AP Psychology Unit 2, Part I: Biological Bases of Behavior (UPDATED)

biological psychology

the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system

dendrites

a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

axon

the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

all-or-none response

a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron

endorphins

natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

agonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor sit, stimulates a response

antagonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

nervous system

the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

nerves

bundled axons that

form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

sensory/afferent neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

motor efferent neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information

from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart); includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic system

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

reflex

a simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sits just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress

pituitary gland

the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

lesion

destruction of brain tissue, either caused naturally or experimentally

EEG

measures electrical activity in the brain with the pads attached to the head

CT scan

makes 3-D representation of brain or organ

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

brainstem

the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus

the brain's sensory control center; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

cerebellum

the "little brain"; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory

limbic system

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus); associated with emotions and drives

amygdala

two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion

hypothalamus

a neural structure that directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

cerebral cortex

the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning and thinking

parietal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

occipital lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields

temporal lobes

portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

plasticity

the brain's ability

to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

neurogenesis

the formation of new neurons

corpus callosum

the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them

consciousness

awareness

cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

dual processing

the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

environment

every external influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

DNA

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

genes

the biochemical units

of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes

identical twins

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

fraternal twins

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs

molecular genetics

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

heritability

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending

on the range of populations and environments studied

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

natural selection

the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival

will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

Paul Broca

French physician who discovered an area of the brain associated with language. Damage to Broca's area disrupts speaking/spoken language.

Carl Wernicke

Discovered that damage to a certain area of the brain resulted in deficits in language comprehension.

Roger Sperry

Neural psychologist who won the Nobel Prize for his work on split brain research. Michael Gazzaniga was his graduate student.

Michael Gazzaniga

Current psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He pioneered studies on split brain patients.

Charles Darwin

English naturalist; theory of evolution; his theory is a basis for evolutionary psychology and as part of the biopsychosocial approach to human development.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger,sleep, arousal, and mood.

Achetylcholine

involuntary movements; lack of this neurotransmitter is associated with alzheimers

Norepinephrine

helps control alertness and arousal; undersupply can depress mood

Cortisol

stress hormone

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

Melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system; Too much is associated with Schizophrenia

Oxytocin

"cuddle hormone" or the "love hormone," because it is released when people snuggle up or bond socially.

fMRI (functional MRI)

is a functional neuroimaging procedure using MRI technology that measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow.

MRI

a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.

MEG (magnetoencephalography)

view of the brain's magnetic field as it passes through the skull with no distortion thus mapping the brain's electrical activity

frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement