Biological Bases of Behavior

Biopsychology

The branch of psychology that examines the connection between the brain and behavior.

Nature vs. Nurture

A debate around the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to human development.

Evolutionary Psychology

A branch of psychology that seeks to understand human behavior by considering evolutionary influences.

Behavior Genetics

The field that examines the interplay of genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in behavior.

Epigenetics

The study of molecular mechanisms that can trigger or block gene expression in response to environmental factors.

Neuron

The basic building block of the nervous system, responsible for transmitting information.

Dendrites

Branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages from other neurons and conduct impulses towards the cell body.

Axon

The extension of a neuron that carries the action potential to its target, which can be another neuron, gland, or muscle.

Action Potential

An electrical signal that travels down the axon of a neuron, representing a neural impulse.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another.

Agonist

A substance that mimics or enhances the effect of a natural neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

A substance that blocks or dampens the biological response by blocking neurotransmitter receptors.

Psychoactive Drugs

Chemicals that alter brain function and result in changes in perception, mood, or consciousness.

Tolerance

A condition where a person needs to use more of a substance to achieve the same effect due to its continued use.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources during stress, preparing it for 'fight or flight'.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for restoring the body to a state of calm and conserving energy.

Split Brain

A condition resulting from the cutting of the corpus callosum, leading to the two hemispheres of the brain functioning independently.

Corpus Callosum

The structure that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Brain Stem

controls basic life-sustaining functions (breathing, heart rate, and sleeping)

medulla

part of brain stem and controls vital functions like heartbeat, breathing and blood pressure

Reticular formation

network of nueron helps regulate arousal, alertness and sleep-wake cycles

Cerebellum

responsible for coordinating voluntary movements, balance and motor skills and enables smooth physical actions like typing

thalamus

“relay station”, directing sensory information to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex

hypothalamus

regulates homeostasis, controlling hunger, thirst, body temp, and emotional growth, also governs pituitary gland

pituitary gland

known as “master gland”, it releases hormones that control growth, metabolism, reproduction and stress responses

Hippocampus

forming, organization and storing new memories

Amygdala

involved in emotional processing (fear/anger) and forming new memories (emotional)

Occipital lobe

processes visual information

Visual cortex

processes visual stimuli (light, color, motion)