key terms chapter 3 Flashcards
1
Q
alleles
A
- two or more different forms of a gene
- dominant or recessive, can inherit 2 of the same (2D 2R, homozygous) or (1D 1R, heterozygous)
- if heterozygous, dominant allele will be expressed
2
Q
arborization
A
- formation of new dendritic trees and branches
3
Q
association areas
A
- parts of the brain that lie between the major sensory and motor areas
- process and integrates information
4
Q
axons
A
- neural fibres that conduct electrical signals away from the cell body to connections with other neurons
5
Q
cell body
A
- component of the neuron that contains the basic biological material that keeps the neuron functioning
6
Q
cerebral cortex
A
- the grey matter of the brain
- 4 distinct lobes
7
Q
cerebral hemispheres
A
- the 2 halves of the cortex
8
Q
cerebral lateralization
A
- specialization of the hemispheres of the brain for different modes of processing
9
Q
chromosomes
A
- molecules of DNA that transmit genetic information
- 23 from each gamete, 46 total in a human
10
Q
corpus callosom
A
- dense tract of nerve fibres that enable the 2 hemispheres of the brain to communicate
11
Q
dendrites
A
- neural fibres that receive input from other cells, conduct it toward the cell body in the form of electrical impulses
12
Q
DNA
A
- deoxyribonucleic acid
- molecules that carry all the biochemical instructions involved in the formation and functioning of an organism
13
Q
dominant allele
A
- allele if present gets expressed
14
Q
endophenotypes
A
- intermediate phenotypes, including the brain and nervous system
- do not involve overt behaviour, underlying traits/markers not yet expressed
15
Q
environment
A
- every aspect of individuals and their surroundings other than genes
16
Q
epigenetics
A
- study of changes in gene expression mediated by the environment
17
Q
experience-dependent plasticity
A
- process through which neural connections are created and reorganized throughout life as a function of an individual’s experiences
18
Q
experience-expectant plasticity
A
- process through which the normal wiring of the brain occurs in part as a result of species typical experiences
- expected to happen at different stages of development
19
Q
frontal lobe
A
- major area of the cortex
- working memory and cognitive control
20
Q
genes
A
- sections of chromosomes that are the basic unit of heredity in all living things
21
Q
genome
A
- complete set of DNA of any organism
- all its genes
22
Q
genotype
A
- the genetic material an individual inherits
23
Q
glial cells
A
- cells in the brain that provide a variety of critical support functions
- formation of the myelin sheath
- protect the brain, aid regeneration
24
Q
heritability
A
- statistical estimate of the proportion of the measured variance on a trait among individuals in a given population
- attributable to genetic differences among those individuals
25
Q
heritable
A
- characteristics or traits that are genetically transmitted
26
Q
mutation
A
- change in a section of DNA
27
Q
myelin sheath
A
- fatty sheath that forms around certain axons in the body
- increases the speed and efficiency of information transmission
28
Q
myelination
A
- formation of myelin around the axons of neurons
29
Q
neurogenesis
A
- proliferation of neurons through cell division
30
Q
neurons
A
- cells that are specialized for sending and receiving messages between the brain and all other parts of the body as well as the brain itself
31
Q
occipital lobe
A
- major area of the cortex
- processing visual information
32
Q
parietal lobe
A
- major area of the cortex
- spatial processing and sensory information
33
Q
phenotype
A
- the observable expression of the genotype
- including both body characteristics and behaviour
34
Q
plasticity
A
- capacity of the brain to be affected by experience
35
Q
polygenic inheritance
A
- inheritance pattern in which traits are governed by more than one gene
36
Q
recessive allele
A
- allele not expressed if a dominant allele is present
37
Q
regulator genes
A
- genes that control the activity of other genes
38
Q
secular trends
A
- marked changes in physical development that have occurred across generations
39
Q
sex chromosomes
A
- X and Y chromosomes that determine an individuals assigned sex at birth
40
Q
spines
A
- formation of the dendrites on neurons increasing the dendrites capacity to form connections with other neurons
41
Q
synapses
A
- microscopic junctions between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendritic branches/cell body of another
42
Q
synaptic pruning
A
- normal developmental process through which synapses that are rarely activated are eliminated
43
Q
synaptogenesis
A
- process by which neurons form synapses with other neurons
- resulting in trillions of connections
44
Q
temporal lobe
A
- major area of the cortex
- speech, language, music, emotion
