Unit 1 - Biological Bases of Behavior

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms

Heredity

A person’s biological makeup.

Environment

Life experience, family, and education.

Neuroscience

The scientific study of neurons and the nervous system.

Genome

Refers to the entirety of that individual’s hereditary information (consists of all the genetic material in that organism’s chromosomes).

Genotype

Refers to one’s genetic make-up

Phenotype

Refers to the outward manifestation that results from the interaction between those genetics and the environment

Behavior Genetics

Is the study of the interaction between genetics and environment (certain environmental factors are more likely to encourage the expression of certain genetic predispositions)

Genetic Predisposition

Refers to the idea that humans are born with a tendency toward certain behaviors or characteristics, but only a tendency

Heritability

Refers to the amount of difference between individuals that seems to be accounted for by heredity

Identical Twins

Develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two

Fraternal Twins

Develop from separate fertilized eggs

Reciprocal Determinism

Refers to the interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment (Bandura)

Evolution

Is the study of inherited traits over successive generations of a species

Natural Selection

Is the process that governs evolution

Adaptation

Is the process by which an organism or species becomes better suited for life in its environment

Evolutionary Psychology

Is the study of the evolution of mind and behavior based on principles of natural selection

Eugenics

Derives from the Greek words meaning “good birth” and refers to the scientific movement of the late 19th - early 20th centuries that aimed to improve the genetic quality of the human population

Autonomic Nervous system

Controls self-regulated action of internal organs and glands

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

Endocrine System

Is a second communication system that is interconnected with your nervous system

Pituitary Gland

Are Pea-sized structure located in the core of the brain, where it is controlled by an adjacent brain area, the hypothalamus

HGH (Growth Hormone)

Stimulates physical development

Oxytocin

Chemical involved in bonding, contractions during birthing, and milk flow during nursing

Adrenaline

In the endocrine system is associated with energy; in the sympathetic nervous system, it is associated with response to high-emotion situations, such as emergencies. Adrenaline affects behavior by enhancing alertness and physical readiness for immediate action, which can be crucial for survival; Adrenaline is the same chemical as epinephrine

Leptin

Secreted by fat cells, leptin is involved in regulating energy balance by inhibiting hunger, which in turn diminishes fat storage. Leptin communicates with the brain about the body's energy status, influencing appetite and food intake. Changes in leptin levels can affect mood and motivation related to eating behaviors and are involved in the long-term regulation of body weight.

Ghrelin

Often called the "hunger hormone," ghrelin is produced in the stomach and signals the brain to stimulate appetite. It plays a key role in meal initiation, as its levels increase before meals and decrease after eating

Melatonin

This hormone is produced by the pineal gland in response to darkness, helping regulate the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin influences circadian rhythms and is crucial for healthy sleep patterns.

Oxytocin

Often dubbed the "love hormone" or "social bonding hormone," oxytocin is released in response to various forms of social interaction and bonding activities, such as childbirth, breastfeeding, and physical touch.

Neurons

Are the basic building blocks of the nervous system

Dendrites

Branch-like projections that receive messages from other neurons; (dendritic branches or ears of the neuron)

Soma

The cell body, made up of a nucleus which is surrounded by cytoplasm, all of which is held together by a membrane

Axon

The “tail” of the neuron along which electrical signals are conducted; this signal results from a brief change in the electrical charge of the cell, at the axon hillock called the action potential, which radiates down the axon

Axon Terminals or Terminal Buttons

Knobs at the end of each axon from which chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are released into the synapse, the gap between the terminal buttons of the presynaptic sending neuron and the dendrites of the postsynaptic receiving neuron

Afferent or Sensory Neurons

Carry messages to interneurons in the brain and spinal cord which then transmit the message out to the muscles and glands (the effectors) via efferent, or motor neurons

Neurotransmitters

Are the chemicals released by neurons; carry information, which is the foundation of behaviors and mental processes

Absolute Refractory Period

A very brief refractory period in which the cell cannot fire again

Neurotransmitters

The chemicals released by neurons; carry information, which is the foundation of behaviors and mental processes

Reuptake

Any excess neurotransmitter/s left in the synapse is re-collected by the transmitting neuron

Antagonist

A drug that inhibits or impedes the action of a neurotransmitter

Agonist

Drugs that enhance or amplify the action of a certain neurotransmitter

Myasthenia Gravis

Is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under voluntary control

Psychoactive or Psychotropic Drug

Is a chemical substance that impacts behavior, perceptions, moods, or mental processes

Tolerance

Results in the need for greater and greater amounts of the drug to experience the original effects

Physical Dependence

Meaning that a user has intense cravings and a physiological need for the drug

Psychological Dependence

Occurs when drugs that reduce stress become an increasingly important part of a user’s life, often as “self-medication” to relieve negative emotions

Addiction

Is a complex condition characterized by compulsive drug seeking, use, and dependence, despite harmful consequences

Depressants

These drugs lower neural activity and slow body functioning; all depressants can cause dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and psychological addiction

Sedatives

Sometimes called tranquilizers, are drugs that reduce anxiety or induce sleep; these include barbiturates, drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety while also impairing memory and judgement

Opiates (Pain Killers)

Are drugs that reduce neurotransmission and temporarily lessen pain and anxiety; all opiates can result in dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and physiological and psychological addiction

Stimulants

Are drugs that speed up the body’s functions; they provide users with a sense of increased energy, mental alertness, and forced wakefulness; all stimulants can cause dependence, tolerance, withdrawal, and psychological addiction as well as irreversible changes in mood

Amphetamines

Are drugs used to increase wakefulness and enhance cognitive performance (Adderal is an amphetamine used to treat ADHD, narcolepsy, and weight gain) it works by increasing the concentration of dopamine in brain synapses, which increases metabolism, mental clarity and creates wakefulness

Methamphetamines

Is an illegal substance, a “super” stimulant used mainly as a recreational drug and not prescribed medically; unlike amphetamine, methamphetamine is methylated twice, making it faster acting, more potent, and more dangerous

Hallucinogens

Drugs that cause hallucinations and distort perceptions of reality

Neurogenesis

The brain creates new neurons (especially in the hippocampus) throughout life

Neuroplasticity

The brain’s ability to change by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)

New neural networks are formed through a process

Medulla

Helps to control breathing, heartbeat, swallowing, blood circulation, vomiting, and digestion

Pons

Plays a role in some of these same vital functions and also serves as a bridge between brain regions

Midbrain

Is involved in vision, movement, hearing, and muscle coordination, although it is not the central processing unit of the brain

Reticular Formation

Is a neuron network that extends from the spinal cord right up through the thalamus

Reticular activating system (R.A.S)

Responsible for coordinating alertness and consciousness; it regulates the sleep-wake cycle--it turns the processing of sensory stimuli on and off; it acts as a sensory filter that selects which environmental stimuli we most need to attend to

Thalamus

a pair of egg-shaped structures that act as the brain’s sensory control center

Cerebellum

A center for balance, fine motor control, coordination of limbs and smooth muscle movements, and posture; it enables nonverbal learning and memory and also helps us judge time, modulate our emotions, and discriminate sounds and textures

Limbic System

This system contains the thalamus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and the hippocampus and is thought of as the seat of emotion and basic motivation

Hippocampus

Processes conscious memories and is involved in spatial perception

Amygdala

Two almond sized neural clusters, have been associated with anger, fear, and to some extent sex drive

Hypothalamus

Helps regulate many of our survival drives such as: appetite, thirst, sex drive, the sleep/wake cycle, body temperature, and the fight or flight response

Lateral Hypothalamus (LH)

Regulates hunger by carrying signals from the the stomach to the brain via the vagus nerve

Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH)

Regulates feelings of fullness (satiety) and contributes to the disorder known as hyperphagia

Brain Lateralization/Specialization

This division of labor

Corpus Callosum

Which allows information to pass from one side to the other

Cerebral Cortex

A thin surface layer of interconnected neural cells--your brain’s thinking crown, your body’s ultimate control and information processing center. Covering the cerebral hemispheres

Frontal Lobes

Play a role in speaking and muscular activity and the prefrontal area of the frontal lobes acts as the executive of the brain, carrying out planning, decision making, judgement, problem-solving, reasoning, self-control, personality, willpower and language

Motor Cortex

Responsible for voluntary muscle movement, is located in the rear of the frontal lobe, near the border of the parietal lobe, which houses the somatosensory area of the cortex

Auditory Cortex

Processes information from both ears, and is located in the temporal lobes

Split-Brain Research

A condition in which the corpus callosum is severed–commonly as treatment for intense epilepsy–has revealed distinct activities and functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain–this hemispheric specialization is called lateralization

Broca’s Area

Is involved in the ability to produce and express speech

Wernicke’s Area

Is involved in the comprehension of speech

Consciousness

Is our state of awareness of our existence, sensations, thoughts, and environment

Conscious Awareness

Includes all the sensations, perceptions, memories, and feelings you are aware of at any given moment (Waking consciousness is your normal, alert awareness that includes your working memory)

Preconscious

Includes stored information about yourself or your environment that you are not currently aware or thinking of but can easily call to mind when asked

Unconscious

This level was once the territory of Sigmund Freud’s theories of the psyche; today psychologists see the unconscious as the mental processing of learning, memory, perception, thought, and language that takes place without our awareness

Circadian Rhythm

Defining the wake/sleep cycle, the circadian rhythm ebbs and flows for roughly twenty-four hours without external cues

Environmental Cues

Our ability to perceive nighttime

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

The eyes detect lower light levels and cells in the retina communicate directly

Melatonin

The sleep hormone

Hypnagogic Sensations

These sensations can include vivid imagery, auditory hallucinations, or sensations of falling or floating

Stage 1

A non-dreaming stage or non-REM (NREM) sleep

REM

Rapid Eye Movement and represents what is known as “dream sleep”

Sleep Spindles

Sleep talking is associated

Paradoxical Stage

Brain waves increase in frequency, taking us back into Stage 2 and then into rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep

REM Rebound

More REM sleep--to help the body recover

Memory

Evidence shows that REM sleep plays a role in memory formation and consolidation, specifically for procedural and emotional memories

Sensation

Refers to the process whereby stimuli from the environment is brought into the body by one or more of the 5 senses

Perception

Refers to the process whereby the raw data sent from the 5 senses is organized and interpreted and responded to by the brain

“Top-down” Processing

Constructing our perceptions from the sensory input by drawing on our experience and expectations

“Bottom-up” Processing (Another Term for Sensation)

Starts at the sensory receptors and works up to higher levels of processing

Transduction

Transformation of one form of energy into another, in this case, one that can be interpreted by the central nervous system

Absolute Threshold

The minimum amount of stimulation necessary for a given stimulus to be detected 50% of the time

Difference Threshold

The smallest amount by which a stimulus can be changed and the difference be noticed 50% of the time (difference threshold increases with the size of the stimulus)