Biopsychology Flashcards

Flashcards about Biopsychology

Biopsychology

Explores the biological mechanisms that underlie behavior, including genetics, the nervous system, and the endocrine system.

Genetics in Biopsychology

Study of how inherited genes can affect physiological and psychological traits.

PET scan

Positron emission tomography- a neuroimaging technique that measures metabolic activity in the brain by detecting gamma rays emitted from a radioactive tracer.

CT scan

Computed tomography- a neuroimaging procedure that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body, particularly the brain.

fMRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging- a technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow and oxygen levels, providing insights into brain function.

Theory of Evolution Through Natural Selection

The organisms better suited for their environment will survive and reproduce, while those poorly suited will die off.

Sickle Cell Anemia

A genetic condition in which red blood cells take on a crescent-like shape, but carriers may be immune to malaria.

Genetic Variation

The genetic difference between individuals, contributing to a species’ adaptation.

Chromosome

Long strand of genetic information known as DNA.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs.

Gene

Sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics known as traits.

Allele

A specific version of a gene.

Genotype

Genetic makeup of an individual.

Phenotype

An individual’s observable characteristics.

Polygenic Traits

Traits controlled by more than one gene.

Dominant Allele

Allele that will always result in expression of that phenotype.

Recessive Allele

Allele whose phenotype will only be physically expressed if the person is homozygous for that allele.

Heterozygous

Consisting of two different alleles (Aa).

Homozygous

Consisting of two identical alleles (AA/aa).

Punnett Square

Tool used to predict how genes will interact in the production of offspring.

Mutations

Sudden, permanent change in a gene.

Range of Reaction

Asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with genes to determine where in that range we will fall.

Genetic Environmental Correlation

View of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes.

Epigenetics

Study of gene-environment interactions such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes.

Dendrites

Receive incoming electrical signals from other neurons and send the signal down the axon.

Myelin Sheath

Insulates axons and allows the signal to travel down the axon quicker.

Synaptic Vessels

Storage sites for chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.

Synapse

Space between the terminal button of one neuron and the dendrite of another neuron.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers.

Depolarization

Membrane potential becomes less negative, making the neuron more likely to fire (excitation).

Hyperpolarization

Membrane potential becomes more negative, making the neuron less likely to fire (inhibition).

Threshold of Excitation

Level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active.

Action Potential

Electrical signal. Rapid change in membrane potential that propagates along the neuron.

Reuptake

Moving a neurotransmitter from the synapse back into the axon terminal from which it was released.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger of the nervous system.

Psychotropic Medication

Drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance.

Agonist

Drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

Drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Brain and spinal cord. It is responsible for processing and transmitting information throughout the body.

Somatic Nervous System

Relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS. located in the peripheral nervous system

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls our internal organs and glands.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Involved in stress-related activities and functions; prepares us for fight or flight.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body under relaxed conditions.

Rest and Restore Response

Relaxes the body after fight or flight (aka rest and digest).

Lateralization

Concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Cerebral Cortex

Higher level processes, located in the outer layer of the brain, including thought, reasoning, and sensory perception.

Thalamus

Sensory relay. located in the middle of the brain that processes and transmits sensory information to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

regulates homeostatic processes including body temperature, appetite, and blood pressure. located in the middle of the brain

Pituitary Gland

Master gland of the endocrine system. It produces hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including growth, metabolism, and stress response. It is controlled by the hypothalamus

Limbic System

a collection of brain structures involved in emotional and motivational processes, as well as memory. Key structures include the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the hypothalamus

Frontal Lobe

Involved in executive functioning, motor control, emotion, and language.

Motor Cortex

Strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement.

Prefrontal Cortex

Responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning.

Broca’s Area

Region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production. It regulates speech and grammatical processing, allowing individuals to formulate coherent sentences.

Parietal Lobe

Involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information. It is located behind the frontal lobe and is one of the major lobes of the brain

Somatosensory Cortex

Essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain.

Temporal Lobe

Associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language. It is located below the parietal lobe and is one of the major lobes of the brain

Auditory Cortex

Strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information.

Wernicke’s Area

Important for speech comprehension. It is located in the left temporal lobe and plays a critical role in understanding spoken and written language.

Occipital Lobe

Associated with visual processing. It is located at the back of the brain and is responsible for interpreting visual stimuli.

Primary Visual Cortex

Responsible for interpreting incoming visual information. It is located in the occipital lobe and processes visual stimuli such as color, brightness, and motion.

Amygdala

Involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories and processing fear.

Hippocampus

Structure associated with learning and memory (in particular spatial memory).

Reticular Formation

Important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity.

Substantia Nigra

Where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement.

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)

Where dopamine is produced; associated with mood, reward, and addiction.

Medulla

Controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Pons

Connects the brain and the spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep.

Cerebellum

Controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory.

CT Scan

Brain Imaging Technique involving X-rays

PET Scan

Brain Imaging Technique involving radioactive substance

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged.

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

MRI that show changes in metabolic activity over time.

EEG

Technique Involving Electrical Activity

The Endocrine System

A series of glands that produce hormones to regulate normal body functions.

Pituitary Gland

Serves as the master gland, controlling the secretions of all other glands.

Thyroid

Secretes Thyroxine which regulates growth, metabolism and appetite

Adrenal Gland

Secretes hormones involved in the stress response.

Beta-endorphin

Pain, pleasure

Dopamine

Mood, sleep, learning

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Brain function, sleep