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AP Psych > Unit 2- Biological Bases of Behavior (8-10%) > Flashcards

Unit 2- Biological Bases of Behavior (8-10%) Flashcards

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1
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

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.

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2
Q

Action Potential

A

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

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3
Q

Axon Terminal

A

distal terminations of the branches of an axon

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4
Q

Dopamine

A

Neurotransmitter acting in the brain that helps regulate movement and emotion, related to Parkinson’s Disease

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5
Q

Dendrite

A

A short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body

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6
Q

Central Nervous System

A

Brain and spinal cord

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7
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

The nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord

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8
Q

Efferent Neurons

A

A peripheral neuron that carries signals from the central nervous system to the target cells

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9
Q

Lesion

A

Selectively destroying small clusters of normal or defective cells in the pursuit of Science or Medicine.

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10
Q

Acetylcholine

A

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.

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11
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs such as the heart.

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12
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

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13
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.

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14
Q

All-or-nothing principle

A

Principle that a neuron will fire completely if it reaches the threshold or not at all if it does not. It cannot fire at different magnitudes.

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15
Q

Pituitary gland

A

-Master gland of the Endocrine system -Influences the release of hormones in other glands -Releases hormones that influence growth

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16
Q

Adrenal glands

A

-Influence energy, blood pressure, and heart rate. -Release epinephrine(adrenaline) and norepinephrine. -Fight or flight response -Part of the Endocrine system

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17
Q

Endocrine System

A

The body’s “slow chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

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18
Q

CAT scan

A

A series of x-Ray taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body.

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19
Q

Reuptake

A

The sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitters.

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20
Q

Endorphins

A

-Brains own naturally occurring opiates. -Several types of neurotransmitter molecules similar to morphine in response to pain and vigorous exercise -“Good feelings” or painkillers

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21
Q

Synapse

A

The meeting point between neurons.

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22
Q

MRI

A

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show the brains anatomy.

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23
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

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24
Q

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

A

Neurotransmitters that excite which push the neuron to fire

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25
Q

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

A

Neurotransmitters that prevent a neuron from reaching action potential

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26
Q

Threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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27
Q

Receptor sites

A

The point of attachments to cell membranes for viruses,hormones, or other activators.

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28
Q

EEG

A

An amplified readout of electrical pulses while your brain is at work.

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29
Q

Axon

A

The long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells

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30
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

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

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31
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

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32
Q

Serotonin

A

A neurotransmitter involved with sleep, depression, and memory

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33
Q

Afferent Neurons

A

Otherwise known as sensory neurons carry information to the brain

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34
Q

Corpus callosum

A

Axon fibers connecting the two cerebral cortex

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35
Q

fMRI (Functional MRI)

A

Produces a live image monitoring blood flow. Shows brain function.

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36
Q

Parietal lobe

A

The home of somatosensory processing of sensations in the skin and muscles of the body

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37
Q

Occipital lobe

A

Home of the visual processing

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38
Q

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan

A

Radioactive glucose enters, and reveals a live image of how the brain consumes energy during a given task.

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39
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

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40
Q

Brain plasticity

A

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

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41
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

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42
Q

Brainstem

A

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.

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43
Q

Cerebellum

A

The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.

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44
Q

Pons

A

Helps to coordinate movement

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45
Q

Limbic system

A

border (“limbus”) between the brain’s older parts and the cerebral hemispheres— the two halves of the brain

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46
Q

Amygdala

A

Influence aggression and fear

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47
Q

Identical Twins

A

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.

48
Q

Fraternal Twins

A

Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs, they are genetically not closer than brothers and sisters, but they share fetal environment.

49
Q

Thomas Bouchard

A

Psychologist who started a study on separated twins, measuring their personality, intelligence, heart rate, and brain waves.

50
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

Controls language reception-a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.

51
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Controls the endocrine system, as well as metabolic functions like libido, body temperature, hunger, and thirst

52
Q

Left hemisphere

A

Controls right side of the body, responsible for logic, speech and mathematical thinking

53
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.

54
Q

Right Hemisphere

A

-Controls left side of the body -spatial tasks, creative tasks, integrating sense of self, detecting emotions

55
Q

Motor cortex

A

At the rear of frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement.

56
Q

Sensory cortex

A

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensation.

57
Q

Hippocampus

A

Involved in the transfer of memories from short term/working memory into long-term memory.

58
Q

Heritability

A

The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.

59
Q

Natural selection

A

The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

60
Q

Neuron

A

Individual nerve cell

61
Q

Sensory Neuron

A

Carry messages from the body’s tissues to the brain and spinal cord

62
Q

Motor Neuron

A

Carry messages from the brain and spinal cord to the body’s tissues

63
Q

Interneurons

A

The brain’s internal communication neurons

64
Q

Phineas Gage

A

Railroad worker who received frontal lobe damage, changing his personality. Revealed the part of the brain where emotions are regulated.

65
Q

Reticular formation

A

Midbrain structure that controls bodily arousal and our ability to focus

66
Q

Thalamus

A

Our brain’s sensory relay station, receives information from our senses and sends it to the appropriate areas

67
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Our brain’s executive functioning center. Responsible for reasoning and emotional control

68
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Area of the brain that allows us to move our muscles to produce speech, damage would lead to difficulty pronouncing words

69
Q

DNA

A

Complex molecule that contain our genetic makeup

70
Q

Genes

A

Units of heredity that make up the chromosomes

71
Q

Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga

A

Known for their research with split brain patients

72
Q

Alpha Waves

A

The relatively slow brain waves of being relaxed but awake state.

73
Q

Hallucinations

A

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.

74
Q

Delta Waves

A

Large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep

75
Q

Insomnia

A

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

76
Q

Narcolepsy

A

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The suffer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.

77
Q

Sleep Apnea

A

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings. Obesity is a risk factor.

78
Q

Psychological Dependence

A

A psychological need to use a drug, such as to release negative emotions.

79
Q

Depressants

A

Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.

80
Q

Examples of Depressant Drugs

A

Alcohol, Opiates, Barbiturates

81
Q

Alcohol

A

A depressant drug, calms neural activity and slows body functions.

82
Q

Stimulants

A

Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and more powerful amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

83
Q

Caffeine

A

A stimulant drug, the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance.

84
Q

Amphetamine

A

Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing sped up body functions and associated energy and mood changes.

85
Q

Night Terrors

A

Typically experienced by children during deep sleep, these bouts of terror, anxiety, sweating, and panic are often not remembered the next day.

86
Q

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

A machine that records rapid eye movement and brain wave patterns. It’s used to study sleep patterns.

87
Q

Hypnagogic State

A

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.

88
Q

Stage 2 Sleep

A

Sleep spindles appear and you start to relax more deeply during this stage.

89
Q

NREM Stage 3 Sleep

A

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.

90
Q

Dreams

A

A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind. Dreams are notable for their hallucinatory imagery, discontinuities, and incongruities, and for the dreamer’s delusional acceptance of the content and later difficulties remembering it.

91
Q

Lucid Dreaming

A

The ability to be aware of and direct dreams.

92
Q

Consciousness

A

Awareness of ourselves and our environment. Examples: States of Consciesness Sleep, wake, altered states (drugs, daydreaming, hypnosis)

93
Q

Circadian Rhythms

A

Biological clock, regular body rhythms

94
Q

Sleep

A

Periodic, natural loss of consciousness. Not the same as unconsciousness in coma or hibernation.

95
Q

Effects of sleep deprivation

A

Hunger High stress Less productivity More mistakes Irritability Fatigue

96
Q

REM Sleep

A

Dream sleep (vivid dreams) Rapid eye movement sleep Muscles are relaxed while other body systems are active

97
Q

NREM Sleep

A

Non rapid eye movement sleep Encompasses all stages of sleep except REM (Stages 1-4)

98
Q

Manifest Content

A

According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from its hidden or latent content)

99
Q

Latent content

A

According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content)

100
Q

Activation-synthesis theory

A

Neural activity is random, and dreams are our brains trying to understand it.

101
Q

Sleepwalking

A

Performing motor acts while sleeping and then not remembering when you awaken. Happens during deep sleep (NREM stage 3)

102
Q

REM Rebound

A

The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation.

103
Q

Psychoanalytic dream theory

A

the process of explaining the meaning of the way the unconscious thoughts and emotions are processed in the mind during sleep.

104
Q

Dissociation

A

A split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others

105
Q

Meditation

A

A spiritual practice and a form of alternative medicine that aims to provide physical relaxation and mental clarity

106
Q

Psychoactive drugs

A

A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods

107
Q

Tolerance

A

The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the use to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug’s effect

108
Q

Withdrawal

A

The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an addictive drug

109
Q

Physical dependence

A

A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued

110
Q

Cocaine

A

Central nervous system stimulant that depletes the brain of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine

111
Q

Nicotine

A

Highly addictive, mild stimulant found in tobacco.

112
Q

Narcotics

A

Examples include codeine and morphine which are most often prescribed for pain relief. Also called Opiates or Opioids.

113
Q

Opiates

A

Opium and its derivatives. Depress neural functioning and cause pain relief and anxiety relief. Highly addictive. Also known as Narcotics.

114
Q

Hallucinogens

A

Drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory experiences in the absence of sensory input. LSD and marijuana fall under this category.

115
Q

LSD

A

A powerful hallucinogen that can cause vivid hallucinations

AP Psych (10 decks)

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