Biology and Behavior Flashcards

Flashcards for vocabulary review.

Electroencephalograph

Machine that records the electrical activity occurring in the brain.

Microelectrode

A wire so small that it can be inserted near or into a single neuron without damaging it.

CT Scan

Computerized, cross-sectional images reveals the structures within the brain as well as abnormalities and injuries, including tumors and evidence of old or more recent strokes.

MRI

Produces clearer and more detailed images than the CT scan without exposing people to potentially dangerous X-rays; can be used to find abnormalities in the central nervous system and in other systems of the body.

PET Scan

Maps the patterns of blood flow, oxygen use, and glucose consumption; show the action of drugs and other biochemical substances in the brain and other bodily organs

fMRI

Can identify locations of activity more precisely than PET; can detect changes that take place in less than a second

Neurons

Specialized cells that conduct impulses through the nervous system (send and receive messages).

Neurotransmitters

Specialized chemicals that facilitate or inhibit the transmission of messages between neurons.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from the senses to the brain.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain to the muscles.

Interneurons

Neurons between sensory and motor neurons which help transfer information; the most numerous type of neuron.

Dendrites

Short fibers that extend from the cell body and receive messages.

Axon

Long, tube-like structure that extends from the cell body and carries the message.

Cell Body (Soma)

Contains the nucleus and generates energy for the neuron to function.

Myelin Sheath

Fatty covering that insulates the axon and increases communication speed.

Axon Terminal

Where axon ends and transmits info to dendrites, other cell bodies, and muscles.

Vesicles

Tiny sacs on axon terminal that contain neurotransmitters

Node of Ranvier

Gap in myelin sheath where the action potential is regenerated.

Synaptic Cleft

Tiny gap between neurons.

Glial Cells

Cells that hold neurons together so that they can communicate, bring nutrition to neurons, and take away wastes.

Action Potential

Electrical impulse that travels down the axon when a neuron is sending a message.

Reuptake

Process where neurotransmitters that do not attach to the receptor site get reabsorbed.

Acetylcholine

First neurotransmitter discovered; linked to attention, arousal, memory, and muscle movement; linked to Alzheimer’s.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter that stabilizes mood, contributes to feelings of wellbeing and happiness, and helps with sleeping, eating and digestion.

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter released when the brain perceives a stressful event; supports fight or flight response.

Endorphins

Natural pain relievers released in response to stress.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement, pleasure centers, and attention; linked to Parkinson’s (too little) and Schizophrenia (too much).

GABA

Low levels linked to anxiety, epilepsy, and chronic pain.

Glutamate

Neurotransmitter important for learning and memory; linked to Schizophrenia.

Somatic Nervous System

Division of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System

Division of the peripheral nervous system that transmits messages between the central nervous system and the glands and muscles; controls involuntary functions.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for action in times of stress.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Division of the autonomic nervous system that brings the body back to normal after a stressful event.

Spinal Cord

Links the body with the brain; transmits messages between the brain and nerves in other parts of the body.

Brain Stem

Handles functions that are so critical to physical survival that damage to it is life threatening.

Medulla

Part of the brain stem that controls heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, coughing, and swallowing.

Pons

Plays a role in body movement and even exerts an influence on sleep and dreaming.

Cerebellum

Critically important to the body’s ability to execute smooth, skilled movements.

Thalamus

Serves as the relay station for virtually all the information that flows into and out of the forebrain; regulates sleep cycles.

Hypothalamus

Regulates hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, and a wide variety of emotional behaviors; internal body temperature, circadian rhythm.

Limbic System

Involved in emotional expression, memory, and motivation.

Amygdala

Plays an important role in emotion, especially fear.

Hippocampus

Involved in memories (damage stops formation of new memories).

Cerebral Cortex

The thinking part of the brain.

Corpus Callosum

Thick band of nerve fibers at the bottom connecting the two hemispheres

Frontal Lobes

Largest lobe; involved in executive processing, reason, logic, planning, emotion, creativity, and personality functioning.

Motor Cortex

Frontal lobe region that coordinates voluntary body movements.

Broca’s Area

The part of the brain responsible for speech (left hemisphere).

Broca’s Aphasia

Loss or impairment of the ability to use or understand language; resulting from damage from head injury or stroke

Parietal Lobes

Involved in the reception and processing of touch stimuli, spatial orientation, and sense of direction.

Somatosensory Cortex

Site where touch, pressure, temperature, and pain register in the cerebral cortex.

Occipital Lobes

Involved in the reception and interpretation of visual information.

Temporal Lobes

Involved in the reception and interpretation of auditory stimuli.

Wernicke’s Area

Language area involved in comprehending the spoken word and in formulating coherent written and spoken language.

Wernicke’s Aphasia

Type of aphasia resulting from damage to Wernicke’s area; the actual message does not make sense to listeners.

Pruning

The process through which the developing brain eliminates unnecessary or redundant synapses.

Endorcrine System

A system of ductless glands in various parts of the body that manufacture homes and secrete them into the bloodstream, thus affecting cells in other parts of the body.

Pituitary Gland

Considered the master gland; regulates the other glands and growth.

Pineal Gland

Produces and regulates the hormone melatonin.

Thyroid Gland

Regulates the rate at which food is metabolized, or transformed into energy.

Thymus Gland

Produces hormones needed for the production of specialized white blood cells that circulate throughout the body and destroy microorganisms that can cause diseases.

Pancreas

Regulates the body’s blood sugar levels by releasing the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream.

Adrenal Glands

Produce epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Genes

Segments of DNA located on rod-shaped structures called chromosomes.

Genotype

An individual’s genetic makeup.

Phenotype

An individual's actual traits

Multifactorial inheritance

Influenced by both genes and environmental factors

Behavioral Genetics

A field of research that investigates the relative effects of heredity and environment on behavior.