Biological Bases of Behavior and Psychology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering behavioral genetics, neural and endocrine communication, brain anatomy, cortical functions, and sleep from the lecture notes.

Behavior geneticists

Researchers who examine the role of genetic heredity in human behavior.

Monozygotic twins

Identical twins who share virtually identical genomes, studied to evaluate the impact of heredity versus environment on human behavior.

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental stimuli cause genes to dynamically vary their behavior (gene expression) by being switched on or switched off.

Natural selection

The principle of Darwinian evolution that traits contributing most to an organism's survival and reproduction are most likely to be passed on.

Evolutionary psychology

A movement within psychology applying Charles Darwin's ideas and natural selection to explain cross-cultural elements of human behavior.

Neuron

A nerve cell that serves as the basic structure making possible the transmission of information between the mind and the environment.

Action potentials

Electrical pulses generated and transmitted by neurons to convey information.

Dendrites

Branching fibers extending from the soma that receive information from other cells.

Axons

Long tails extending from the soma that send information to other cells.

Depolarization

The process of generating an action potential occurring when membrane gaps open, bringing positively-charged fluid outside into contact with negatively-charged fluid inside.

Synapses

The tiny gaps between one neuron's axon terminal and another neuron's dendrite across which communication takes place.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical molecules launched across the synaptic gap that transmit signals by binding to receptor sites on dendrites.

Reuptake

The recycling process where neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the neuron after completing their transmission task.

Glial cells (glia)

Cells that support neurons by providing nutrients and oxygen, holding them in place, destroying pathogens, removing dead neurons, and aiding in neurotransmission.

Schwan cells

Glial cells that repair the myelin sheaths wrapping around neuronal axons.

Myelin sheaths

Insulating structures wrapping around axons that ensure the efficient firing of action potentials.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters linked to euphoria that reduce pain and stress, and help alleviate anxiety and depression.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The division of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The division of the nervous system containing the somatic and autonomic systems that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Afferent neurons

Neurons that send sensory information up to the brain.

Interneurons

Neurons that transmit information between neurons.

Efferent neurons

Neurons that send motor information down to muscles and glands.

Somatic nervous system

The division of the peripheral nervous system that enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic nervous system

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls glands and internal organs, regulating involuntary processes such as heartbeat, respiration, and digestion.

Sympathetic nervous system

The autonomic subsystem that arouses the body and expends energy.

Parasympathetic nervous system

The autonomic subsystem that calms the body and conserves energy.

Endocrine system

A system composed of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to influence mood and basic bodily urges.

Hormones

Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream by endocrine glands whose physical effects last much longer than those of neurotransmitters.

Brainstem

The innermost and most primitive part of the hindbrain regulating automatic survival functions, comprising the medulla and the pons.

Medulla

The brainstem structure that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

The brainstem structure that helps coordinate movement.

Cerebellum

The hindbrain structure behind the brainstem that coordinates movement and balance, and aids in emotional regulation and nonverbal learning and memory.

Reticular formation

A nerve network in the midbrain located at the top of the brainstem that regulates arousal, alertness, and wakefulness.

Thalamus

A pair of chambers located above the midbrain acting as the brain's communication hub to transmit signals between the brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex.

Limbic system

A brain network between the oldest and youngest structures that is associated with emotions and long-term memory.

Hippocampus

A limbic system structure that makes long-term memory possible.

Basal ganglia

Structures within the limbic system that assist in motor learning.

Amygdala

A limbic system structure that perceives threats and controls the experience of fear and aggression.

Hypothalamus

The brain's command center below the thalamus that regulates basic drives, activates the endocrine system, and produces dopamine as a reward center.

Cerebrum

The youngest and largest part of the brain, divided into two hemispheres, responsible for higher-level mental functions like conscious thought, perceptions, and speech.

Cerebral cortex

A large, thin, heavily-creased layer of gray matter covering the cerebrum that acts as our control and information-processing center.

Frontal lobe

The cerebral lobe located behind the forehead that is most involved in active thinking and judgement, housing the prefrontal and motor cortices.

Parietal lobe

The cerebral lobe located at the top and rear of the head that receives sensory input for touch and body position, containing the somatosensory cortex.

Occipital lobe

The cerebral lobe located at the back of the head that receives visual information from the optic nerve and contains the primary visual cortex.

Temporal lobe

The cerebral lobe located between the ears containing auditory areas, with each lobe receiving information from the opposite ear.

Motor cortex

A cortical area located at the back of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements.

Somatosensory cortex

A cortical area located at the front of the parietal lobe that receives and processes sensory information from skin and muscle tissue.

Association areas

Cortical regions comprising about $75\%$ of the human cerebral cortex that are not dedicated to primary motor or sensory tasks and carry out higher-level mental functions.

Neuroplasticity

The process by which association areas can reorganize to compensate for traumatic brain injuries.

Broca’s area

An association area located between the left frontal and temporal lobes that is central to speech production.

Wernicke’s area

An association area located in the left temporal lobe that is central to speech comprehension.

Corpus callosum

A band of neural fibers connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres that is severed during split-brain surgery.

REM sleep

The stage of sleep most strongly associated with dreaming, featuring wake-like brainwave patterns and brainstem blockage of neural signals to the spinal cord.

Action-synthesis

A dream hypothesis positing that dreams are the brain's attempt to make meaning out of neural static bouncing back from the brainstem.

Consolidation theory

A dream hypothesis proposing that dreams are the byproduct of memory consolidation and the activation of new neural retrieval pathways to strengthen them.