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.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.
Reflex
a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus.
Endocrine System
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endoncrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues.
Adrenal Glands
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress.
Pituitary Gland
the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituatary regulats growth and controls other endocrine glands.
Lesion
tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
CT (computed tomography) scan
a series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure.
PET (Positron emission tomography) scan
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue.
fMRI (functional MRI)
a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as its structure.
Limbic System
neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres associated with emotions and drives.
Cerebral Cortex
the neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres, ultimate control and information processing center.
Glial Cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking.
Somatosensory Cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
Associating Areas
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.
Plasticity
the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.
Neurogenesis
The formation of new neurons
Split Brain
A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s hemispheres and carries messages between them.
Consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
Cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition.
Dual Processing
the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks.
Behavior Genetics
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
Environment
every external influece, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.
Chromosomes
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
Genes
The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes
Genome
The complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes.
Idental Twins
twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.
Fraternal Twins
Twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.
Molecular Genetics
The subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.
Heritability
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.
Interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another factor
Epigenetics
the study of environmental influences on a gene expression that occur without a DNA change.
Evolutionary Psychology
The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.
Natural Selection
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.
Mutation
a random error in gene replication that leads to a change
