Unit 1- Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
Heredity
the passing down of traits from parents to offspring through genetic information, essentially meaning the biological process of inheriting characteristics from one generation to the next via genes
Synapse
The meeting point between neurons where neurotransmitters are released
Reuptake
The sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitters.
Endorphins
-Brains own naturally occurring opiates. -Several types of neurotransmitter molecules similar to morphine in response to pain and vigorous exercise -“Good feelings” or painkillers
Endocrine System
The body’s “slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues
Pituitary gland
-Master gland of the Endocrine system -Influences the release of hormones in other glands -Releases hormones that influence growth
Somatic Nervous System
The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs such as the heart. Operates autonomously.
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.
Acetylcholine
is one of the best-understood neurotransmitters. In addition to its role in learning and memory, ACh is the messenger at every junction between a motor neuron and skeletal muscle. When ACh is released to our muscle cell receptors, the muscle contracts. If ACh transmission is blocked, as happens during some kinds of anesthesia, the muscles cannot contract and we are paralyzed.
Threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Lesion
Selectively destroying small clusters of normal or defective cells in the brain.
EEG
An amplified readout of electrical pulses while your brain is at work. Commonly used in sleep studies.
Central Nervous System
Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
The nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord
Axon
The long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells
Myelin Sheath
A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body
Dopamine
a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger in the brain, primarily associated with feelings of pleasure, reward, motivation, and movement, playing a key role in the brain’s reward system; its release is often triggered by pleasurable activities like eating, sex, or achieving a goal.
Serotonin
a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in regulating mood, sleep, appetite, and overall emotional well-being, with low levels often associated with depression and other mood disorders
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. Neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.
Action Potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.
Corpus callosum
Axon fibers connecting the two cerebral cortex
Cerebellum
The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.
Hypothalamus
Controls the endocrine system, as well as metabolic functions like libido, body temperature, hunger, and thirst
Medulla
The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.
Brainstem
The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal core swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions.
Left hemisphere
Controls right side of the body, responsible for logic, speech and mathematical thinking
fMRI (Functional MRI)
Produces a live image monitoring blood flow. Shows brain function.
Temporal Lobe
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
Brain plasticity
The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Limbic system
border (“limbus”) between the brain’s older parts and the cerebral hemispheres— the two halves of the brain
Amygdala
Influence aggression and fear
Cerebral cortex
The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.
Right Hemisphere
-Controls left side of the body -spatial tasks, creative tasks, integrating sense of self, detecting emotions
Motor cortex
At the rear of frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement.
Sensory cortex
Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensation.
Identical Twins
Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.
Fraternal Twins
Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs, they are genetically not closer than brothers and sisters, but they share fetal environment.
Parietal lobe
The home of somatosensory processing of sensations in the skin and muscles of the body
Occipital lobe
Home of the visual processing
Hippocampus
Involved in the transfer of memories from short term/working memory into long-term memory.
Wernicke’s Area
Controls language reception-a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.
Neuron
Individual nerve cell
Sensory Neuron
Carry messages from the body’s tissues to the brain and spinal cord
Motor Neuron
Carry messages from the brain and spinal cord to the body’s tissues
Interneurons
The brain’s internal communication neurons
Reticular activating system
Midbrain region that controls bodily arousal and our ability to focus
Thalamus
Our brain’s sensory relay station, receives information from our senses and sends it to the appropriate areas
Frontal Lobe
Our brain’s executive functioning center. Responsible for reasoning and emotional control
Broca’s Area
Area of the brain that allows us to move our muscles to produce speech, damage would lead to difficulty pronouncing words
Insomnia
Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The suffer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.
Sleep Apnea
A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings. Obesity is a risk factor. Treated with a CPAP machine.
Depressants
Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.
Alcohol
A depressant drug, calms neural activity and slows body functions.
Stimulants
Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.
Caffeine
A stimulant drug, the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance.
Amphetamine
Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing sped up body functions and associated energy and mood changes.
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
A machine that records rapid eye movement and brain wave patterns. It’s used to study sleep patterns.
Hypnagogic Sensations
Occurs in stage 1 of sleep. It’s when your body may suddenly jerk or when your floating weightlessly. These sensations may later be converted into memories.
NREM Stage 2 Sleep
Sleep spindles appear on EEG and you start to relax more deeply during this stage.
NREM Stage 3 Sleep
Your brain emits large, slow delta waves. You are hard to awaken during this stage. Bed wetting and sleep walking are most likely to occur in this stage.
Consciousness
Awareness of ourselves and our environment. Examples: States of Consciesness Sleep, wake, altered states (drugs, daydreaming, hypnosis)
Circadian Rhythms
Biological clock, regular body rhythms
Sleep
Periodic, natural loss of consciousness. Not the same as unconsciousness in coma or hibernation.
REM Sleep
Dream sleep (vivid dreams) Rapid eye movement sleep Muscles are relaxed while other body systems are active
Activation-synthesis theory
Neural activity is random, and dreams are our brains trying to understand it.
Somnambulism (sleepwalking)
Performing motor acts while sleeping and then not remembering when you awaken. Happens during deep sleep (NREM stage 3)
REM Rebound
The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.
Psychoactive drugs
A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods