Unit 1 - Biological Bases of Behavior Part 1 Flashcards
Adrenal Gland
Sits upon kidneys and produces hormones related to stress response.
Action Potential
Electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon.
Agonist
Drug that mimics or strengthens the effects a neurotransmitter.
All-or-none Principle
Incoming neuron signals are exclusively either sufficient or insufficient to meet the threshold of excitement.
Allele
A specific version of a gene.
Amyglada
Structure in the limbic system involved in the emotion and the association of memories with emotion.
Antagonist
Drug that inhibits neurotransmitters
Auditory Cortex
Strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information.
Autonomic Nervous System
Controls internal organs and glands
Axon
Major extension of the soma
Biological Perspective
Psychological perspective that views mental disorders as purely imbalances in neurotransmitters.
Broca’s Area
Region in the left hemisphere used for language production.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain and Spinal Chord
Cerebellum
Hindbrain structure that controls balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills. It may be important for processing certain types of memories.
Cerebral Cortex
Surface of the brain associated with the highest level of cognitive ability.
Chromosome
A long strand of genetic information.
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
Imaging technique where a computer generates and combines multiple x-ray images of a given area.
Corpus Callosum
Thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s hemispheres.
Dendrite
Branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons
Dominant Allele
Allele that is expressed in phenotype.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Recording electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp.
Endocrine System
Series of glands that produce hormones
Epigenetics
Study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype can lead to different phenotypes.
Fight or Flight Response
Activation of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system which produces adrenaline.
Forebrain
Largest part of the brain. It contains:
- The cerebral cortex
- The thalamus
- The limbic System
Fraternal Twins
Twins that develop from separate eggs, meaning they have different genetic material.
Frontal Lobe
Part of the cerebral cortex involved in motor control, reasoning, emotion, and language. It contains the motor cortex.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Shows change in metabolic activity over time.
Gene
Sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical features.
Genetic Environmental Correlation
View of gene and environment relationship that asserts genes affect environment and vice versa.
Genotype
The genetic makeup of an organism.
Glial Cell
Nervous system that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport.
Gonad
Secrets sex horomes.
Gyrus (plural: Gyri)
Bump/ridge on cerebral cortex.
Hemisphere
Left/right side of the brain.
Heterozygous
Consisting of two distinct alleles.
Hindbrain
Division of the brain consisting of:
- Medulla
- Pons
- Cerebellum
Hippocampus
Structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory.
Homeostasis
State of equilibrium, where biological processes are held at an optimal level.
Homozygous
Consisting of two identical alleles.
Hormone
Chemical messenger released by endocrine glands
Hypothalamus
Forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation, behavior, and many homeostatic processes. Intersection point of nervous and endocrine system.
Identical Twins
Twins that develop from the same sperm and egg and thus have very similar genetic makeup.
Lateralization
Concept that each hemisphere of the brain has specific functions.
Limbic System
Collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory.
Longitudinal Fissure
Deep groove in the brain’s cortex.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged.
Medulla
Hindbrain structure that controls automated processes.
Membrane Potential
Difference in charge across the neuronal membrane.
Midbrain
Division of the brain located between the forebrain and hindbrain; contains the reticular formation.
Motor Cortex
Strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement.
Mutation
Sudden, permanent change in a gene.
Myelin Sheath
Fatty substance that insulates axons.
Nervous System
Split into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Neuron
Cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors.
Neuroplasticity
The ability for the nervous system to change.
Neurotransmitter
Chemical messenger of the nervous system
Nodes of Ranvier
Open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon.
Occipital Lobe
Part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains primary visual cortex.
Pancreas
Secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Associated with routine day to day operations in the body.
Parietal Lobe
Part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Connects the brain and spinal chord to the muscles, organs, and senses in the periphery of the body.
Phenotype
Individual’s inheritable physical characteristics.
Pituitary Gland
Secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body and many messenger hormones that direct activity of other glands in the endocrine system.
Polygenic
Multiple genes affecting a given trait.
Pons
Hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal chord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan
A process where individuals are injected with a mildly radioactive substance and subsequent change sin blood flow to different regions of the brain is monitored.
Prefrontal Cortex
Area of the frontal lobe responsible for higher level cognitive functioning.
Psychotropic Medication
Drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance.
Range of Reaction
Asserts our genes set boundaries in which an individual can operate and that the environment interacts with the genes to determine in what range the individual can operate in.
Receptor
Protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach.
Recessive Allele
Allele whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that allele.
Resting Potential
The state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals
Reticular Formation
Midbrain structure important for regulating the sleep cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity.
Reuptake
Neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it.
Semipermeable Membrane
Cell membrane that prevents large and/or highly charged molecules from passing, while allowing smaller and/or non-charged molecules to pass.
Soma
Cell body
Somatic Nervous System
Relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS.
Somatosensory Cortex
Processes sensory information from the body.
Substantia Nigra
Midbrain structure that produces dopamine.
Sulcus (Plural: Sulci)
Depressions/grooves in the cerebral cortex.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Involved in stress related functions.
Synaptic Cleft
Small gap between two neurons where communication occurs.
Synaptic Vesicle
Storage sight for neurotransmitters.
Temporal Lobe
Part of the cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language; contains the auditory cortex.
Terminal Button
Axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles.
Thalamus
Sensory relay for the brain.
Threshold of Excitation
Level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active
Thyroid
Secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite.
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)
Midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; associated with mood, reward, and addiction.
Wernicke’s Area
Important for speech comprehension.
