Test 4, Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
Placisticity
the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
amygdala
lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
hypothalamus
below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp) and is linked to reward
hippocampus
helps process explicit memories for storage
Pituitary Gland
regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands
Corpus Callosum
the large band of neural fibers connects the two brain hemispheres and carries messages between them
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.
Sperry
He theorized about the chemicals and axons in the brain. He severed the corpus callosum of a few cats (dividing their brains in two). Found that the brains function separately if not communicating.
Gazzinga
Found that the two halves of the brain have numerous functions and specialized skills. Concluded that each hemisphere really has its own functions.
- Flashed He-ART on a screen, then spoke art but pointed to he.
cerebral cortex
the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center
glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; also play a role in learning and thinking.
Frontal lobe
Just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
Parietal Lobe
Top of the head and toward the back; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
Occipital Lobe
The back of the head; includes areas that receive information from visual fields.
Temporal lobe
Roughly above the ears; includes auditory areas, each receiving information from the opposite ear.
Motor cortex
area at the rear of the frontal loves that controls voluntary movements (contains a left and right side)
Somatosensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal loves that registers and processes body touch and movement sensation (contains a left and right side)
Broca’s area
a region in the frontal love of the dominant hemisphere, usually the left, of the brain with functions linked to speech production
Wernicke’s area
region of the brain that contains motor neurons involved in the comprehension of speech
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in high mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
neuron
transmit messages when stimulated by signals from our senses or when triggered by chemical signs from neighboring neurons.
dendrites
receives messages and conducts impulses toward the cell body
axon
passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscle glands
myelin sheath
enables faster transmission speed
refractory period
threshold
synapse
the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers
central nervous system
The body’s speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
peripheral nervous system
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
sensory neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
motor neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
somatic nervous system
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles (also called the skeletal nervous system)
autonomic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart)
sympathetic
Division arouses and expends energy if something alarms or challenges you, your sympathetic nervous system will accelerate your heartbeat, raise your blood pressure, slow you digestion, raise your blood sugar, and cool you with perspiration, making you alert and ready for action.
Lesion
tissue destruction, a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
EEG
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
MRI
A technique that uses magnetic field and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
fMRI
a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scabs show brain function as well as its structure.
Medulla/pons
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
Pons
just above the medulla, helps coordinate movements
Thalamus
the brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
Reticular formation
nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.
responsibilities of the left brain
the left brain has analytical, speech, and writing roles.
responsibility of the right brain
the right brain has creative roles
agonist
stimulates response
antagonist
blocks a response
