia) and neurons

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19
Q

gilial cells (does 4 things)

A
  • provide scaffolding on which the nervous system is built
  • help neurons line up closely/w each other to allow communication
  • transport nutrients and waste products
  • mediate immune responses
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20
Q

neurons

A
  • serve as interconnected information processors that are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system
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21
Q

semipermeable membrane

A
  • what a neuron’s outer surface is made of
  • allows smaller molecules and molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules
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22
Q

soma

A
  • cell body of a neuron
  • where the nucleus is located
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23
Q

dendrites

A
  • branching extensions of the soma
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24
Q

axon

A
  • a major extension of the soma
  • signals of neurons are transmitted electrically across the soma and down the axon
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25
Q

terminal buttons

A
  • where the signals from the neurons end
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26
Q

synaptic vesicles

A
  • what the terminal buttons contain
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27
Q

neurotrasmitters

A
  • the chemical messengers of the nervous
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28
Q

myelin sheath

A
  • a fatty substance, which coats the axon and acts as an insulator
  • increases the speed at which the signal travels
  • crucial for the normal operation of the neurons
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29
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A
  • small gaps that occur down the length of the myelin sheth/axon
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30
Q

synaptic cleft

A

a very small space between two neurons and is an important site where communication between neurons occurs

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31
Q

receptors

A
  • where neurotransmitters bind on the dendrite of adjacent neuron
  • proteins on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach, vary in shape, with different shapes “matching” different neurotransmitters
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32
Q

membrane potential

A
  • difference in charge across the membrane between the electrical signals that transmit information between neurons
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33
Q

resting potential threshold of excitation

A
  • Between signals, the neuron membrane’s potential is held in a state of readiness
  • ions are prepped to to rush across the membrane when neuron goes active
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34
Q

threshold of excitation

A
  • when the charge reaches a certain level and the neuron becomes active and the action potential begins
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35
Q

action potential

A
  • the electrical signal that typically moves from the cell body down the axon to the axon terminals
  • jumps in a leapfrog fashion down the axon between the Nodes of Ranvier
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36
Q

all-or-none

A

the incoming action potential from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation

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37
Q

reuptake

A

Once the signal to the neuron is delivered, excess neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft drift away, are broken down into inactive fragments, or are reabsorbed

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38
Q

biological perspective

A

psychologists who focus on the physiological causes of behavior

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39
Q

psychotropic medications

A

drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

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40
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A
  • part of the nervous system
  • comprised of the brain and spinal cord
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41
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A
  • part of the nervous system
  • connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body
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42
Q

somatic nervous system

A
  • subdivision of PNS
  • associated with activities traditionally thought of as conscious or voluntary
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43
Q

autonomic nervous system

A
  • controls our internal organs and glands and is generally considered to be outside the realm of voluntary control
44
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A
  • subdivision of sympathetic nervous system
  • involved in preparing the body for stress-related activities
45
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A
  • subdivision of sympathetic nervous system
  • associated with returning the body to routine, day-to-day operations
46
Q

homeostasis

A

a state of equilibrium, or balance, in which biological conditions (such as body temperature) are maintained at optimal levels

47
Q

fight or flight response

A

, allows the body access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that it might fight off a threat or run away to safety.

48
Q

reuptake inhibitors

A
  • in drugs, prevent unused neurotransmitters from being transported back to the neuron
  • allows them to be more effective for longer
49
Q

agonists

A

chemicals in psychoactive drugs that mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site.

50
Q

antagonist

A

psychoactive drugs that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor

51
Q

motor neurons & sensory neurons

A
  • motor carry instructions from CNS to muscles are efferent fibers (“exit”)
  • sensory carry instructions carry sensory information to the CNS are afferent fibers (“arrive”)
52
Q

spinal cord

A
  • routes messages to and from the brain, connecting it to outside world
  • also has automatic processes (like reflexes)
53
Q

neuroplasticity

A
  • how the nervous system can change and adapt
  • Because of neuroplasticity, our brains are constantly changing and adapting
54
Q

cerebral cortex

A
  • surface of brain (pattern of folds or bumps)
55
Q

gyri

A

folds or bumps on cerebral cortex

56
Q

sulci

A

grooves on cerebral cortex

57
Q

longitudinal fissure

A

the deep groove (the most prominent sulcus) that separates the brain into two halves or hemispheres

58
Q

hemispheres

A

the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere of the cerebral cortex

59
Q

lateralization

A
  • evidence of specialization of function in each hemisphere, mainly regarding differences in language functions
  • left hem. controls right half of body, right hem. controls left half of body
60
Q

corpus callosum

A
  • a thick band of neural fibers that connect the left and right hemisphere of the cerebral cortex
  • allows the two to communicate with each other and allows for information being processed
61
Q

forebrain

A
  • hemispheres of cerebral cortex are part of it
  • largest part of the brain
  • contains the cerebral cortex and a number of other structures that lie beneath the cortex
62
Q

frontal lobe

A
  • located in the forward part of the brain
  • involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language
63
Q

motor cortex

A
  • involved in planning and coordinating movement
  • inside of the frontal lobe
64
Q

prefrontal cortex

A
  • responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
  • inside of the frontal lobe
65
Q

Broca’s area

A
  • responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
  • inside of the frontal lobe
66
Q

parietal lobe

A
  • involved in processing information from the body’s senses
  • immediately behind the frontal lobe
67
Q

somatosensory cortex

A
  • essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain
  • inside of the parietal
68
Q

temporal lobe

A
  • associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language
  • located on the side of the head
69
Q

auditory cortex

A
  • main area responsible for processing auditory information
  • inside of the temporal lobe
70
Q

Wernicke’s area

A
  • important for speech comprehension
  • located inside of the temporal lobe
71
Q

occipital lobe

A
  • contains the primary visual cortex, which is responsible for interpreting incoming visual information
  • located at the very back of the brain
72
Q

thalamus

A
  • a sensory relay for the brain (senses routed through here before going other places for processing)
  • located behind the cerebral cortex
73
Q

limbic system

A
  • involved in processing both emotion and memory
  • made up of three parts: hippocampus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus
74
Q

hippocampus

A
  • essential structure for learning and memory
75
Q

amygdala

A
  • involved in our experience of emotion and in tying emotional meaning to our memories
76
Q

hypothalamus

A
  • regulates a number of homeostatic processes, including the regulation of body temperature, appetite, and blood pressure
  • regulation of sexual motivation/behavior
77
Q

midbrain

A

comprised of structures located deep within the brain, between the forebrain and the hindbrain

78
Q

reticular formation

A
  • important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity
  • centered in the midbrain, but extends into forebrain/hindbrain
79
Q

substantia nigra / ventral tegmental area (VTA)

A
  • Both regions contain cell bodies that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, and both are critical for movement
  • involved in mood, reward, and addiction
  • located in midbrain
80
Q

hindbrain

A
  • located at the back of the head and looks like and extension of the spinal cord
  • contains the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
81
Q

medulla

A
  • controls the automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate
  • located in hindbrain
82
Q

pons

A
  • serves to connect the hindbrain to the rest of the brain
  • regulates brain activity during sleep
  • located in hindbrain
83
Q

cerebullum

A
  • receives messages from parts of body to control balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills
  • thought to help process types of memories
  • located in hindbrain
84
Q

computerized technology (CT)

A
  • involves taking a number of x-rays of a particular section of a person’s body or brain
  • often used to determine if someone has a tumor
85
Q

positron emission tomography (PET)

A
  • scans create pictures of the living, active brain after being injected w/mildly radioactive substance
  • allow better imaging of the activity of neurotransmitter receptors and open new avenues in schizophrenia research
86
Q

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A
  • a person is placed inside a machine that generates a strong magnetic field
  • used to compare the brains of healthy individuals to the brains of individuals diagnosed with psychological disorders
87
Q

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A
  • operates same as MRI, but shows changes in brain activity over time by tracking blood flow and oxygen levels
  • provides more detailed images of the brain’s structure in PET scans
88
Q

electroencephalography (EEG)

A
  • providing a measure of a brain’s electrical activity
  • helpful to gain an understanding of the overall activity of a person’s brain, without needing information on the actual location
  • helpful to researchers studying sleep patterns
89
Q

endocrine system

A

consists of a series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

90
Q

horomones

A
  • chemical messengers that must bind to a receptor in order to send their signal
  • secreted into the bloodstream and travel through the body, affecting any cells that contain receptors for them
  • effects are widespread
91
Q

pituitary gland

A
  • its messenger hormones control all the other glands in the endocrine system
  • descends from the hypothalamus at the base of the brain
  • secretes growth hormone, endorphins for pain relief
92
Q

thyroid gland

A

releases hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite.

93
Q

adrenal glands

A

sit atop our kidneys and secrete hormones involved in the stress response

94
Q

pancreas

A

an internal organ that secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar levels

95
Q

gonads

A
  • secrete sexual hormones, which are important in reproduction
  • mediate both sexual motivation and behavior
95
Q

diabetes

A

pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin, so they must take medications that stimulate or replace insulin production

96
Q

tabula rasa

A
  • idea that you’re a blank slate when you’re born and shaped by environment
  • not totally accurate
97
Q

heritability

A

a statistic that measures how much variation in a trait is accounted for by genetics

98
Q

serotonin

A

involved in sleep, appetite, sensory perception, pain suppression, mood

99
Q

dopamine

A

voluntary movement, sleep, learning, memory, emotion

100
Q

acetylcholine

A

muscle action, cognition, memory, emotion

101
Q

norepinephrine

A

excitement related to stress, heart rate, alertness (fight or flight)

102
Q

gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

A

major inhibitory neurotransmitter

103
Q

right brain

A
  • part of cerebrum
  • intuitive, spatial problem solving, nonverbal sounds
104
Q

left brain

A
  • part of cerebrum
  • stronger on rational skills, cognition, language
105
Q

cerebrum

A
  • largest brain structure
  • consists of upper part of brain and divided into two cerebral hemispheres which are connected by the corpus callosum
106
Q

blindsight

A
  • If something is put in this ‘blind spot’, someone could become aware of something that other systems can’t process
  • happens bc of amygdala
107
Q

cerebellum

A
  • regulates movement and balance
  • involved in remembering simple skills, problem solving

Psychology (15 decks)

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