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AP Psych > Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

glial cells

A

“glue cells”
supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons, insulate one neuron form another, destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons

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2
Q

neurons

A

nerve cells, basic building blocks of the nervous system

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3
Q

sensory neurons

A

carry incoming info from sense receptors to CNS

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4
Q

interneurons

A

carry info within the CNS, b/w sensory and motor neurons

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5
Q

motor neurons

A

carry outgoing info from CNS to muscles/glands

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6
Q

soma

A

neuron cell body

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7
Q

dendrite

A

bushy, branching extensions, receive messages and conduct impulses toward cell body

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8
Q

axon

A

extension of neuron through which messages are sent

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9
Q

threshold

A

level of stimulation required to trigger neural impulse

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10
Q

All or none responses

A

neurons either fire or don’t

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11
Q

action potential

A

neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon(one way only)

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12
Q

refractory period

A

when the positive ions are pumped out; and the axon is not able to receive another message

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13
Q

myelin sheath

A

layer of fatty cells, segmentally encasing the axons of many, not all neurons
makes transmission speeds faster

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14
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that fill the gap b/w dendrites and axons

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15
Q

reuptake

A

process by which excess neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron

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16
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

neurotransmitter that enables muscle action, learning and memory
malfunctions include Alzheimer’s

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17
Q

Dopamine

A

neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning attention, and emotion
oversupply linked to schizophrenia
undersupply is linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson’s

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18
Q

serotonin

A

neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal
undersupply linked to depression
(some anti-depressants used to raise serotonin levels)

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19
Q

norepinephrine

A

neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal
undersupply can depress mood

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20
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

major inhibitory neurotransmitter (prevents neuron from firing)
undersupply linked to seizures, tremors and insomnia

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21
Q

glutamate

A

major excitatory neurotransmitter (excites neuron to fire); involved with memory
oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines/seizures (which is why some people avoid MSG)

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22
Q

endorphins

A

neurotransmitter that influences the perception of pain/pleasure
oversupply with opiate drugs can suppress the body’s endorphin supply

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23
Q

agonist

A

drugs that increase a neurotransmitter’s action
(ex: Opiates amplifies the sensation of pleasure that comes w endorphins)

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24
Q

antagonist

A

drugs that block neurotransmitter’s actions
(ex: curare is a type of poison that blocks ACh and produces paralysis)

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25
Q

lesion studies

A

studies that analyze brain structure
destroy parts of the brain and observe the consequences

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26
Q

electroencephalograms (EEGs)

A

studies that analyze brain structure
measures electrical activity on the brain surface

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27
Q

computed axial tomography (CAT)

A

studies that analyze brain structure; x-rays

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28
Q

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

studies that analyze brain structure; uses magnetic fields and radio waves

29
Q

MEG

A

shows function
magnetic fields from the brain’s natural electrical activity

30
Q

Positron emission tomograph (PET)

A

shows function
examine the brain’s consumption of radioactive glucose

31
Q

fMRI

A

shows function
measures chance in blood flow related to energy use in brain cells

32
Q

frontal lobe

A

responsible for speech, planning and muscle movement;
matures late in life

33
Q

temporal lobe

A

receives auditory information, primarily from opposite ear

34
Q

parietal lobe

A

receives sensory input from touch and body position

35
Q

occipital lobe

A

responsible for sight, opposite visual fields

36
Q

cerebral cortex

A

thin layer above the cerebrum
responsible for information processing

37
Q

motor cortex

A

responsible for voluntary movement

38
Q

sensory cortex

A

responsible for sensation of movement/touch

39
Q

association areas

A

areas of the cerebral cortex not involved in primary motor or sensory functions and instead higher mental functions (learning, remembering, thinking, speaking)

40
Q

cognitive neuroscience

A

brain activity linked with cognition

41
Q

dual processing

A

information process occurs on both conscious and unconscious tracking

42
Q

blindsight

A

condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it

43
Q

sleep

A

a periodic, natural, reversible and near total loss of consciousness

44
Q

NREM 1

A

brief, near waking sleep
hallucinations/hypnagogic sensations such as falling or floating occur
wave type is alpha(awake but relaxed)

45
Q

NREM 2

A

takes up half of sleep time
asleep but easily awakened
features sleep spindles, or bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain-wave activity

46
Q

NREM 3

A

deep sleep featuring delta waves(large, slow)

47
Q

REM

A

paradoxical sleep in which muscles relax but all other body systems are active
vivid dreams occur here

48
Q

insomnia

A

sleep disorder characterized by an inability to fall asleep

49
Q

narcolepsy

A

sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleepiness/lapsing in REM sleep

50
Q

sleep apnea

A

sleep disorder characterized by the inability to breathe while sleeping

51
Q

night terrors

A

sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and the appearance of being terrified
most common in children below 7 yrs old

52
Q

narcotics

A

depressants/barbiturates/opiates
dampen neural activity and slow body function

53
Q

barbiturates

A

depress CNS, reduce anxiety but impair memory/judgement

54
Q

opiates

A

ex: morphine, heroin
depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

55
Q

spinal cord

A

pathway for neural fibers traveling to and from the brain
controls simple reflexes
gate control theory of pain

56
Q

brainstem

A

oldest part of the brain
responsible for automatic survival functions

57
Q

thalamus

A

sensory control center which directs messages from sensory reception areas of the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

58
Q

cerebellum

A

processes sensory input, coordinates movement output and balance, enables nonverbal learning/memory

59
Q

what are the four oldest brain structures?

A

spinal cord, brainstem, thalamus, cerebellum

60
Q

what four structures make up the limbic system?

A

amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, pituitary

61
Q

amygdala

A

linked to emotion, particularly fear and anger

62
Q

hippocampus

A

process explicit memories of facts and events for storage

63
Q

hypothalamus

A

directs maintenance activities such as eating drinking and body temperature

64
Q

pituitary

A

major endocrine system gland, regulates growth and controls other glands

65
Q

what structures make up the cerebrum?

A

frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal lobes, motor, sensory cortex

66
Q

cortisol

A

hormone released when under stress

67
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

responsible for understanding word/language comprehension

68
Q

Broca’s area

A

responsible for speaking/language production

AP Psych (8 decks)

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