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Psychology 3 > The Biology Of Behavior > Flashcards

The Biology Of Behavior Flashcards

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0
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

A large molecule that contains genes.

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1
Q

Chromosome

A

Coiled-up thread of DNA

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2
Q

Genes

A

Small segments of DNA that contain information for producing proteins.

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3
Q

Genome

A

All the genetic information in DNA.

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4
Q

Dominant genes

A

Genes that show their effect even if there is only one allele for that trait in the pair.

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5
Q

Recessive genes

A

Genes that show their effects only when both alleles are the same.

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6
Q

Behavioral genetics

A

The scientific study of the role of heredity in behavior.

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7
Q

Heritability

A

The extent to which a characteristic is influenced by genetics

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8
Q

Fraternal twins

A

Twins that develop from two different eggs fertilized by two different sperm.

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9
Q

Identical twins

A

Twins that develop from a single fertilized egg that split into two independent cells.

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10
Q

Twin-adoption study

A

Research into heredity influence on twins, both identical and fraternal, who were raised apart (adopted) and who were raised together.

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11
Q

Gene-by-environmental interaction research

A

Method of studying heritability by comparing genetic markers; allows researchers to assess how genetic differences interact with environment to produce certain behaviors in some people but not in others.

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12
Q

Central nervous system

A

The part of the nervous system that comprises the brain and spinal cord

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13
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

The part of the nervous system that comprises all the nerves cells in the body outside the central nervous system.

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14
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

Nerve cells of the peripheral nervous system that transmit sensory information to the central nervous system (CNS) and those that transmit information from the CNS to the skeletal muscles.

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15
Q

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

All the nerves of the peripheral nervous system that serve involuntary systems of the body, such as the internal organs and glands.

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16
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that activates bodily systems in times of emergency

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17
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system yah usually relaxes or returns the body to a less active, restful state

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18
Q

Glial cells

A

Central nervous system cells that provide structural support, promote efficient communications between neurons, and serve as scavengers, removing cellular debris.

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19
Q

Neurons

A

The cells that process and transmit information in the nervous system

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20
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemicals that transmit information between neurons.

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21
Q

Soma

A

The cell body of the neuron.

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22
Q

Axon

A

Long projection that extends from a neuron’s soma; it transmit electrical impulses toward the adjacent neuron and stimulates the release of neurotransmitters.

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23
Q

Dendrites

A

Fingerlike projections from a neuron’s soma that receive incoming messages from other neurons.

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24
Q

Myelin sheath

A

The fatty substance wrapped around some axons, which insulates the axon, making the nerve impulse travel more efficiently.

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25
Q

Synapse

A

The junction between an axon and the adjacent neuron, where information is transmitted from one neuron to another.

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26
Q

Terminal buttons

A

Little knobs at the end of axon that contain tiny sacs of neurotransmitters.

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27
Q

Sensory neurons

A

Nerve cells that receive incoming sensory information from the sense organs

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28
Q

Motor neurons

A

Nerve cells that carry commands for movement from the brain to the muscles of the body

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29
Q

Mirror cells

A

Nerve cells that are active when we observe others performing an action as well as when we are performing the same action

30
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons that communicate only with other neurons

31
Q

Action potential

A

The impulse of positive charge that runs down an axon

32
Q

Ions

A

Chemically charged particles that predominate in bodily fluids; found both inside and outside cells.

33
Q

Resting potential

A

The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of the axon when the neurons is at rest

34
Q

Enzymatic degradation

A

A way of removing excess neurotransmitter from the synapse in which enzymes specific for that neurotransmitter bind with the neurotransmitter and destroy it.

35
Q

Synaptic vesicles

A

Tiny sacs in the terminal buttons that contains neurotransmitters

36
Q

Reuptake

A

A way of removing excess neurotransmitter from the synapse, in which excess neurotransmitter is returned to the sending, or presynaptic, neuron for storage in vesicles and future use.

37
Q

Graded potentials

A

Small changes in membrane potential that by themselves are insufficient to trigger an action potential

38
Q

Glutamate

A

A major excitatory neurotransmitter I the brain that increases the likelihood gat a postsynaptic neuron will fire; important in learning, memory, neural processing, and brain development

39
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

A neurotransmitter that controls muscles movement and plays a role in mental processes such as learning, memory, attention, sleeping, and dreaming.

40
Q

Dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter released in response to behaviors that feel good or are rewarding to the person or animal; also involved in voluntary motor control.

41
Q

epinephrine

A

also known as adrenaline, a neurotransmitter that arouses bodily systems (such as increasing heart rate).

42
Q

norepinephrine

A

a neurotransmitter that activates the sympathetic response to stress, increasing heart rate, rate of respiration, and blood pressure in support of rapid action.

43
Q

serotonin

A

a neurotransmitter with wide-ranging effects: involved in dreaming and in controlling emotional states, especially anger, anxiety, and depression.

44
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that tells postsynaptic neurons not to fire; it slows CNS activity and is necessary to regulate and control neural activity.

45
Q

medulla

A

a hindbrain structure that extends directly from the spinal cord; regulates breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

46
Q

reflexes

A

inborn and involuntary behaviors- such as coughing, swallowing, sneezing, or vomiting- that are elicited by very specific stimuli.

47
Q

Pons

A

a hindbrain structure that serves as a bridge between lower brain regions and higher midbrain and forebrain activity.

48
Q

cerebellum

A

a hindbrain structure involved in body movement, balance, coordination, fine-tuning motor skills, and cognitive activities such as learning and language.

49
Q

reticular formation

A

a network of nerve fibers that runs up through both the hindbrain and the midbrain; it is crucial to waking up and falling asleep.

50
Q

thalamus

A

a forebrain structure that receives information from the senses and relays it to the cerebral cortex for processing.

51
Q

hypothalamus

A

a limbic structure; the master regulator of almost all major drives and motives we have, such as hunger, thirst, temperature, and sexual behavior; also controls the pituitary gland.

52
Q

hippocampus

A

a limbic structure that wraps itself around the thalamus; plays a vital role in learning and memory.

53
Q

amygdala

A

small, almond-shaped structure located directly in front of the hippocampus; has connections with many important brain regions and is important for processing emotional information, especially that related to fear.

54
Q

cingulate gyrus

A

beltlike structure in the middle of the brain that plays an important role in attention and cognitive control.

55
Q

basal ganglia

A

a collection of structures surrounding the thalamus involved in voluntary motor control.

56
Q

cerebrum

A

each of the large halves of the brain that are covered with convolutions, or folds.

57
Q

cerebral cortex

A

thin outer layer of the cerebrum, in which much of human thought, planning, perception, and consciousness takes place.

58
Q

insula

A

small structure inside the cerebrum that plays an important role in the perception of bodily sensations, emotional states, empathy, and addictive behavior.

59
Q

corpus callosum

A

nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain.

60
Q

aphasia

A

deficit in the ability to speak or comprehend language.

61
Q

Broca’s area

A

area in the left frontal lobe responsible for the ability to produce speech.

62
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

an area deep in the left temporal lobe responsible for the ability to speak in meaningful sentences and to comprehend the meaning of speech.

63
Q

neuroplasticity

A

the brain’s ability to adopt new functions, reorganize itself, or make new neural connections throughout life, as a function of experience.

64
Q

neurogenesis

A

the development of new neurons.

65
Q

arborization

A

the growth and formation of new dendrites.

66
Q

synaptogenesis

A

the formation of entirely new synapses or connections with other neurons.

67
Q

electroencephalography (EEG)

A

a method for measuring brain activity in which the electrical activity of the brain is recorded from electrodes placed on a person’s scalp.

68
Q

event-related potential (ERP)

A

a special technique that extracts electrical activity from raw EEG data to measure cognitive processes.

69
Q

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

brain imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of the structure of the brain and other soft tissues.

70
Q

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

brain imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of activity in areas of the brain and other soft tissues.

71
Q

positron emission tomography (PET)

A

brain imaging technique that measures blood flow to active areas in the brain. indicate which areas are active during certain stimuli.

72
Q

synaptic cleft

A

Gap between axon and…

73
Q

inhibitory

A

messages that reduce the likelihood of an action potential in a neighboring neuron.

Psychology 3 (4 decks)

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