Psychology - Chapter 3 - Biology and Behavior

Central Nervous System

consists of the brain and the spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

consists of nerve cells that send messages between the central nervous system and other parts of the body

Neurons

nerve cells that run through our entire bodies and communicate with each other

Cell Body

produces energy that fuels the neuron's activity

Dendrites

the fibers that branch out from the cell body. They receive information from other neurons and pass the message through the cell body; there are many

Axon

transmits messages away from the neuron; there is only one

Myelin

a white fatty substance that insulates and protects the axon. The myelin shealth helps speed up transmission of messages sent by neurons

Axon terminals

the smaller fibers branching out from the axon

synapse

the junction between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another

neurotransmitters

the chemicals that are stored in sacs in the axon terminal. When a neuron sends a message it releases neurotransmitters.

Spinal Cord

column of nerves about as thick as a thumb that extends from the brain down the back

Somatic nervous system

transmits sensory messages to the central nervous system. It's function is to carry messages from the voluntary muscles and sense organs

automatic nevous system

regulates the body's vital functions such as heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and blood pressure

medulla

involved in functions such as heartrate, blood pressure, and breathing

Pons

located in front of the medulla and is involved in regulating body movement, attention, sleep, and alertness.

cerebellum

Latin for 'little brain', it looks much like the cerebrum but is much smaller. It's involved in balance and coordination.

reticular activating system

begins in the hindbrain and rises through the midbrain into the lower part of the forebrain. Involved in attention, sleep, and arousal

Thalamus

critical structure of the brain because it serves as a relay station for sensory stimulation. most messages coming from sensory organs go through the thalamus on the way to higher levels of the brain.

Hypothalamus

lies below the thalamus. It's small but very important, as it is involved in many aspects of behavior and physiological functions. It's vital to the regulation of body temperature, storage of nutrients, and various aspects of emotion and motivation. It is also involved in hunger, thirst, sexual behavior, caring for offspring, and aggression.

Limbic System

this forms a fringe along the inner edge of the cerebrum. It forms a sort of border around the brain stem. It's involved in learning and memory, emotion, hunger, sex, and aggression. Scientists believe that this area of the brain is responsible for controlling behaviors necessary for our survival.

cerebrum

it is 70% of the brain's weight. It is the center of most conscious and intellectual activities

Cerebral Cortex

This is the wrinkled surface of the cerebrum. It's outer layer of the brain and it's what we tend to think of when we talk about the brain. It helps us think and deals with memory, language, emotions, complex motor functions, perception, and much more.

Corpus callosum

the struture that connects the two hemispheres of the brain

association areas

shape information into something meaningful

endocrine system

consists of glands that secrete substances called hormones

hormones

stimulate growth and many kinds of reactions such as changes in activity levels and physical moods

heredity

the transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring

genes

the basic building blocks of heredity

chromosomes

threadlike structures made of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

sympathetic nervous system

prepares the body with dealing emergencies

parasympathetic nervous system

helps the body calm down after an emergency

hindbrain

Heart rate and blood pressure are functions that are regulated by the section of the brain known as the _________

Medulla (regulate vital functions)
Pons (regulates body movement)
Cerebellum (Balance and Coordination)
(My Puppy Chow)

midbrain

vision and hearing are regulated by the sections known as the __________

deals with hearing and vision.
Reitcular activating runs through midbrain from the hind brain. (makes us alert through increasing heart rate)

forebrain

complex processed such as emotions are regulated by the section known as the _________.

Thalamus- the relay station for sensory stimulation
Hypothalamus- Regulates body temperature, nutrition, etc
Limbic Sytem- memory, hunger, emotions, sex &agression.
Cerebrum- what thinks.. memory, language, perception.
(The Hairy Lizard Carries Coins)

MRI

Researchers study the brain by using imaging techniques such as the ___________ which provides a three dimensional view of the brain.

endocrine

Psychologists concerned with the biology of behavior study the _________ system because this body system consists of glands that secrete substances

pituitary gland

This gland is referred to as the "master gland" because it secretes a large number of hormones that affect many kinds of behavior, such as stimulating labor in a pregnant woman.

testosterone

_______ is a male sex hormone that aids in the development of secondary sex characteristics.

estrogen

produced in the ovaries, is the female hormone that aids in the development of secondary sex characteristics

progesterone

produced in the ovaries, is the hormone that helps prepare the body for pregnancy.

Nature v Nurture

The ____________ is a controversy about the role that biology and environment play in determining psychological traits in humans.

Kinship studies

involve research around the degree to which people are related

Twin Studies

demonstrate how nature would play into devolpment

adrenal glands

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.

thyroid glands

produces hormones that regulate metabolism, body heat, and bone growth