Unit 3: Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards
Mutation
Random error in gene replication leading to a change
Natural selection
Says, “traits contributing to survival will most likely be passed onto successful generations”
Evolutionary psychologists
Study the evolution of behavior, mind and cognitive processes using natural selection
Epigenetics
Study of environmental influences on gene expression without a change in DNA
Interaction
Interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another
Heritability
Proportion of variation among individuals with the same genes
Molecular Genetics
Subfield of biology that studies molecular structure of the function of genes
Fraternal/Dizygotic twins
Twins that develop from separate eggs
Identical/Monozygotic twins
Twins that develop from the same fertilized egg that later split in two
Genome
Complete instructions for making an organism
Genes
Biochemical units of heredity making up chromosomes
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
A complex molecule containing genetic information
Chromosomes
Threadlike structures of DNA molecules that contain genes
Environment
Any and every external influence
Behavior genetics
Study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
Dual processing
Principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious levels
Cognitive neuroscience
The interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition and mental processes
Consciousness
Awareness of self and environment
Split brain
A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains to hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them
Corpus callosum
Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
Neurogenesis
The formation of new neurons
Plasticity
The brains ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Association areas
Areas of cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions, but are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking
Somatosensory cortex
Area of the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes touch and movement sensations
Motor cortex
Area at the rear of the frontal lobes controlling voluntary movements
Temporal Lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex right above the ears, that includes information from the ears (hearing)
Occipital lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head, includes areas that receive information from the eyes (sight)
Parietal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying on the top of the head and toward the rear, receives sensory input for touch and body position
Frontal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the four head, involved in speaking ,muscle movements, making plans and judgments
Pituitary gland
Regulates growth (important to endocrine system)
Adrenal gland
A pair of endocrine glands that help arouse the body
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands and sent into the bloodstream
Endocrine glands
“Slow” Chemical communication system that secretes hormones into the blood
Reflex
Simple, automatic response to sensory stimuli
Parasympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic nervous system that calms the body
Sympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic nervous system that arouses the body
Autonomic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of internal organs
Somatic nervous system
Division of the peripheral nervous system that controls skeletal muscles
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate with sensory and motor inputs
Motor (efferent) neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system
Sensory (afferent) neurons
Neurons bringing in information from the central nervous system
Nerves
Bundled axons that connect the central nervous system with muscles and glands
Peripheral nervous system
Sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body (perimeter of body)
Central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
Nervous system
The body’s electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system’s
Antagonist
A molecule that blocks a response
Agonist
A molecule that by binding to the receptor site stimulates a response
Endorphins
Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
Reuptake
Neurotransmitters reabsorption by sending neuron
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps between neurons
Synapse
The space between axon tip to the dendrite in the next cell
All or none response
A neuron’s reaction of firing up or not
Threshold
Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Action potential
Neural impulse or brief electrical charge that travels down the axon
Refractory period
Period of inactivity after a neuron is fired
Myelin Sheath
Tissue encasing axons of the same neuron, makes for faster transmission speed
Neuron
Nerve cell, or the basic building block of the nervous system
Axon
Neuron extensions that pass messages through its branches to other neurons, muscles or glands
Dendrites
Neurons bushy extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Biological psychology
Scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes
Hypothalamus
Neural structure lying below the thalamus that directs bodily maintenance, activities, and helps govern the endocrine system , specifically the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
Amygdala
To lima beans sized neural clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion
Limbic system
A neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres, associated with emotions and drives
Cerebellum
“Little brain” at the rear of the brainstem, functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
Reticular formation
A nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal
Thalamus
Sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem and directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex by transmitting replies to the cerebellum and medulla
Medulla
The base of the brainstem, controlling heartbeat and breathing
Brainstem
Oldest part, and central core of the brain beginning where the spinal cord enters the school and is responsible for functions needed for survival
FMRI (functional MRI)
Technique to reveal blood flow and brain activity
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue
PET scan (positron emission tomography)
Visual display of brain activity that reflects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a task
CT scan (computed tomography)
X-ray photos taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of the brain structure
EGG (Electroencephalogram)
Amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
Lesion
Tissue destruction
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Enables muscle action, learning and memory
Dopamine
Influences movement, learning, attention and emotion
Serotonin
Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
Norepinephrine
Helps to control alertness and arousal
GABA (gammaminobutyric acid)
A major inhibitory neurotransmitter
Glutamate
A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory
