Biological Bases of Behavior and Psychology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core biological bases of behavior, brain anatomy, the nervous system, neurotransmitters, hormones, and neuroimaging techniques.

Evolutionary Perspective

The study of how psychological traits and behaviors have evolved over time to enhance survival and reproductive success.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those advantageous traits to future generations.

Nature ("Genes")

The inherent biological and genetic factors that influence an individual's psychological development, traits, behaviors, and cognitive abilities.

Nurture ("Environment")

The environmental influences and experiences that shape an individual's psychological development, behaviors, and cognitive processes.

Twin Studies

Research that examines similarities and differences between identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins to assess the relative influence of genetics and environment on traits and behaviors.

Adoption Studies

Research that investigates similarities between adopted children and their biological and adoptive families to assess the impact of genetics versus environment on various traits and behaviors.

Family Studies

Research that analyzes similarities and differences among family members, including parents and siblings, to understand the interplay of genetics and environment in shaping traits and behaviors.

Heredity

The transmission of genetic information from biological parents to offspring.

Heritability

A concept in psychology that helps figure out how much of our traits come from our genes and how much comes from our environment.

Genetic Predisposition

The inherited likelihood of developing specific traits or conditions due to genetic factors from biological parents.

Eugenics

The belief in improving the genetic quality of a human population by controlling reproduction to increase desirable traits and decrease undesirable ones.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, including thinking, perceiving, and decision-making.

Grey Matter

The tissue where the brain's "thinking" happens, containing the cell bodies of neurons.

White Matter

The tissue that acts as the brain's "wiring," consisting of myelinated axons that help transmit signals between different brain regions.

Lobes of the Brain

The four main regions or sections into which the cerebral cortex is divided: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal.

Association Areas

Parts of the brain that take information from different sensory modalities and higher cognitive functions and put it together to help us understand the world.

Frontal Lobes

Brain regions located at the front of the brain involved in higher-level cognitive functions, including decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and personality expression.

Prefrontal Cortex

A region of the brain located in the frontal lobe, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions and executive functioning.

Executive Functioning

A set of cognitive processes that enable individuals to plan, organize, strategize, focus attention, regulate emotions, and manage time effectively.

Motor Cortex

A region of the brain located in the frontal lobe, responsible for planning, executing, and controlling voluntary movements of the body.

Parietal Lobes

Brain regions located at the top of the brain primarily responsible for processing sensory information from the body, such as touch, temperature, and spatial awareness.

Somatosensory Cortex

A region of the brain located in the parietal lobe, responsible for processing sensations from the skin, muscles, and joints (touch, pressure, temperature, and pain).

Occipital Lobes

Brain regions located at the back of the brain primarily responsible for processing visual information received from the eyes.

Temporal Lobes

Brain regions located on the sides of the brain involved in processing auditory information, language comprehension, and memory formation.

Corpus Callosum

A thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, facilitating communication and information sharing between them.

Brainstem

The oldest and most primitive part of the brain, serving as a pathway for neural signals and controlling basic life-sustaining functions such as breathing, heart rate, and sleep-wake cycles.

Medulla

A vital structure located at the base of the brainstem that regulates essential autonomic functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure.

Reticular Activating System

A network of neurons located in the brainstem that plays a critical role in regulating arousal, attention, and consciousness.

Cerebellum

A structure located at the back of the brain, below the cerebral hemispheres, responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and posture.

Limbic System

A set of brain structures located beneath the cerebral cortex involved in emotions, memory, and motivation.

Thalamus

A relay station in the brain that processes and relays sensory information (sight, sound, touch, and taste) to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

A small structure located below the thalamus, responsible for regulating essential bodily functions (hunger, thirst, body temperature, sleep-wake cycle) to maintain homeostasis.

Pituitary Gland

A small pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain, known as the "master gland," that regulates hormone production and secretion throughout the body.

Hippocampus

A curved structure located within the brain's temporal lobes, primarily responsible for forming and consolidating new memories.

Amygdala

A small, almond-shaped structure located deep within the temporal lobes, involved in processing emotions (particularly fear and aggression) and triggering the fight-or-flight response.

Central Nervous System

The division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord, serving as the command center of the body.

Peripheral Nervous System

The network consisting of all the nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord, transmitting sensory information to the CNS.

Autonomic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary bodily functions without conscious control.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The branch of the autonomic nervous system responsible for activating the body's "fight or flight" response in times of stress or danger.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The branch of the autonomic nervous system responsible for promoting relaxation and restoring the body to a calm state after stress or danger.

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system responsible for controlling voluntary movements and relaying sensory information to the central nervous system.

Neurons

Specialized cells that serve as the building blocks of the nervous system, transmitting electrical and chemical signals throughout the body.

Dendrites

Branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive messages and signals from other cells or sensory receptors.

Axon

A long, slender projection of a neuron that passes electrical impulses away from the cell body toward other neurons, muscles, or glands.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty coating covering the axon of some neurons that helps speed up neural impulses and signal transmission.

Glial Cells

The "support cells" of the nervous system that provide structural support, insulation, and nourishment to neurons.

Motor Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit signals from the central nervous system to muscles, glands, and organs to initiate and control voluntary and involuntary movements.

Sensory Neurons

Specialized nerve cells that transmit sensory information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system.

Interneurons

Nerve cells that serve as connectors within the central nervous system, relaying signals between sensory neurons and motor neurons.

Reflex Arc

A neural pathway that controls reflex actions, allowing for rapid, automatic responses to sensory stimuli without conscious thought.

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger an action potential in a neuron.

Action Potential

A brief electrical impulse that travels along the axon of a neuron when it receives a stimulus above threshold.

All-or-Nothing Principle

The principle stating that once a neuron reaches its threshold of excitation, it will fire an action potential at full strength or not at all.

Depolarization

The phase of an action potential where the inside of the neuron becomes less negative compared to the outside due to the influx of positively charged ions.

Refractory Period

A brief period following an action potential during which a neuron is unable to generate another action potential.

Resting Potential

The stable, negative electrical charge that exists across the cell membrane of a neuron when it is not actively transmitting signals.

Reuptake

The process in which neurotransmitters that have been released into the synapse are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron.

Multiple Sclerosis

A chronic autoimmune disease affecting the CNS where the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers.

Myasthenia Gravis

A chronic autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction where antibodies block or destroy acetylcholine receptors, causing muscle weakness.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers released from presynaptic neurons into the synaptic cleft that transmit signals between neurons.

Glutamate

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a key role in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity.

GABA

A neurotransmitter that acts as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in regulating mood, reward, motivation, and movement.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in regulating mood, sleep, appetite, and stress.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters produced by the brain and CNS that act as natural pain relievers and mood enhancers.

Substance P

A neurotransmitter involved in transmitting and amplifying pain signals in the nervous system.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction, memory, and learning across both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Ghrelin

A hormone produced primarily by the stomach and small intestine that stimulates appetite and promotes hunger ("hunger hormone").

Leptin

A hormone produced primarily by fat cells that regulates energy balance by suppressing appetite.

Melatonin

A hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms in the body.

Oxytocin

A hormone and neurotransmitter involved in social bonding, trust, emotional connection, and intimacy ("love hormone").

Adrenaline

A hormone and neurotransmitter released by the adrenal glands that triggers the body's "fight or flight" response during stress, fear, or excitement.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter and hormone involved in the body's "fight or flight" response, regulating arousal, attention, and stress.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize and adapt throughout life in response to experiences, learning, and environmental changes or injury.

Split Brain Research

Studies of individuals who have undergone corpus callosotomy (surgical disconnection of the hemispheres), revealing specialized functions of each hemisphere.

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

The phenomenon where each hemisphere of the brain controls and processes sensory input from the opposite side of the body.

Broca's Area

A region in the left frontal lobe responsible for speech production and language processing.

Broca's Aphasia

A language disorder caused by damage to Broca's area, resulting in slow, effortful speech and difficulty forming grammatically correct sentences.

Wernicke's Area

A region in the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and understanding spoken and written language.

Wernicke's Aphasia

A language disorder caused by damage to Wernicke's area, characterized by fluent but nonsensical speech and impaired language comprehension.

Electroencephalogram

A non-invasive neuroimaging technique that uses scalp electrodes to detect and measure the electrical activity of the brain.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A neuroimaging technique used to measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow and oxygen levels.

Lesioning

A research technique used to study brain function by intentionally damaging or destroying specific areas of the brain in experimental animals.