Unit 3 Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
Biological Psychology
Relates biological processes to psyschological processes.
Neuron
A nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system.
Dendrites
A neuron’s bushy branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses to cell body.
Axon
Passes messages through branches to other neurons, muscles or glands.
Myelin Sheath
A fatty tissue layer, butter for axons
Action Potential
A nerval Impulse, brief electrical charge
Refractory Period
A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.
Threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.
All-or-none response
Either firing or not for a neuron
Synapse
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
Neurotrasmitters
Chemical messangers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons.
Reuptake
reabsorption by the sending neuron
Endorphins
Natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure
Agonist
a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response
Antagonist
A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response
Nervous System
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.
Central Nervous System
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
Nerves
bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
Sensory Neurons
Neurons that carry incoming information form the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
Motor Neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.
Somatic Nervous System
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.
Sympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body; mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.