Definitions Flashcards
biological modifications that enhanced survival in varying challenging environments
adaptions
long-term evolutionary causes of physical and behavioral characteristics
ultimate causes
short-term causes of behavior, such as hormonal secretions or an unexpected loud noise
proximal causes
varying observable, physical characteristics such as shape and color; these characteristics are known as ______
phenotypes
rules of heridible transmission
alleles
organisms with the same alleles (both dominant or recessive)
homozygous
organisms with different alleles (one dominant, one recessive)
heterozygous
Chromosomes are made up of
DNA
the study of tissues under a microscope
histology
prominent cell body
soma
dendrites and axons
extend from the soma
most abundant type of glial cell
astrocytes
bipolar neurons also called spindle cells, located in the anterior cingulate cortical area and frontoinsular cortical area
von Economo neuron
____ is composed of a double layer of phospholipids, isolates the inner cell from the outer cell
cell membrane
pores in the neuronal cell membrane
ion channels
ion channels that open and close based on environment
gated ion channels
_____ contains hydrophobic lipid tails and hydrophilic phosphate heads
cell membrane
regulated by sodium and potassium ions
membrane potential
make a membrane less negatively charged
depolarization
make membrane more negative
hyperpolarization
a membrane’s typical resting potential is _____
-70 millivolts
once an action potential is set in motion, the membrane depolarizes to
40 millivolts
the sodium ions are _______ meaning they open and close based on membrane potential
voltage gated ion channels
jumping from one unmyelinated section of action to another
saltatory conduction
the process by which a neuron communicates with another neuron or neurons across a synapse
synaptic transmission
neurochemicals
neurotransmitters
contains receptors for the specific neurotransmitter released by the synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic membrane
the postsynaptic membrane
axon terminal aka _____
presynaptic terminal
small spheres surrounding the presynaptic terminal, surrounded by membranes
synaptic vesicles
the release of neurotransmitters from the vesicles is known as _____
exocytosis
If the neurotransmitter–receptor binding makes the mem-brane potential depolarized (with an influx of sodium ions into the membrane), it produces an ____
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
When a ligand binds to a metabotropic receptor, the receptor activates a protein called a
G-Protein
Postsynaptic receptors that alter the membrane poten-tial immediately on binding to neurotransmitters are called
ionotropic receptors
Chemicals that bind to other chemicals are known as
ligands
neurotrophic factors
nerve growth factors
connexons align perfectly to form a ______ where electrical currents can be exchanged between two cells
gap junction
the same neurons fire when doing/observing
mirror neurons
cabled axons within the CNS
tracts
cabled axons extending beyond the CNS
nerves
afferent nerves
sensory nerves
efferent nerves
motor nerves
Cranial Nerve X
The Vagus nerve, extends to the bodies internal organs
Each spinal nerve travels to a distinct area of skin, or ________
dermatome
_______ nervous system, generally controls voluntary movement
somatic nervous system
rostral or anterior
towards the front or mouth
caudal or posterior
towards the tail
dorsal
towards the top or back
ventral
towards the bottom or chest
medial
towards the middle
lateral
towards the side
proximal
closer to the CNS
distal
further from the CNS
Medulla Oblongata (myelencephalon)
most ventral part of the brain
brain bulges
gyri
brain grooves
sulci
the difference in function between the two hemispheres is called brain _______
lateralization
glucocorticoids
stress hormones
neuroethology
neural basis of natural responses
mechanism in which genes can be modified by the addition of a methyl chemical compound to the cytosine nucleotide base in DNA
DNA methylation
pluripotent cells (also called stem cells)
able to become many different kinds of cell types
apoptosis
cell death
absolute threshold
the lowest intensity of a stimulus that a person can detect 50% of the time
superadditive response
an integrated response much stronger than any of its components
the conversion of physical energy to neural energy
transduction
a receptor in the skin that responds to touch or pressure.
mechanoreceptor
the ability to sense the position, orientation, and movement of one’s own body is known as
proprioception
