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

Chapter 3 | Biopsychology Key Terms Flashcards

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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
Q

Receptors

A

proteins on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach, vary in shape, with different shapes “matching” different neurotransmitters

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26
Q

Membrane potential

A

The difference in charge across the membrane provides energy for the signal

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27
Q

Resting potential

A

Between signals the neurons potential is held in a state of readiness

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28
Q

threshold of excitation

A

the neuron becomes active and the action potential begins

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29
Q

action potential

A

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

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30
Q

all-or-none

A

an incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation. No in between.

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31
Q

Reuptake

A

involves the neurotransmitter being pumped back into the neuron that released it, in order to clear the synapase

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32
Q

biological perspective

A

focus on the physiological causes of behavior

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33
Q

Psychotropic medications

A

drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms

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34
Q

Agonists

A

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

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35
Q

Antagonist

A

blocks or impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmittter at the receptor

36
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

37
Q

Peripheral nervous system PNS

A

connects the CNS to the rest of the body

38
Q

somatic nervous system

A

associated with activiites thought of as conscious or voluntary. motor neurons and sensory neurons

39
Q

efferent fibers

A

motor neurons carrying instructions from the CNS to the muscles (Efferent = Exit)

40
Q

Afferent fibers

A

sensory neurons, carrying sensory info to the CNS ( Afferent = Arrive)

41
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

controls our internal organs and glands and is generally considered to be outside the real of voluntary control (divides into sympathetic and parasympathetic)

42
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

is involved in preparing the body for stress-related activities

43
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

returning the body to routine

44
Q

Homeostasis

A

a state of equilibrim

45
Q

fight or flight respons

A

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

46
Q

neuroplasticity

A

regers ot how the nervous system can change and adapt

47
Q

cerebral cortex

A

surface of the brain

48
Q

gyri

A

folds or bumps on cerebral cortex

49
Q

sulci

A

grooves on cerebral cortex

50
Q

longitudinal fissure

A

most prominent sulcus . a deep groove that seperates the brain into two halves or hemispheres

51
Q

lateralization

A

specialization of function in each hemisphere mainly regarding differences in language functions

52
Q

corpus callosum

A

thick band of neural fibers connection two hemisphere consisting of 200 million axons

53
Q

forebrain

A

largest part of brain, contains cerebral cortex and subcortical structures: thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, limbic system

54
Q

frontal lobe

A

reasoning, motor control, emotion, language

55
Q

motor cortex

A

planning and coordinating movement

56
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

higher-level cognitive functioning

57
Q

broca’s area

A

language production

58
Q

parietal lobe

A

processing information from the body ‘s senses

59
Q

somatosensory complext

A

(parietal lobe) area of the brain which processess touch and sensation

60
Q

temporal lobe

A

hearing, memory, emotion, some parts of languageau

61
Q

auditory cortex

A

(temporal lobe) processing auditory information

62
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

9temporal lobe) important for speech comprehension

63
Q

occipital lobe

A

contains primary visual cortex which intreprets incoming visual info

64
Q

thalamus

A

sensory relay for the brain

65
Q

limbic system

A

involved in processing both emotion and memory

66
Q

hippocampus

A

essential structure for learning and memory

67
Q

amygdala

A

involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories

68
Q

hypothalamus

A

regulates homeostatic proceses including, regulation of body temp, appetite, blood pressure. Interface b/w nervous and endocrine system , regulation of sexual motivation/behavior

69
Q

reticular formation

A

centered in midbrain, sleep/wake cycyle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity

70
Q

substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area (VTA)

A

midbrain region that contain cell bodies that produce neurotransmitter dopamine, critical for movement, mood, reward, addiction

71
Q

hinbrain

A

contains medulla, pons, cerebellum

72
Q

medulla

A

controls the automatic processes of the autonomic nervous system, breathing bp, hr

73
Q

pons

A

connects hindbrain to rest of brain. regulates brain activity during sleep

74
Q

cerebellum

A

receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear to control balance, coordination, movement and moter skills. also procedural memory

75
Q

computerized tomography scan

A

involves taking a number of x-rays of a particular section of a person’s body or brain.

76
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans =

A

create pictures of the living active brain.

77
Q

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

a person is placed inside a machine that generates a strong magnetic field.

78
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

shows changes in brain activity over time by tracking blood flow and oxygen levels

79
Q

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

measures brain electrical activitiy

80
Q

endocrine system

A

consists of a series of glands that produce hormones

81
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers that must bind to a receptor in order to send their signal. secreted into bloodstream.

82
Q

pituitary gland

A

decends from hypothalamus. “master gland” messenger hormones control all other glands in endocrine system. carries out instruction from hypothalamus, secretes growht hormone, endorphins

83
Q

thyroid gland

A

releases hormones that regulate growth, metabolism and appetite

84
Q

adrenal glands

A

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

85
Q

pancreas

A

internal organ that secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar levels: insulin and glucagon

86
Q

gonads

A

secrete sexual hormones (female= ovaries, male =testes)

Psychology 2e Key Terms (7 decks)

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