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AP Psychology > Unit 3: Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Unit 3: Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Biological Psychology

A

a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior

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2
Q

Neuron

A

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

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3
Q

Sensory neurons

A

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

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4
Q

Motor neurons

A

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

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5
Q

Interneurons

A

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

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6
Q

Dendrite

A

the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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7
Q

Axon

A

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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8
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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9
Q

Action potential

A

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

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10
Q

Threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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11
Q

Synapse

A

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap (or synaptic cleft)

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12
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, they travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural pulse.

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13
Q

Endorphins

A

“morphine within” - natural opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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14
Q

Agonist

A

a molecule similar enough to a neurotransmitter to bind to its receptor and mimic its effects (drugs)

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15
Q

Antagonists

A

also bind the receptors, but block a neurotransmitters functioning

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16
Q

Reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by sending neuron

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17
Q

Nervous system

A

the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

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18
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord

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19
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system with the rest of the body

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20
Q

Nerves

A

bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

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21
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles (Also called the skeletal nervous system)

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22
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

the part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs

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23
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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24
Q

Parasympathetic nervous sytem

A

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

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25
Q

Reflex

A

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee jerk response

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26
Q

Spinal Cord

A

the informational highway that connects the brain to the PNS

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27
Q

Endocrine system

A

the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream

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28
Q

Hormones

A

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

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29
Q

Adrenal glands

A

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just about the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

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30
Q

Pituitary gland

A

the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

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31
Q

Electroencephalogram (ECG)

A

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

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32
Q

Computed tomography (CT scan)

A

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body (CAT scan)

33
Q

Position emission tomography (PET scan)

A

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

34
Q

Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue (show brain anatomy)

35
Q

fMRI

A

a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans

36
Q

Brainstem

A

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions

37
Q

Reticular formation

A

a nerve network in the brainstem that controls arousal

38
Q

Medulla

A

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

39
Q

Thalamus

A

the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits its replies to the cerebellum and medulla

40
Q

Cerebellum

A

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

41
Q

Limbic system

A

doughnut-shaped neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

42
Q

Amygdala

A

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

43
Q

Hypothalamus

A

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp.), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

44
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

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

45
Q

Glial cells

A

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

46
Q

Frontal lobe

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscles movements and in making plans and judgements

47
Q

Parietal lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

48
Q

Occipital lobes

A

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

49
Q

Temporal lobes

A

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

50
Q

Motor cortex

A

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements (output)

51
Q

Sensory cortex

A

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations (input)

52
Q

Association cortex

A

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

53
Q

Phasia

A

impairment of language usually caused by left hemisphere damage to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impairing understanding)

54
Q

Broca’s area

A

controls language expression - an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscles movements involved in speech

55
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

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

56
Q

Plasticity

A

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

57
Q

Neurogenesis

A

the formation of new neurons

58
Q

Corpus callosum

A

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

59
Q

Split brain

A

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

60
Q

Right hemisphere

A

makes inferences
makes meaning clear
orchestrates our sense of self
visual perception
recognition of emotion

61
Q

Left hemisphere

A

makes quick literal interpretations of language
more verbal

62
Q

Consciousness

A

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

63
Q

Cognitive neuroscience

A

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linking with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory and language)

64
Q

Dual processing

A

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on seperate conscious and unconscious tracks

65
Q

Behavior geneticists

A

the study of relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

66
Q

Environment

A

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

67
Q

Chromosomes

A

thread like structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

68
Q

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

a complex molecule containing genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

69
Q

Genes

A

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

70
Q

Genome

A

the complete instructions for making an organism , consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes

71
Q

Identical twins

A

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

72
Q

Fraternal twins

A

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment

73
Q

Heritability

A

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes

74
Q

Nature vs nurture

A

Hereditary deals the cards, environment plays the hand

75
Q

Molecular genetics

A

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

76
Q

Evolutionary psychology

A

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

77
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

78
Q

Mutation

A

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

AP Psychology (14 decks)

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