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

Unit 2: Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

environment (nurture)

A

every non-genetic influence

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2
Q

heredity (nature)

A

the genetic transfer of characteristics from parent to offspring

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3
Q

genes

A

our codes for life

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4
Q

identical twins

A

genetically identical; share placenta

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5
Q

fraternal twins

A

generally ordinary siblings; share fetal environment

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6
Q

epigenetics

A

study of environmental influences gene expression that occur without a DNA change

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7
Q

evolutionary psychology

A

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles if natural selection

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8
Q

natural selection

A

among all the inherited traits those that lead to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to the next generation

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9
Q

mutations

A

random errors in genes that lead to a change in the genetic makeup

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10
Q

endocrine system

A

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

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11
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands; influence our interest in sex, food, and aggression

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12
Q

neurotransmitters

A

diffuse across a synapse and excite or inhibit an adjacent neuron
chemicals in the axon terminal that attempt to communicate with dendrites on other neurons

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13
Q

reuptake

A

neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

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14
Q

adrenal glands

A

pair of endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys and secrete hormones
(increase heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and fight or flight)

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15
Q

pituitary glands

A

regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

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16
Q

heritability

A

the extent to which variation among individuals in a group can be attributed to their differing genes

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17
Q

neurons

A

nerve cell, the basic building block of the nervous system

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18
Q

dendrite

A

branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body

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19
Q

axon

A

passes messages through its terminal branches to other neurons, muscles, or glands

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20
Q

myelin sheath

A

fatty tissue layer that insulates axons and makes communication faster

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21
Q

glial cells

A

support, nourish, and protect neurons; also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory

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22
Q

action potential

A

a brief electrical charge that travels down its axon
* neurons generate electricity from chemical events
* ions are exchanged

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23
Q

threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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24
Q

refractory period

A

resting phase after a neuron has fired

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25
all-or-none response
firing or not
26
synapse
a meeting point between neurons
27
nervous system
body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system
28
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
responsible for gathering information + transmitting CNS decisions to other body parts
29
central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
30
nerves
bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs
31
sensory neurons
carry messages from the body's tissue + sensory receptors inward to the brain and spinal cord for processing (afferent)
32
motor neurons
carry instructions from the CNS outward to the body's muscles + glands (efferent)
33
interneurons
where information is processed in the brain and spinal cord * communicate internally and process info between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
34
somatic nervous system
enables voluntary control of our skeletal system
35
autonomic nervous system
controls our glands and our internal organ muscles * influences functions such as glandular activity, heartbeat, and digestion
36
sympathetic nervous system
arouses and expends energy (fight or flight)
37
parasympathetic nervous system
calms the body, conserving its energy
38
dendrite
branch- like arms attached to the cell body that receive information from other neurons
39
cell body (soma)
part of the neuron that contains the nuclei; the cells life-support center
40
endorphins
help explain good feelings
41
antagonist
decreases a neurotransmitters action
42
agonist
increases the activity of a neurotransmitter
43
acetylcholine
enables muscle action, learning, and helps with memory
44
dopamine
helps with movement, learning, attention, and emotion
45
serotonin
impacts hunger, sleep, arousal, and mood
46
epinephrine
body's response to high emotional situations and helps form memories
47
norepinephrine
increases blood pressure, heart rate, and alertness
48
glutamate
involved with long term memory and learning
49
GABA
helps with sleep, movement, and slows down your nervous system
50
stimulants
excites or arouses neural communication
51
examples of stimulants
caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines
52
depressants
slow down or inhibit neural functioning/ communication
53
examples of depressants
alcohol, opiates, heroin, barbituates
54
hallucinogens
only psychoactive drugs
55
examples of hallucinogens
LSD, shrooms, weed
56
lesion
brain tissue destruction
57
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
amplified readout of brain waves
58
magnetoencephalography (MEG)
measures magnetic fields from the brain's neural electric activity
59
computed tomography
examines the brain by taking X-ray photos that can reveal brain damage
60
positron emission tomography (PET)
depicts brain activity by showing each brain areas consumption of it's chemical fuel, the sugar glucose
61
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer - generated images of soft tissue
62
fMRI
can reveal the brains functioning and structure
63
brainstem
beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull * responsible for autonomic survival functions
64
medulla
the base of the brainstem ; controls heartbeat and breathing
65
pons
helps coordinate movements and controls sleep
66
thalamus
sensory control center that directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
67
reticular formation
nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and controls arousal
68
cerebellum
"little brain", rear of the brain stem. processes sensory input, coordinating movement, output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
69
limbic system
neural system: amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus
70
amygdala
linked to emotion
71
hypothalamus
directs eating, drinking, and body temp; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland
72
hippocampus
helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events
73
cerebral cortex
covering the cerebral hemispheres; body's ultimate control + information center
74
frontal lobe
decision making, personality, and voluntary movement
75
occipital lobe
receive information from the visual fields
76
parietal lobe
top of the head; receives sensory input for touch and body position
77
temporal lobe
above the ears; auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear
78
motor cortex
controls voluntary movements
79
somatoesenory cortex
registers and processes body, touch, and movement sensations
80
corpus callosum
band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
81
neurogenesis
the formation or new neurons
82
split brain
isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them
83
sleep
84
circadian rhythm
85
REM sleep/ Stage 4
not easily awakened , no movement except eye movement
86
Alpha waves
the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
87
NREM sleep
non-rapid eye movement sleep, all sleep stages except rem
88
Delta waves
the large, slow brain waves associated with the deep sleep of NREM-3
89
Stage 1
light sleep, relaxed body, slowed mind, alpha waves
90
Stage 2
sleep spindles, theta waves, still easily awakened
91
Stage 3
delta waves, difficulty being awakened
92
93
insominia
problems falling or staying asleep
94
narcolepsy
uncontrollable sleep attacks
95
sleep apnea
trouble breathing while sleeping
96
night terrors
high arousal and an appearance of being terrified
97
dreams
sequence of image,emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind
98
manifest content
the symbolic remembered story line of a dream
99
latent content
underlying meanings of a dream

AP Psych (2 decks)

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