Unit 3- Biology of Behavior Flashcards
biological psychology
study of links between bio +psych processes
neuron
nerve cell, basic building block of nervous system
dendrites
receive messages and conduct impulses toward cell body
axon
passes messages through branches to neurons/muscles/glands
myelin sheath
speeds up neural impulses, covers axon
action potential
electric charge, travels down axon (neural impulse)
refractory period
period of inactivity after a neuron fired
threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger neural impulse
all-or-none response
neuron reaction of firing/not-firing
synapse
junction between axon tip (sending neuron) and dendrite of receiving neuron
neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that cross synaptic gap between neurons
reuptake
neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by sending neuron
endorphins
neurotransmitter linked to pain, control, and pleasure
agonist
molecule, binds to receptor site, stimulates response
antagonist
bind to receptor site, inhibits/blocks response
nervous system
electrochemical communication network, all nerve cells
central nervous system (CNS)
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
sensory/motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body
nerves
bundled axons, connect CNS with muscles/glands/sense organs
sensory (afferent) neurons
carry incoming info from sensory receptors to brain/spinal cord
motor (efferent) neurons
carry outgoing info from brain/spinal cord to muscles/glands
interneurons
within brain/spinal cord , communicate internally, intervene between sensory inputs/motor outputs
somatic nervous system
division of PNS that controls body’s skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system)
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
part of PNS that controls glands/muscles of internal organs
sympathetic nervous system
division of ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing energy during stress
parasympathetic nervous system
division of ANS that calms body, conserving energy
reflex
automatic response to sensory stimulus
endocrine system
set of glands that secrete hormones to blood
hormones
chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands
adrenal glands
part of endocrine glands, secrete hormones (epinephrine/norepinephrine) that help arouse body in stress
pituitary gland
regulates growth, controls other endocrine glands
lesion
tissue destruction
electroencephalogram (EEG)
amplified readout of waves of electrical activity in brain
CT (computed tomography) scan
series of x-ray scans that represent brain structure
PET (position emission tomography) scan
detects radioactive glucose while brain performs task
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
magnetic fields/radio waves show brain anatomy
fMRI
reveals blood flow, show brain function/structure
brainstem
core of brain, automatic survival functions
medulla
controls heartbeat and breathing, in brainstem
thalamus
sensory control center, top of brainstem, directs messages and transmits replies to cerebellum/medulla
reticular formation
nerve network in brainstem, controls arousal
cerebellum
“little brain” at brainstem, nonverbal learning, memory, movement output/balance, process sensory input
limbic system
associated with emotions/drives
hippocampus
in limbic system, processes conscious memories
amygdala
in limbic system, linked to emotion
hypothalamus
in limbic system, directs several maintenance activities, linked to emotion/reward, helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland
cerebral cortex
ultimate control + information-processing center
glial cells (glia)
cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, play a role in learning/thinking
frontal lobes
speaking, muscle movements, making plans/judgements
parietal lobes
receives sensory input for touch/body position, top of rear head
occipital lobes
receive info from visual fields, back of head
temporal lobes
above ears, receive info primarily from opposite ear
motor cortex
area at rear frontal love, controls voluntary movements
somatosensory cortex
front of parietal lobes, registers/processes body touch/movement sensations
association areas
involved in higher functions in cerebral cortex, learning/remembering/thinking/speaking
plasticity
brain’s ability to change by reorganizing after damage/building new pathways based on experience
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
corpus callosum
connecting brain hemispheres, carrying messages between them
split brain
isolation of hemispheres by cutting connecting fibers
consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
cognitive neuroscience
study of brain activity linked with cognition
dual processing
info simultaneously processed, conscious + unconscious tracks
behavior genetics
study of relative power/limits of genetic environmental influences on behavior
environment
every external influence
chromosomes
made of DNA, contain genes
DNA
contain genetic info, make up chromosomes
genes
make up chromosomes, segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
genome
complete instructions for making organism, consist all generic material in organism’s chromosomes
identical twins
develop from single fertilized egg that splits in 2
fraternal twins
develop from separate fertilized eggs
molecular genetics
studies molecular structure/function of genes
heritability
proportion of variation among individuals that attribute to genes
interaction
effect of one factor depends on another
epigenetics
study of environmental influences on gene expression, without DNA change
evolutionary psychology
study of evolution of behavior and mind, using natural selection principles
natural selection
key traits passed on to generations
mutation
random error in gene replication, leads to change
Paul Broca
research on Broca’s brain area, responsible for speech production
Carl Wernicke
research on Wernicke’s brain area, responsible for understanding
Roger Sperry
split brain research, left-language comprehension, right-articulation
Michael Gazzaniga
discovered hemispheres experience world differently and communication between hemispheres
Charles Darwin
natural selection founder
Polarization
when the inside of the neuron is negatively charged relative to outside (resting potential)
Depolarization
when the electrical charge of a cell moves to zero
Serotonin
affects mood, hunger, arousal, and sleep, undersupply linked to depression (happiness)
Dopamine
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion (rewards and motivation), oversupply linked to schizophrenia, undersupply linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson’s disease and ADHD
Acetylcholine (ACh)
enables muscle action, learning, and memory, ACh-producing neurons deteriorate as Alzheimer’s disease progresses
GABA
a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, undersupply links to seizures, tremors, and insomnia
Left Hemisphere
thoughts and logic, language: words and definitions, pieces and details
Right Hemisphere
feelings and intuition, language: tone, inflection, context, wholes including the self
