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ap psychology > unit 2a: biological bases of behavior > Flashcards

unit 2a: biological bases of behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

neurons

A

basic building blocks of the nervous system. send & receive messages from other structures in the body. individual nerve cells

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2
Q

soma (cell body)

A

component of a neuron. produces energy that fuels the activity of the cell

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3
Q

dendrites

A

component of a neuron. receives impulses from axon terminals of other neurons and conduct them toward the cell body

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4
Q

axon

A

component of a neuron. transmits impulses away from the cell body to the synapse

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

component of a neuron. insulates and protects axon. speeds up impulses. can cause multiple sclerosis

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6
Q

nodes of ranvier

A

component of a neuron. regularly spaced gaps in the myelin sheath to transmit faster

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7
Q

axon terminals

A

component of a neuron. at the end of a neuron and secrete neurotransmitters

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8
Q

action potential

A

a brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron

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9
Q

selectively permeable

A

allows some particles to pass in & out while blocking other

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10
Q

all-or-none law/principle

A

principle stating that either a neuron is sufficiently stimulated and an action potential occurs, or a neuron is not sufficiently stimulated and the action potential doesn’t occur. always fires with the same strength and intensity

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11
Q

refractory period

A

short period between action potentials

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12
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messages released from the axon terminals

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13
Q

synapse

A

the tiny gap between the axon terminal of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron

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14
Q

reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neutron

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15
Q

agonists

A

drugs that boost the effect of a neurotransmitter

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16
Q

antagonist

A

drugs that block the effect of a neurotransmitter

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17
Q

what comprises the nervous system?

A

the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

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18
Q

what are the parts of the central nervous system?

A

the brain and spinal cord

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19
Q

spinal cord

A

two-way information highway connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system

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20
Q

what do sensory neurons do?

A

they carry information from the receptors to the spinal cord and the brain

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21
Q

what do motor neurons do?

A

carry information away from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands so they can take action

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22
Q

what do interneurons do?

A

process information and connect other neurons within the central nervous system

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23
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

nerve cells that send messages between the central nervous system and all parts of the body

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24
Q

what comprises the peripheral nervous system?

A

the somatic and autonomic nervous systems

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25
Q

somatic nervous system

A

controls voluntary activities, serves arousal functions

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26
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls involuntary activities, regulates the body’s vital functions (breathing, digestion, blood pressure), and involves emotions. contains the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

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27
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

part of the autonomic nervous system. prepares the body for fight-or-flight responses

28
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

part of the autonomic nervous system. calms the body after emergencies and restores the body’s energy

29
Q

the endocrine system

A

a system of glands that secrete hormones. messages are sent chemically throughout the body

30
Q

what does the adrenal gland do?

A

secretes steroids that increase resistance to stress and promote muscle development

31
Q

what does the pituitary gland do?

A

it is a “master gland” that secretes a wide range of hormones. mostly related to growth

32
Q

what does the thyroid gland do?

A

secretes hormones involved with metabolism

33
Q

lesion

A

a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

34
Q

clinical observation

A

oldest method of studying the brain

35
Q

cat scan

A

produces a 3-d view of the brain

36
Q

mri scan

A

3-d view that shows more clear details of the brain (blood vessels, nerves, bones & organs)

37
Q

pet scan

A

visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes

38
Q

fmri scan

A

reveals the brain’s functioning as well as its structure. lights up when mental functions are activated

39
Q

eeg scan

A

records the electrical activity of the brain creating “brain waves”

40
Q

brainstem

A

responsible for automatic survival functions. comprised of the medulla and pons

41
Q

medulla

A

in the brainstem. controls basic life support functions (heartbeat, breathing)

42
Q

pons

A

in the brainstem. controls equilibrium to coordinate voluntary movements

43
Q

reticular formation

A

involved in arousal and alertness

44
Q

thalamus

A

the brain’s sensory switchboard. directs messages for all senses except for smell

45
Q

cerebellum

A

helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance

46
Q

the limbic system

A

important role in regulating emotion and memory. comprised of the amygdala, hypothalamus, and the hippocampus

47
Q

amygdala

A

part of the limbic system. controls emotional responses, such as fear, anger, and aggresion

48
Q

amygdala

A

part of the limbic system. controls emotional responses, such as fear, anger, and aggression

49
Q

hypothalamus

A

part of the limbic system. helps regulate many of the body’s maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature)

50
Q

hippocampus

A

part of the limbic system. processes new memories for permanent storage

51
Q

cerebrum

A

the most complex part of our brain. is divided into 2 hemispheres

52
Q

cerebral cortex

A

makes up the body’s ultimate control & information processing center (learning, remembering, and thinking)

53
Q

glial cells

A

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

54
Q

frontal lobe

A

front-most lobe. responsible for judgment and decision-making

55
Q

parietal lobe

A

top-most lobe. responsible for touch, pain, and temperature

56
Q

temporal lobe

A

bottom-most lobe. responsible for hearing and memory

57
Q

occipital lobe

A

back-most lobe. responsible for vision

58
Q

motor cortex

A

initiates voluntary movements

59
Q

sensory cortex

A

registers and processes body sensations

60
Q

association areas

A

found in all 4 lobes, involved in higher mental functions

61
Q

aphasia

A

loss or impairment of the ability to understand language or express oneself through language

62
Q

broca’s area

A

damage in this area results in difficulty with producing speech. can form ideas but cannot express them

63
Q

wernicke’s area

A

damage in this area can result in inability to understand language

64
Q

plasticity

A

the brain’s capacity for modification

65
Q

corpus callosum

A

axon fibers that connect the two brain hemispheres

ap psychology (15 decks)

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