Biological Psychology Flashcards

terms from chapters 1-2 so far

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors influence gene expression without changing genes

Neuron

A cell that connects to muscles and organs and transmits information

Glial cells

Cells that support neuron functioning

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

All nervous system components outside the brain and spinal cord

Cerebrum

The forebrain structure responsible for conscious behaviors

Hemispheres

The left and right sides of the cerebrum

Brainstem

A structure responsible for unconscious behaviors

Cerebellum

The hindbrain structure specialized for movement and learning (little brain)

Neocortex

The outer layer of the cerebrum (forebrain) involved in higher-order processing

Locked-in Syndrome

The brain functions and senses stimuli but movement pathways are inactive

Minimally Conscious State (MCS)

A condition of minimal but definite awareness

Persistent Vegetative State (PVS)

Wakefulness without awareness

Mentalism

Behavior is a function of a nonmaterial mind

Psyche

A nonmaterial entity proposed as the source of behavior

Dualism

Both the nonmaterial mind and material body contribute to behavior

Mind-body problem

Difficulty explaining how mind and brain interact

Dualist hypothesis

The mind resides in the pineal gland and directs movement

Materialism

Behavior explained entirely by the nervous system

Natural selection

Differential reproductive success of traits

Phi theory

Waking brain activity produces consciousness

Hominids

Early human ancestors

Chordates

Animals with brains and spinal cords

Encephalization

Increased brain size relative to body size

Australopithecus

Early human ancestor with ape-sized brain

Neanderthals

Early humans with cultural and emotional behavior

Neoteny

Juvenile traits of one species retained into adulthood of ancestor species

Radiator hypothesis

Brain size increase requires improved cooling

Neuroplasticity

The nervous system’s ability to change with experience or injury

Agenesis

Failure of brain regions to develop

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

System that controls voluntary movement and sensory input

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

System that regulates internal organs

Enteric Nervous System (ENS)

System that regulates the neural network in the gut

Afferent information

Incoming sensory signals

Efferent information

Outgoing motor commands

Dura mater

Tough outer meningeal layer protection of the brain

Arachnoid layer

Thin sheet of connective tissue, second layer protection of the brain

Pia mater

Inner layer protection clinging to the brain

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Liquid that cushions and protects the brain

Meninges

Three-layer brain protection

Encephalitis

Infection of brain tissue

Cerebral cortex

Folded outer brain layer, contains rolls of allocortex

Frontal lobe

Lobe responsible for executive function and movement

Parietal lobe

Lobe responsible for goal-directed movement

Temporal lobe

Lobe responsible for higher-order hearing

Occipital lobe

Lobe responsible for vision processing

Gyrus

Raised cortical fold in cerebral cortex

Sulcus

Cortical groove in brain matter

Fissure

Deep cortical groove in brain matter

Gray matter

Areas in the nervous system made of cell bodies and blood vessels

White matter

Areas in the nervous system made of fat-sheathed neural axons

Corpus callosum

Fibers connecting the two hemispheres

Lateral ventricles

CSF-filled cavities composed of blood vessels

Nerve

Axon bundle outside CNS

Tract

Axon bundle inside CNS

Stroke

Interruption of cerebral blood flow

Spinal cord

Controls movement and reflexes, can act independently from brain

Brainstem

Responsible for unconscious behavior, contains central brain structures

Hindbrain

The brainstem structure responsible for breathing, balance, fine movements

Reticular formation

The hindbrain structure responsible for the arousal system

Pons

The hindbrain structure responsible for connecting the cerebellum to brain

Medulla

The hindbrain structure responsible for controlling breathing and heart rate

Midbrain

The brainstem structure responsible for sensory processing, contains the tectum and tegmentum

Tectum

The midbrain structure responsible for visual and auditory processing

Tegmentum

The midbrain structure responsible for eye and limb movement

Diencephalon

The brainstem structure responsible for sensorimotor integration, contains hypothalamus and thalamus

Hypothalamus

The diencephalon structure responsible for regulating hormones

Thalamus

The diencephalon structure responsible for sensory and motor processing and relay

Forebrain

The CNS structure responsible for integrating memories that enable advanced cognitive functioning

Limbic system

The forebrain structure responsible for emotion and memory regulation

Amygdala

The forebrain structure responsible for fear and anxiety

Hippocampus

The forebrain structure responsible for memory formation

Cingulate cortex

The forebrain structure responsible for emotion formation linked to behavior/motivation

Basal ganglia

The forebrain structure responsible for controling voluntary and involuntary movements

Neocortex

The forebrain structure responsible for constructing perception, composed of six gray matter layers

Dermatomes

Body regions tied to spinal segments

Cranial Nerves

Controls afferent and efferent functions (SNS)

Sympathetic division

Fight-or-flight response (ANS)

Parasympathetic division

Rest-and-digest response (ANS)

Vagus nerve

Connects brain and ENS to ANS