AP Psychology 42S Unit 2: The Biological Bases of Behaviour

phrenology,reading of the bumps on the head

localization of function,various brain regions have different functions

biological psychology,study of the links between biology and behavior

biospychosocial systems,

mirror neurons,frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so

neuron,nerve cell

dendrite,extend from the body of the cell; receive information

axon,long stem from cell body that carries messages away from cell body

myelin sheath,fatty tissue covering axon that speeds up transmissions

action potential,brief, neural impulse that travels down an axon

resting potential,electrical charge across the cell membrane of a resting neuron

selectively permeable,a property of cell membranes that allows some substances to pass through while others cannot

sodium-potassium pump,a carrier protein that uses ATP to actively transport sodium ions out of a cell and potassium ions into the cell

depolarization,A positive shift in the electrical charge in the neuron's resting potential, making it less negatively charged

repolarization,Return of the cell to resting state, caused by reentry of potassium into the cell while sodium exits the cell

refractory period,The period of time during which a neuron cannot respond to another stimulus because the membrane is returning to its polarized state

threshold,The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

all or none response,a neuron either fires or it doesn't

synapse,gap between axon terminals and dendrites

neurotransmitters,chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps

acetylcholine,A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction

norepinephrine,A neurotransmitter involved in alertness and arousal

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

dopamine,A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA),inhibitory neurotransmitter

glutamate,excitatory neurotransmitter

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

reuptake,a neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron

agonist,similar enough to a neurotransmitter that it can bind to a neurotransmitter and stimulate a response

antagonist,similar enough to a neurotransmitter that it can bind to a neurotransmitter and block a response

nervous system,the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells

central nervous system,brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system,connects CNS to the rest of the body

nerves,bundles of axons

sensory neurons,carry messages to CNS

moror neurons,carry messages from CNS

interneurons,CNS neurons that internally communicate 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 (voluntary)

autonomic nervous system,the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary actions

sympathetic nervous system,The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body

parasympathetic nervous system,the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body

reflex,automatic response to a sensory stimulation

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

hormones,Chemicals produced by glands

adrenal glands,a pair of glands that sit above the kidneys and secrete hormones that arouse the body

pituitary gland,gland that regulates growth and controls all other glands

lesion,tissue destruction

electroencephalogram (EEG),amplified recording of waves and electricity

computed tomography (CT),brain x-ray

Position emission tomography (PET),shows brain activity by detecting glucose use

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of the brain

functional MRI (fMRI),reveals blood flow in the brain, showing structure and function

brainstem,responsible for automatic survival functions

medulla,controls heartbeat and breathing

thalamus,processes sensory information for all senses except smell

reticular formation,controls arousal

pons,sends signal to begin REM sleep

hippocampus,processes explicit memories

cerebellum,controls fine motor movements, balance, coordination, and implicit memories

limbic system,associated with emotions and drives

amygdala,linked to emotions, especially anger and fear

hypothalamus,directs maintenance activities, helps govern the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward

reward deficiency syndrome,deficiency in the natural brain systems for pleasure and well being that leads to craving what provides the missing pleasure

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 that support, nourish, and protect neurons

frontal lobes,involved in speaking, moving, planning and judgement

parietal lobes,receives sensory input for touch and position

occipital lobes,receives visual input

temporal lobes,receives auditory input

hindbrain,The posterior portion of the brain including cerebellum, brainstem, medulla, pons, and RAS

midbrain,reticular formation

forebrain,The largest and most complicated region of the brain, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum

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

somatosensory cortex,A brain area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations

association areas,areas not involved in motor/sensory functions; involved in higher mental functions

plasticity,the brain's ability to change

neurogenesis,formation of new neurons

corpus callosum,neural fibers that connect the two hemispheres

split brain,a condition resulting from surgery in which the two brain hemispheres are isolated by cutting the corpus callosum

consciousness,our awareness of ourselves and our environment

cognitive neuroscience,the study of brain activity and cognitions

dual processing,information is processed on conscious and unconscious levels

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

environment,external influences

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,Factors that control traits

genome,All the genetic information in an organism

identical twins (monozygotic),develop from one egg that splits in two

fraternal twins (dizygotic),develop from two different fertilized eggs; no more similar than siblings

molecular genetics,study of structure and function of genes

heritability,The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes

interaction,occurs when the environment depends on genetics

epigenetics,study of the environmental influences on gene expression (alcohol, drugs, etc)

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

natural selection,genes contributing to survival are passed on

mutation,random error in gene replication

Broca's area,controls language expression (left hemisphere)

Wernike's area,interprets and expresses language (left hemisphere)