Unit 3: The Biology of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Neurons

A

Nerve cells that make up the nervous system and communicate to transfer information from the brain throughout the body.

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2
Q

Action Potential

A

When a sensation occurs, either outside your body or from another neuron, a quick electrical charge is sent down the axon of the neuron, waking it up.

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2
Q

Excitatory Signals

A

like gas pedal, telling neurons to go

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3
Q

Inhibitory signals

A

Like brakes, telling the neuron to stop

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4
Q

Threshold

A

Specific level of stimulation that must be generated for a neural impulse or message to be sent. When threshold is met, action Potential occurs, signal is sent to other neurons, leading to a response, or the behavior.

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5
Q

Synapse

A

Point of connection between the tip of the axon or the synaptic terminal and the dendrite of another neuron. The open space between neurons is a synaptic gap.

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6
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers that communicate between neurons/neuron and muscle.

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7
Q

Reuptake

A

when neurotransmitters are unable to find a receptor site either disperse, break down, or are reabsorbed.

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8
Q

Lateralization

A

Scientists have hound that different regions of the brain have different functions

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9
Q

Brain Sides

A

Right: Creative
Left: Logical and analytical

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10
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

Located at the front of brain. Responsible for conscious or voluntary movement and executive functions. Like your secretary (Planning, organizing, self-monitoring)

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11
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Located behind your frontal lobe, responsible for sensations and perceptions. (5 senses) Plays a role in reading and reasoning.

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12
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Side of your head behind your ears, processes emotions. Used for language and processing info from 5 senses.

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13
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Beneath the parietal Lobe, responsible for vision.

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14
Q

Cerebellum

A

Located at the back of your head, responsible for movement and coordination. Helps for fine motor skills.

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15
Q

Brain Stem

A

Base of your neck, connected to spinal cord, responsible for basic functioning (Heartbeat, breathing, swallowing) Essential for life.

16
Q

Timeline of Brain Discovery

A

-1664: “Anatomy of the Brain” is published by Thomas Willis, term neurology is introduced
-1862: Area of brain responsible for speech is discovered by Paul Broca
-1929: Electroencephalography is invented by Hans Berger and measures electric activity in the brain.
-1938: Nuclear magnetic resonance, which leads to MRI, discovered by Isidor Rabi
-1974: Positron Emission Tomography scanner is invented, producing images of brain activity
-1992: Becomes possible to map activity in human brain with functional magnetic resonance imaging.

17
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Acquire info from stimuli in environment, the deliver it to brain.

18
Q

Motor Neurons

A

Carry info from brain and spinal cord throughout the body to communicate what functioning should occur.

19
Q

Interneurons

A

Located within the brain and spinal cord. Process and disseminate info coming in from sensory Neurons and info going out from motor neurons.

20
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

controls voluntary movement within your musculature

21
Q

Neroplasticity

A

The ability of the brain and nervous system to change, adjust, reorganize, and growth, is constantly.

21
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

controls your internal organs and glands.

22
Q

Hormones

A

chemical messengers created in endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream

23
Q

Genetic transmission

A

Study of how genes are passed from one generation to the next

24
Q

Genetic mutation

A

abnormality within chromosomal development or reproduction.

25
Q

Perceptual set

A

the assumptions and interpretations that influence the processing of sensations

26
Q

Bottom-up processing

A

occurs when sensations reach sensory receptors and then travel to your brain for processing.

27
Q

Top-down processing

A

When expectations/experiences are used to create our perceptions.

28
Q

Absolute threshold

A

minimum amount of stimulus that just be present for detection to occur

29
Q

Biological functioning

A

essential to detect sensation and interpret it. Must have proper biological components for 5 senses.

29
Q

Subconscious

A

Outside our immediate awareness. Affects mood, behavior, and thought processes. Can be brought to conscious mind

30
Q

Conscious

A

Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of which you are fully aware and which are readily accessible

31
Q

Unconscious

A

Info processing (Memories, interest, motivation, perception) is beneath level of perception. Happens automatically.

32
Q

Explicit Processing

A

Information processing that takes place on a conscious level.

33
Q

Repair and Restore Theory

A

Sleep cleans up and fixes brain and body, eliminating waste, restoring necessary chemicals, and organizing/consolidating memories. (Repairs body after day)

34
Q

Evolutionary or Adaptive Theory

A

Sleep preserves the human species by conserving energy for necessary periods of activity and minimizing their presence while predators are hunting at night.

35
Q

Information Consolidation Theory

A

Sleep improves cognition as the brain organizes and stores memories and info preparing for the next day

35
Q

Brain Plasticity Theory of Sleep

A

Essential for brain growth and development, during sleep the brain participates in neural reorganization and growth.