Midterm Flashcards
seeks to understand the biochemical processes behind the behavior of all living creatures.
Biopsychology
process of transmission of genetic characteristics from the parent to the offspring
heredity
life begins at-
conception (union of sperm and egg)
chromosomes comes from Greek words meaning-
colored bodies
rope-like structures found in the nucleus of the cell; contain thousands of genes
chromosomes
Each chromosome in the zygote’s nucleus carries thousands of even smaller particles -
genes
basic unit of heredity
gene
genes are composed of-
DNA
human cell conatins _ chromosomes
46
carrier of hereditary information within the genes
DNA
instructions of DNA are carried out by-
RNA
Principles of Heredity
Principle of Chance Principle of Dominance and Recessiveness Sex-Linked Traits Principle of Reproduction Principle of Variation
sex chromosomes
pair 23
located at the rear of the skull, is the lowest portion of the brain
hindbrain
3 main parts of hindbrain
medulla, cerebellum, pons
begins where the spinal cord enters the skull
medulla
function of medulla
helps control breathing and regulates a portion of the feglexes that allow us to maintain an upright posture
extends from the rear of the hindbrain and is located above the medulla
consists of two rounded structures thought to play important roles in motor control
leg and arm movement are coordinated here
cerebellum
a bridge in the hindbrain that contains several clusters of fibers involved in sleep and arousal
pons
located between hindbrain and forebrain
an area where many nerve fiber systems ascend and descend to connect the higher and lower portions of the brain.
midbrain
function of midbrain
relays information between brain and the eyes and ears
ability to attend to an object visually
is a diffuse collection of neurons involved in stereotyped behavior such as walking, sleeping or orienting to sudden noise
reticular formation
nerve fibers originate in _____ and terminate at _______
thalamus
small groups of neurons in the midbrain that send their axons to a remarkable variety of brain regions
involved in high-level integrative functions
basal ganglia
three parts of hindbrain
medulla
cerebellum
pons
structures of forebrain
thalamus hypothalamus endocrine system limbic system cerebrum
about the size of a peach pit and sits at the top of the brain stem in the central core of the brain
thalamus
function of thalamus
serves as a very important relay station, functioning much like a telephone switchboard between the diverse areas of the cortex and the reticular formation
much smaller than the thalamus and about the size of a kidney bean/pea, located just below thalamus
hypothalamus
functions of hypothalamus
monitors three enjoyable activities- eating, drinking, sex
helps direct endocrine system through pituitary gland
emotion, stress, reward
master switchboard
hypothalamus
master gland
pituitary gland
loosely connected network of structures under the cerebral cortex; plays important roles in both memory and emotion
limbic system
two principal structures of limbic system:
amygdala
hippocampus
involved in emotion and in the discrimination of objects that are important in the organism’s survival
includes appropriate food, mates, social rivals
amygdala
has a special role in the storage of memories
hippocampus
other name of cerebral cortex
cerebrum
largest part of the brain in volume and covers the lower portions of the brain like a large cap
cerebrum
cortex comes from Latin word for
bark
thickness of cerebral cortex
2-6 mm
right and left sides of the cerebral cortex are connected by a thick band of nerve fibers called
corpus callosum
bump or bulge on the cortex
gyrus
groove
sulcus
functions of cerebral cortex
thought voluntary movement language reasoning perception
cerebellum comes from Latin word
little brain
located behind the brain stem
cerebellum
functions of cerebellum
movement
balance
posture
general term for the area of the brain between the thalamus and spinal cord
brain stem
structures of brain stem
medulla pons tectum reticular formation tegmentum
functions of brain stem
breathing
heart rate
blood pressure