unit 3: biological bases of behavior (9-15) Flashcards
franz gall proposal
phrenology
phrenology (def)
skull reading through head bumps
phrenology (outcome)
false - however leads to the discovery of functional localization
neuron
nerve-cell
basic building block of the nervous system
dendrite
branch extensions that receive messages & conduct impulses
axon
the “spine” of the neuron
carries the impulse
myelin
layer of fatty tissue surrounding the axon
allows for faster & greater transmission
action potential
neural impulse
brief electric charge that travels down the axon
refractory period
period of inactivity after a neuron fires
threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
all-or-none response
a neuron’s reaction: firing or not firing
synapse
junction of space between two neurons
neurotransmitter
chemical messenger that travels through the synapse
influence whether or not a neuron will generate a response
reuptake
excess neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron
acetylcholine
MLM
muscle action
learning
memory
dopamine
MALE movement attention learning emotion
serotonin
HAMS hunger arousal mood sleep
norepinephrine
AA battery
arousal
alertness control
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
major inhibitory neurotransmitter
glumate
major excitatory neurotransmitter
endorphin
literal meaning “morphine within”
natural opiate-like neurotransmitter linked to pain control and pleasure
agonist
molecule that STIMULATES a response by binding to a receptor site
antagonist
molecule that BLOCKS a response by binding to a receptor site
nervous system layout/parts
nervous sys: central & peripheral
peripheral: somatic & autonomic
autonomic: sympathetic & parasympathetic
nervous system
body’s electrochemical networking
peripheral (PNS)
sensory and motor neurons linking the CNS to the body
central (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
somatic
division of the PNS controlling VOLUNTARY skeletal movement
autonomic
division of the PNS controlling self-regulated/INVOLUNTARY actions of organs & glands
sympathetic
division of the ANS arousing the body
mobilizes energy
parasympathetic
parachute
division of the ANS calming the body down
nerves
bundled axons forming neural cables that connect the CNS to muscles/glands/organs
sensory neurons
neurons carrying incoming info from sensory receptors to the CNS
motor neurons
neurons carrying outgoing info from the CNS to muscles & glands
interneurons
neurons in the CNS
communicating/intervening between sensory & motor neurons
reflexes
simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus
endocrine system parts
hypothalamus pituitary gland thyroid parathyroid adrenal glands pancreas ovaries/testes
endocrine system
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system
made up of organs that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
hormones
chemical messengers made by endocrine glands, they travel through the bloodstream & affect other tissues
hypothalamus
brain region controlling the pituitary gland
pituitary gland
master gland
chooses the hormones to secrete
thyroid
affects metabolism
parathyroid
regulate calcium in the blood
adrenal glands
inner trigger the the fight-or-flight response
pancreas
regulates sugar in the blood
ovaries/testes
secretes sex hormones
lesion
tissue destruction
can be caused naturally or experimentally
5 ways of brain mapping
EEG CT scan PET scan MRI fMRI
EEG
amplified recording of the electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface
measured through electrodes on the scalp
graph of squiggly lines
CT scan
xray photos taken at different angles & combined to form a composite representation of a slice of brain structure
b&w, shows all structures, transverse slice
PET scan
visual display of brain activity by detecting a form of radioactive glucose while the brain does a task
fully colored
MRI
using magnetic fields + radio waves to produce soft tissue scans
show brain anatomy
fMRI
reveals the bloodflow which reveals brain activity
show anatomy, structure, and activity
older brain structures
brainstem
thalamus
reticular formation
cerebellum
brainstem
automatic survival functions
brainstem parts
pons
medulla
pons
coordination of movement
medulla
controls heartbeat & breathing
thalamus
sensory control center
transmits messages from the cerebellum to the medulla
receives info from the senses (except smell)
reticular formation
nerve network traveling through the brainstem and thalamus
contols arousal
reticular formation - damage
coma
older brain function ocurrence
without a conscious effort
limbic system
neural system associated with emotions and drives
hippocampus
processes conscious memory
hippocampus - damage
new memories cannot be formed
amygdala
2 lima bean shaped clusters
linked to emotion
hypothalamus
neural structure associated with maintenance activities
helps govern the endocrine system
linked to emotion & reward
corpus callosum
axon fibers connecting the 2 cerebral hemispheres
cerebral cortex
interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres
ultimate control & information processing center
**thin surface layer
spinal cord
pathway for neural fibers traveling to & from the brain
controls simple reflexes
glial cells
nervous cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons
play important role in learning & thinking
frontal lobe
speaking
muscle movement
make plans & judgment
parietal lobe
receive sensory info (taste and touch: pressure, pain, heat, cold, tension)
body position
occipital lobe
processes vision
temporal lobe
process audio from opposite ear
process smell
motor cortex
area in the rear of the frontal lobe
controls voluntary movement
precise control = larger cortical space (ex. fingers, mouth)
somatosensory cortex
between motor cortex & parietal lobe
register & process touch & movement sensation
nonsensitive areas = larger space
motor vs somatosensory
somatosensory = input motor = output
association areas
cerebral cortex areas involved in higher mental functions
higher mental functions
learning
thinking
remembering
speaking
prefrontal cortex
enables judgment
planning
process new memories
parietal lobe association areas
enable mathematical & spatial reasoning
brain plasticity
brain’s ability to change (especially during childhood)
recognizing and building new pathways
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
damages neurons
don’t regenerate
corpus callosum
large neural fiber band connecting the 2 brain hemispheres & sending messages between them
split brain procedure
condition resulting from surgery that isolates the 2 hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum
left hemisphere
sees the parts
mathematical
controls the right side of the body
right hemisphere
sees the whole
artistic
controls the left side of the body
consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
dual-processing
principle that our brain simultaneously processes consciously and unconsciously
behavior genetics
study of relative power/limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
environment
all external influences from potential nutrition to everything around us
chromosome
threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain genes
dna
complex molecule containing genetic info
make up chromosomes
genes
biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes
either expressed or inactive
genome
complete instructions for making an organism
the genetic material in chromosomes
identical twins
one egg splits into 2
fraternal twins
2 separate eggs fertilized at the same time
molecular genetics
biology subfield studying the molecule structure and function of genes
heritability
the proportion of variation among individuals attributed to genes
depends on the population range & environment studied
interaction
the interplay that occurs when the effect of a factor depends on another
epigenetics
study of environmental influences on gene expression occurring without DNA change
prenatal - epigenetics
drugs
toxins
stress
nutrition
postnatal - epigenetics
neglect
abuse
variations in care
juvenile - epigenetics
social contact
environmental complexity
natural selection
the range of inherited genes that will be passed on to later generations that contribute to reproduction & survival
mutation
random error in gene replication which leads to change
individual development is based on
biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences
biological influences
shred human genome individual genetic variation prenatal environment sex-related genes hormones physiology
psychological influences
gene-environment interaction
neurological effect of early experiences
responses evoked by personality, gender, beliefs, feelings, and expectations
social-cultural influences
parental influences
peer influences
cultural attitudes & norms
cultural gender norms
