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Psychology 2e Key Terms > Chapter 3 | Biopsychology Key Terms > Flashcards

Chapter 3 | Biopsychology Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Theory of Evolution by natural selection

A

Organisms that are better suited for their environment will survive and reproduce, while those that are poorly suited for their environment will die off

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2
Q

Chromosomes

A

long strings of genetic material

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3
Q

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A

A helix-shaped molecule made up of nucleotide base pairs

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4
Q

Genes

A

sequences of DNA that control or partially control a number of visible characteristics, known as traits.

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5
Q

Allele

A

A specific version of a gene

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6
Q

Genotype

A

Genetic makeup of an individuals

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7
Q

Phenotype

A

Individuals inherited physical characteristics

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8
Q

polygenic

A

controlled by more than one gene

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9
Q

mutations

A

sudden, permanent change in a gene

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10
Q

Range of Reaction

A

asserts that our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in the range we will fall

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11
Q

Genetic Environmental Correlation

A

our genes influence our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes

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12
Q

Epigenetics

A

Researchers study how the same genotype can lead to very different phenotypes

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13
Q

Glial cells

A

provide scaffolding on which the nervous system is built, help neurons line up closely with each other to allow neuronal commmunication, provide insulation to neurons, transport nutrients and waster products and mediate immune responses.

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14
Q

Neurons

A

serve as interconnected information processors that are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system

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15
Q

semipermeable membrane

A

neurons outer surface that allows smaller molecules and molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules

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16
Q

Soma

A

cell body

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17
Q

Dendrites

A

branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons

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18
Q

Axon

A

major extension of the soma

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19
Q

Terminal Buttons

A

axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles

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20
Q

Synaptic Vesicles

A

storage site for neurotransmitters

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21
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical messenger of the nervous system

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22
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

fatty substance that insulates axons

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23
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon

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24
Q

Synaptic Cleft

A

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

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25
Receptors
proteins on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach, vary in shape, with different shapes "matching" different neurotransmitters
26
Membrane potential
The difference in charge across the membrane provides energy for the signal
27
Resting potential
Between signals the neurons potential is held in a state of readiness
28
threshold of excitation
the neuron becomes active and the action potential begins
29
action potential
electrical signal that moves down the neuron's axon
30
all-or-none
an incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation. No in between.
31
Reuptake
involves the neurotransmitter being pumped back into the neuron that released it, in order to clear the synapase
32
biological perspective
focus on the physiological causes of behavior
33
Psychotropic medications
drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms
34
Agonists
drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter
35
Antagonist
blocks or impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmittter at the receptor
36
Central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
37
Peripheral nervous system PNS
connects the CNS to the rest of the body
38
somatic nervous system
associated with activiites thought of as conscious or voluntary. motor neurons and sensory neurons
39
efferent fibers
motor neurons carrying instructions from the CNS to the muscles (Efferent = Exit)
40
Afferent fibers
sensory neurons, carrying sensory info to the CNS ( Afferent = Arrive)
41
Autonomic nervous system
controls our internal organs and glands and is generally considered to be outside the real of voluntary control (divides into sympathetic and parasympathetic)
42
sympathetic nervous system
is involved in preparing the body for stress-related activities
43
parasympathetic nervous system
returning the body to routine
44
Homeostasis
a state of equilibrim
45
fight or flight respons
allows the body to access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that it might fight a threat or run
46
neuroplasticity
regers ot how the nervous system can change and adapt
47
cerebral cortex
surface of the brain
48
gyri
folds or bumps on cerebral cortex
49
sulci
grooves on cerebral cortex
50
longitudinal fissure
most prominent sulcus . a deep groove that seperates the brain into two halves or hemispheres
51
lateralization
specialization of function in each hemisphere mainly regarding differences in language functions
52
corpus callosum
thick band of neural fibers connection two hemisphere consisting of 200 million axons
53
forebrain
largest part of brain, contains cerebral cortex and subcortical structures: thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, limbic system
54
frontal lobe
reasoning, motor control, emotion, language
55
motor cortex
planning and coordinating movement
56
prefrontal cortex
higher-level cognitive functioning
57
broca's area
language production
58
parietal lobe
processing information from the body 's senses
59
somatosensory complext
(parietal lobe) area of the brain which processess touch and sensation
60
temporal lobe
hearing, memory, emotion, some parts of languageau
61
auditory cortex
(temporal lobe) processing auditory information
62
Wernicke's area
9temporal lobe) important for speech comprehension
63
occipital lobe
contains primary visual cortex which intreprets incoming visual info
64
thalamus
sensory relay for the brain
65
limbic system
involved in processing both emotion and memory
66
hippocampus
essential structure for learning and memory
67
amygdala
involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories
68
hypothalamus
regulates homeostatic proceses including, regulation of body temp, appetite, blood pressure. Interface b/w nervous and endocrine system , regulation of sexual motivation/behavior
69
reticular formation
centered in midbrain, sleep/wake cycyle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity
70
substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area (VTA)
midbrain region that contain cell bodies that produce neurotransmitter dopamine, critical for movement, mood, reward, addiction
71
hinbrain
contains medulla, pons, cerebellum
72
medulla
controls the automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system, breathing bp, hr
73
pons
connects hindbrain to rest of brain. regulates brain activity during sleep
74
cerebellum
receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear to control balance, coordination, movement and moter skills. also procedural memory
75
computerized tomography scan
involves taking a number of x-rays of a particular section of a person's body or brain.
76
Positron emission tomography (PET) scans =
create pictures of the living active brain.
77
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
a person is placed inside a machine that generates a strong magnetic field.
78
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
shows changes in brain activity over time by tracking blood flow and oxygen levels
79
electroencephalogram (EEG)
measures brain electrical activitiy
80
endocrine system
consists of a series of glands that produce hormones
81
hormones
chemical messengers that must bind to a receptor in order to send their signal. secreted into bloodstream.
82
pituitary gland
decends from hypothalamus. "master gland" messenger hormones control all other glands in endocrine system. carries out instruction from hypothalamus, secretes growht hormone, endorphins
83
thyroid gland
releases hormones that regulate growth, metabolism and appetite
84
adrenal glands
sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response
85
pancreas
internal organ that secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar levels: insulin and glucagon
86
gonads
secrete sexual hormones (female= ovaries, male =testes)

Psychology 2e Key Terms (7 decks)

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