Chapter 3 The biological bases of behavior Flashcards
What are the key parts of the neuron?
Soma-cell body, dendrites- receives information, Axon- fibers that carries signals away from the soma, Myelin Sheath - insulating material that encases the axons. Terminal buttons - small knobs, that releases neurotransmitters at synapses.
What does the Glial cell do?
provides support for neurons and contributes to signaling in the nervous system
what is a resting potential?
negative charge when inactive, neuron is stable.
What is an action potential?
voltage spike that travels along an axon
What is an absolute refractory period?
brief time after an action potential, before another action potential can begin
What is the all or nothing law?
a neuron either fires or doesn’t fire
what is the first steps to synaptic transmission?
synthesis, transportation, and storage of neurotransmitters in synaptic vesicles.
What is the second step to synaptic transmission?
Release of neurotransmitters into synaptic cleft
What is the fourth step in the synaptic transmission?
Binding of neurotransmitters at receptor sites leads to excitatory and inhibitory PSPs. Some neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the same neuron that released them. This is called autoreceptor activation.
What are the last two steps pf synaptic transmission?
inactivation or removal - drifting away of neurotransmitters
reuptake - of neurotransmitters by presynaptic neuron.
What does Acetylcholine do to neurotransmitters and behavior?
released by neurons that control skeletal muscles
What does serotonin do to neurotransmitters and behavior?
involved in the regulation of sleep and arousal, and aggression, abnormal levels linked to depression.
What does dopamine do to neurotransmitters and behavior?
Abnormal levels linked to schizophrenia, dopamine circuits activated by cocaine and amphetamines.
What does Norepinephrine do to neurotransmitters and behavior?
Abnormal levels linked to depression, norepinephrine circuits can be activated by cocaine and amphetamines.
What does GABA do to neurotransmitters and behavior?
inhibitory transmitter that contributes to regulation of anxiety.
What does Endorphins do to neurotransmitters and behavior?
opiate like chemicals involved in modulation of pain.
Central nervous system has two parts, what are they?
Brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral nervous system, what are the two parts?
somatic nervous system - nerves to voluntary muscles, sensory receptors and autonomic nervous system - nerves to heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, glands.
What are two parts of the somatic nervous system?
Afferent- incoming nerves Efferent - outgoing nerves
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic division - mobilizes bodily resources
Parasympathetic division - conserves bodily resources
What are the three parts of the brain in the hindbrain?
Cerebellum - coordinates fine muscle movement, balance.
Medulla - regulates unconscious functions such as breathing and circulation.
Pons - involved in sleep and arousal
What does the midbrain do?
involved in locating things in space, dopamine synthesis.
What parts of the brain is in the forebrain?
Cerebrum - handles complex mental activities such as learning, thinking, planning.
Thalamus - relay center for cortex, incoming sensory signals, except smell.
Limbic system - loosely connected network that contributes to emotion, memory, motivation, and reward.
Hypothalamus - regulates basic biological needs, such as hunger, thirst, sex.
What are the 4 lobes of the brain?
Frontal lobes - primary motor cortex
Parietal lobes - primary somato sensory cortex (touch, temperature)
Temporal lobes - primary auditory cortex
Occipital lobes - primary vision cortex
What are the limbic system 2 parts of the brain?
Hippocampus - memory
Amygdala - learning of fear responses.
What are the research methods for studying the brain behavior?
electric stimulation and MRI, fMRI scans
What is the spilt brain surgery?
Bundle of fibers (corpus callosum) that connects two hemispheres is severed
What is perceptual asymmetries?
left right imbalances in the speed of processing are studied in normal subjects.
what does the left hemisphere do?
verbal processing, including language, speech, writing.
What does the right hemisphere do?
non verbal hemisphere, musical processing, and visual recognition tasks.
What are the basic concepts of heredity and behavior?
Chromosomes - threadlike strains of DNA that carry info
Genes - DNA segments that are the key functional units in heredity transmissions.
Closer relatives share greater genetic overlap
most behavioral traits appear to involve polygenic inheritance
What are the research methods for heredity and behavior?
family studies assess trait resemblance among blood relatives
twin studies compare trait resemblance of identical or fraternal twins.
adoption studies compare adopted children to their adoptive parents and biological parents
CRISPRS are a natural part of our immune system, modified genomes.
What is the endocrine system?
- system consists of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream in a pulsatile fashion.
- governed by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, the endocrine system regulates our response to stress.
- recent research suggests that the hormone oxytocin fosters bonding and influences social behavior
What are Darwin’s insights in evolutionary bases of behavior?
organisms vary in endless ways
some traits are heritable
variations in hereditary traits might affect organisms survival and reproductive success.
heritable traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage will become more prevalent over generations
What are Darwin’s key concepts?
fitness - refers to the reproductive success of an organism relative to the population.
adaptations - are inherited characteristics sculpted through natural selection b/c they helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction when they emerged.
What are some behaviors as adaptive traits ?
- species typical patterns of behavior often reflect evolutionary solutions to adaptive problems.
- for example, behavioral strategies that help organisms avoid predators have obvious adaptive value.
- many behavioral adaptations improve organisms chances of reproductive success.
