Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
1
Q
biological psychology
A
the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological process
2
Q
neuron
A
a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
3
Q
sensory neurons (afferant neurons)
A
neurons that send messages to the brain; body –>brain
4
Q
motor neurons (efferant neurons)
A
neurons that send messages from the brain; brain –> body
5
Q
interneurons
A
neurons that are the gateway between the spinal cord and the brain
6
Q
dendrite
A
a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulse toward the cell body
7
Q
axon
A
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles/glands
8
Q
myelin sheath
A
a fatty tissue layer segmentaly encasing the axon on some neurons; increases transmission speed for neural impulses
9
Q
action potential
A
a neural impulse, where the neuron filters out K and fills with Na (depolarization)
10
Q
threshold
A
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural response
11
Q
synapse gap
A
the gap between the axon tip and the dendrite/cell body of the receiving neuron
12
Q
neurotransmitters
A
chemical messaging agents that create the synapse gap and bind to receptor sites
13
Q
reuptake
A
a neurotransmitter’s re-absorption by the sending neuron
14
Q
endorphins (endogenous morphine)
A
natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
15
Q
central nervous system
A
the brain and spinal cord
16
Q
peripheral nervous system
A
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
17
Q
nerves
A
bundles of axons connecting the central nervous system with muscles, organs, and glands
18
Q
somatic nervous system
A
division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the skeletal muscles
19
Q
autonomic nervous system
A
division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs
20
Q
sympathetic nervous system
A
division of the peripheral nervous system that arouses the body in stressful situations
21
Q
parasympathetic nervous system
A
division of the peripheral nervous system that calms the body after a stressful situation has passed
22
Q
reflex
A
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulation
23
Q
endorine system
A
set of glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream
24
Q
hormones
A
chemical messaging agents manufactured by the endocrine system that travels through the blood to affect tissue
25
adrenal glands
pair of bean-shaped glands that secret hormones to help arouse the body in stressful situations
26
pituitary gland
"master gland" that regulates growth hormones and controls the endocrine system
27
lesion
tissue destruction
28
electroencephalogram (EEG)
amplified recording of waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain surface
29
computed tomography scan (CT scan)
series of x-rays combined into composite representations of brain slices
30
positron emission tomography scan (PET scan)
visual display of brain activity enabled by radioactive glucose
31
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
usage of magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of soft tissue
32
functional MRI (fMRI)
a technique for revealing blood flow through multiple MRI scan
33
brainstem
where the spinal core wells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
34
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heart rate and breathing
35
thalamus
directs messages to sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the medulla and cerebellum
36
recticular formation
nerve network through the brainstem and thalamus hat plays a role in controlling arousel
37
cerebellum
"little brain" at rear of brainstem; processes sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enables non-verbal learning and memory
38
limbic system
neural system associated with emotions and drives
39
amygdala
2 neural clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion
40
hypothalamus
directs eating, sleeping, body temperature, governs the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
41
cerebral cortex
ultimate control and information processing center of the brain
42
glial cells (glia cells)
cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons
43
frontal lobe
portion of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead; controls speaking, muscle movement, decision making, and judgement calls
44
parietal lobe
portion of the cerebral cortex at the top of the head; receives sensory input for touch and body position in space
45
occipital lobe
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; receives sensory input from the eyes
46
temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying above the ears, receives auditory input and smell
(note that the temporal lobe on the right is responsible for the left ear, and vise versa
47
motor cortex
area at the rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement
48
sensory cortex
registers and processes body touch and movement
49
association areas
areas involved with learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking
50
aphasia
impairment of language, usually caused by left-hemisphere damage to either the Broca's area or the Wernicke's area
51
Broca's area
controls language expression; an area of the left-hemisphere frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
52
Wernicke's area
controls language reception; an area of the left-hemisphere temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression
53
plasticity
the brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage
54
neurogenesis
formation of new nuerons
55
corpus callosum
fibers connecting the left and right brain hemispheres
56
split brain
a condition where the corpus callosum is severed, usually to help with seizures
57
consciousness
awareness of self and the environment
58
cognitive neuroscience
the study of brain activity linked with cognition
59
dual processing
when information is simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
60
behaviour genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour
61
environment
every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
62
chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes
63
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes
64
genes
the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable to synthesizing proteins
65
genome
the complete instructions for making and organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes
66
monozygomatic twins (identical twins)
twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that split in to, creating two genetically identical organisms
67
dizygotic twins (fraternal twins)
twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs
68
heritability
the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes
69
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor
70
molecular genetics
the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes
71
evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behaviour using principles of natural selection
72
natrual selection
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on the succeeding generations
73
mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
74
circadian rhythm
the body's biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24 hour cycle
75
rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep)
a recurring sleep stage during with vivid dreams commonly occur; aka paradoxical sleep because the body muscles are completely relaxed (paralyzed) other than minor twitches, but all other body systems are active
76
alpha waves
the relatively slow brain saves of a relaxed, awake state
77
delta waves
the large slow brainwaves associated with deep sleep
78
nonrapid eye movement sleep (NREM sleep)
encompasses all sleep stages excluding REM sleep, contains 3 stages
79
stage 1 NREM
the transition between being awake and asleep where beta waves and alpha waves occur
80
stage 2 NREM
considered stage 1 of sleep and baseline sleep consisting of alpha waves and theta waves; theorized where the 'cleaning' of the night happens
81
stage 3 NREM
where sleep talking and sleep walking occur (along with night terrors), where you have no memories; aka delta sleep, slow wave sleep, and deep sleep
82
withdrawal
discomfort and distress that follows discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior
83
tolerance
diminishing effect with regular usage over time
84
physical dependence
a physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued
85
pyschological dependence
a psychological need to use a drug, such as to relieve negative emotions
86
depressants
drugs that reduce neural activity
87
barbiturates
drugs that depress central nervous system activity; horse tranquilizers
88
opiates
opium and its derivatives
89
stimulants
drugs that excite neural activity
90
amphetamines
drugs that simulate neural activity
91
hallucinogens
psychedelic drugs that evoke sensory output with lack of sensory input
92
alcohol (type, pleasurable effects, adverse effects)
-depressant
-initial high followed by relaxation and disinhibition
93
heroin (type, pleasurable effects, adverse effects)
-depressant
-rush of euphoria, relief from pain
-depressed physiology, agonizing withdrawal
94
caffeine (type, pleasurable effects, adverse effects)
-stimulant
-increased alertness and wakefulness
-anxiety, restlessness and insomnia in high doses, uncomfortable withdrawal
95
methamphetamine (type, pleasurable effects, adverse effects)
-stimulant
-euphoria, alertness, energy
-irritability, insomnia, hypertension, seizures
96
cocaine (type, pleasurable effects, adverse effects)
-stimulant
-rush of euphoria, confidence, energy
-cardiovascular stress, suspiciousness, depressive crash
97
nicotine (type, pleasurable effects, adverse effects)
-stimulant
-arousal and relaxation, sense of well-being
-heart disease, cancer
98
methylenedioxymethamphetamine aka ecstasy, MDMA (type, pleasurable effects, adverse effects)
-stimulant, mild hallucinogen
-emotional elevation, disinhibation;
-dehydration, overheating, depressed mood, impaired cognitive and immune functioning
99
marijuana (type, pleasurable effects, adverse effects)
-mild hallucinogen
-enhanced sensation, relief of pain, distortion of time, relaxation
-impaired learning and memory, increased risk of psychological disorders, lung damage if smoking
100
actylcholine aka Ach (function and associated diseases)
-found at neuromusclar junction; memory and learning
-alzheimer's disease (dec), botox (dec), curare (dec)
101
dopamine (function and associated diseases)
-movement, learning, attention, emotions, and rewards
-parkinson's disease (dec), schizophrenia (inc), depression (dec)
102
serotonin (function and associated diseases)
-sleep, mood, hunger, arousal
-depression (dec), anorexia (inc), sleep disorders (inc and dec)
103
norepinephrine (function and associated diseases)
-fight or flight response (specifically the 'cool down' after)
-depression (dec)
104
endorphins (function and associated diseases)
-pain, emotions
-mimicked by opiates, causing addictions
105
gamma amino-butyric acid aka GABA (function and associated diseases)
-hunger and sleep, along with inhibiting the central nervous system
-alcohol consumption causes inc
106
Franz Gull
early 1800s, studied phrenology (bumps on the skull revealing abilities and characteristic traits)
107
Mark Twain
was able to discredit phrenology
108
all or none priniciple
either a neuron will fire an impulse or not, there is no 'light' or 'soft' impulses
109
resting potential
the period where a neuron has the ability to fire a neural impulse, where it's filled up with K (becomes polarized)
110
refractory period
where the neuron is filling up with K, and cannot fire no matter what stimulation is placed on the neuron
111
nodes of ranvier
gaps between the myelin sheath
112
thyroid gland
gland that affects metabolism
113
parathyroid glands
glands that regulate the amount of Ca in the blood
114
pancreas
gland that regulates amount of glucose in the bloodstream
115
ovary
secretes female sex hormones
116
testis
secretes male sex hormones
117
pons
section of the brain that helps coordinate movement
118
hypnosis
a social interaction in which one person (the subject) responds to another person's (the hypnotist's) suggestion that certain perceptions, thoughts, feelings, or behaviours will spontaneously occur
119
post-hypnotic suggestion
a suggestion made during a hypnosis session to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized, used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviours
120
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus that controls circadian rhythm, causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production
121
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects including mild hallucinations
122
lysergic acid diethalmide (LSD)
a powerful hallucinogen
123
alcohol use disorder (alcoholism)
alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdraw, and drive to continue problematic usage
