Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

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

Unit 3: Biological Bases Of Behavior Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
0
Q

Dendrite

A

A neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

Neuron

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Axon

A

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Myelin sheath

A

A fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Action potential

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Refractory period

A

A period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

All-or-none response

A

A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Reuptake

A

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Endorphins

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Dopamine

A

Neurotransmitter/hormone that indicates pleasure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Agonist

A

A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Antagonist

A

A molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Central nervous system

A

the brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Sensory neurons

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Motor neurons

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Endocrine system

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Hormones

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Adrenal gland

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Lesion

A

Tissue destruction; a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Reticular formation

A

A nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Thalamus

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Cerebellum

A

The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Limbic system

A

Neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Amygdala

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Hypothalamus

A

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

31
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

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

32
Q

Frontal lobes

A

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments

33
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

34
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

35
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

36
Q

Motor cortex

A

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

37
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

38
Q

Association areas

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

39
Q

Broca’s area

A

Speaking

40
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Understanding

41
Q

Plasticity

A

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

42
Q

Neurogenesis

A

The formation of new neurons

43
Q

Corpus-callosum

A

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

44
Q

Split brain

A

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

45
Q

Left-brain specialization

A

Verbal, logical (makes sense of something)

46
Q

Right-brain specialization

A

Face recognition, movement, making inferences, modulating speech, sense of self

47
Q

Dual processing

A

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

48
Q

Genes

A

The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DBA capable of synthesizing proteins.

49
Q

Heritability

A

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.

51
Q

Epigenetics

A

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

52
Q

Identical Twins

A

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

53
Q

Fraternal Twins

A

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

54
Q

Bouchard’s Twin Studies

A

Separated twins share similarities

55
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). It’s sympathetic division arouses; it’s parasympathetic division calms

56
Q

Genes

A

The biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins

57
Q

Glial cells

A

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protects neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

58
Q

Behavior genetics

A

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences in behavior

59
Q

Chromosomes

A

Threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

60
Q

CT (computed tomography) scan

A

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

61
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

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

62
Q

Endorphins

A

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

63
Q

fMRI (functional MRI)

A

A technique doe revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as it’s structure

64
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

The division do the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

65
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

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

66
Q

Homeostasis

A

A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level

67
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

68
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstorm; controls heartbeat and breathing

69
Q

PET (position emission tomography) scan

A

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

70
Q

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy

71
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

72
Q

Hippocampus

A

A neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for stories

73
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons within the brain and spin cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

74
Q

Natural selection

A

The principle that, among the rand of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

75
Q

Identical twins (monozygotic twins)

A

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

AP Psychology (15 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions