Unit 1 VOCAB Flashcards
Nature-Nurture Issue
technique to obs. behaviors based on hereditary gene and experiences
Charles Darwin
the biologist that studied evolution of finch birds and dev. the theory/statement of natural selection
Natural Selection
evolution/extinction based on survival of the fittest
Evolutionary Psychology
Study of evolution of behavior and mind by principles of natural selection
Behavior Genetics
Relative power & limits of genetic & environmental influences on behavior
Mutation
Random error in genetic replication which causes a change
Environment
Every nongenetic influence (ex: nutrition or ppl. around us)
Heredity
Genetic transfer from parent to offspring
Genome
Biochemical units of heredity
Identical (monozygotic) twins
Dev. from single fertile egg and split on two to create two genetically identical orgs.
Fraternal (dizygotic) twins
Dev. from two fertile eggs and have the same gene connection as regular sibs
Interaction
interplay that occurs when effect of one factor(environment) depends on another (heredity)
Epigenetics
“above” or “in addition” to genetics: study of environmental influence on gene expression that occur w/out DNA change
Nervous System
body’s speedy electrochemical communication network (nerves, peripheral & central nervous systems)
Sensory (afferent) Neurons
neurons that carry info from body tissue to brain/spinal cord
Motor (efferent) Neurons
carry outgoing info to brain/spinal cord
Interneurons
Neurons w/in brain; communicate internally and process info b/w sensory inputs and motor outputs
Somatic Nervous System
(Skeletal Nervous System)
division of peripheral nervous systems that control body’s skeletal muscles
Automatic Nervous System (ANS)
part of peripheral nervous system; controls gland & muscles of internal organs (Sympathetic division arouses & parasympathetic calms
Parasympathetic Nervous system
division of automatic Nervous system that calms the body/preserving energy
Reflex
automatic response to sensory stimulus (ex: knee-jerk)
Neuron
a nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system
Cell body
part of neuron that contains nucleus; cells life support center
Dendrites
a neurons of ten bushy branching extensions that receive integrate messages, conducting impulses to cells body
Axon
neuron extension that passes messages through branches to or neurons/muscles/glands
Myelin Sheath
Sheath. a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing axons of neurons; enables transmission speed as a neuron impulses hop from one nod to the next
Glial Cells
cells in nervous system that support nourish and protect neurons; they also play a role in learning thinking and memory
Action Potential
Neural impulse; a brief electrical charge they travels down an axon
Threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Refractory Period
(1). in neural processing, a brief resting pause that occurs after neuron has fired; subsequent action potential cannot occur until axon returns to resting state. (2) in human sexuality; a resting period which occurs after orgasm, cannot have another orgasm
All-Or None Response
A neurons reaction of either firing (with a full strength response) or not firing
Synapse
Neurotransmitters
Reuptake
Endorphins
Agonists
