Unit 1 & 1B Biology: Biological Bases, Sleep & Sensation (Fill-in-the-Blank Flashcards)

A comprehensive set of fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering heredity, nervous system, brain structures, sleep, sensation, and perception.

The interaction of heredity (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) in shaping behavior is described by the debate.

nature-nurture

The view that advantageous traits become more common in a population through differential survival is explained by .

Natural Selection

Beliefs aiming to improve the genetics of the human population are called .

Eugenics

Studying twins (identical or fraternal) to test if nurture has an effect is done via studies.

Twin studies

Testing an adopted child to separate genetic influence from environmental effects is called studies.

Adoption studies

Family studies examine genetic influence by comparing relatives within a family; this is studied as studies.

Family studies

Adoption studies test adopted children to reveal the influence of versus genetics.

environmental

The brain and spinal cord comprise the Nervous System.

Central

The nerves branching from the CNS to connect it to the rest of the body form the Nervous System.

Peripheral

The system that regulates involuntary functions like heart rate and arousal is the Nervous System.

Autonomic

The voluntary control of skeletal muscles is governed by the Nervous System.

Somatic

The body’s system that prepares it for fight or flight is the Nervous System.

Sympathetic

The system that promotes rest and digestion is the Nervous System.

Parasympathetic

A neuron is the fundamental cell that nerve impulses.

transports

Glial cells provide support and protection and neurons.

protect

The reflex arc describes instinctual, involuntary responses to a stimulus and is part of the pathway.

Reflex Arc

Neurons process sensory information such as light and heat.

Sensory

Neurons carry signals to muscles to enable voluntary movement.

Motor

Neurons facilitate communication between sensory and motor neurons.

Interneurons

The principle states that a neuron either fires at full strength or not at all.

All-or-Nothing

The electrical change that occurs when a neuron’s membrane potential becomes less negative is called .

Depolarization

The break period for stimuli is known as the period.

Refractory

The electrical difference across a neuron's membrane when it is at rest is the .

Resting Potential

The minimum stimulus required to trigger an action potential is the .

Threshold

A disease that attacks the myelin sheath is .

Multiple Sclerosis

A condition where signaling between nerves fails, known as Gravis.

Myasthenia

A chemical that transmits signals between neurons is called a .

Neurotransmitter

A neurotransmitter that increases the likelihood of an action potential is an neurotransmitter.

Excitatory

A neurotransmitter that decreases the likelihood of an action potential is an neurotransmitter.

Inhibitory

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with reward and motivation.

Dopamine

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sleep, and appetite.

Serotonin

Norepinephrine helps with arousal and alertness.

Norepinephrine

Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.

Glutamate

GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS.

GABA

Endorphins are neurotransmitters that relieve pain and produce a sense of well-being.

Endorphins

Substance P is a neurotransmitter involved in pain perception and recognition.

Substance P

Acetylcholine helps with muscle contractions, memory, pain reception, and sleep.

Acetylcholine

The Endocrine System is the system that produces for the body.

hormones

Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate and behavior.

physiology

Adrenaline (epinephrine) is used in situations of extreme stress.

Adrenaline

Leptin helps regulate body weight over time.

Leptin

Ghrelin regulates hunger and appetite.

Ghrelin

Melatonin promotes .

sleep

Oxytocin triggers empathy and social bonding.

Oxytocin

A psychoactive drug is any drug with a psychoactive component, such as .

THC

An is a substance that provokes a physiological response by binding to a receptor.

agonist

A blocks receptor activity, preventing neurotransmitter binding.

antagonist

Reuptake is the process by which neurotransmitters are taken back into the presynaptic neuron.

Reuptake

Stimulants are substances that raise physiological activity in the body.

Stimulants

Caffeine is a common stimulant that helps keep someone awake.

Caffeine

Cocaine is a powerful stimulant and considered a hard drug.

Cocaine

Depressants slow the body’s actions such as heart rate.

Depressants

Alcohol is a depressant that can cause drowsiness or wooziness.

Alcohol

Hallucinogens are drugs that cause sensory distortions and hallucinations (e.g., LSD).

Hallucinogens

Marijuana (THC) is a natural plant used for relaxation, hunger, and euphoria.

Marijuana (THC)

Opioids are a class of drugs typically used for pain relief.

Opioids

Heroin is a highly addictive drug.

Heroin

Tolerance is the amount of a drug you can handle before adverse effects.

Tolerance

Addiction is a dependence on a substance to function normally.

Addiction

Withdrawal is the uncomfortable symptoms that occur when a person stops using a drug.

Withdrawal

The Brain Stem connects the cerebrum to the spinal cord and regulates basic life functions.

Brain Stem

The Medulla regulates heart rate, breathing, and circulation.

Medulla

The Reticular Activating System regulates wakefulness and arousal.

Reticular Activating System

The Brain Reward System (Striatum) processes pleasure and reward.

Brain Reward System (Striatum)

The Cerebellum is vital for coordinating movement and balance.

Cerebellum

The Cerebral Cortex manages thought, memory, and consciousness.

Cerebral Cortex

Hemispheres/Hemispheric Specialization notes that the left brain is associated with logic and the right with creativity.

Hemispheres/Hemispheric Specialization

The Limbic System manages emotion and memory formation.

Limbic System

The Thalamus relays sensory information to the cortex (except smell).

Thalamus

The Hypothalamus regulates hormones, sleep, and basic drives.

Hypothalamus

The Pituitary Gland produces hormones that regulate growth and metabolism.

Pituitary Gland

The Hippocampus assists with memory formation.

Hippocampus

The Amygdala processes emotions.

Amygdala

The Corpus Callosum allows the two hemispheres to communicate.

Corpus Callosum

The Occipital Lobes are primarily responsible for vision.

Occipital Lobes

Temporal Lobes help with language comprehension and memory.

Temporal Lobes

Parietal Lobes interpret touch, temperature, and somatic sensations.

Parietal Lobes

Association Areas are cortical regions involved in higher-order processing like language.

Association Areas

The Frontal Lobe is heavily involved in reasoning, planning, and decision making.

Frontal Lobe

Executive Functioning refers to planning, impulse control, and flexible thinking.

Executive Functioning

The Prefrontal Cortex is the area of the brain associated with complex behaviors and decision making.

Prefrontal Cortex

The Somatosensory Cortex processes touch and proprioceptive information.

Somatosensory Cortex

The Motor Cortex controls voluntary movements.

Motor Cortex

Split Brain Research involved studies that compare the functions of the brain’s two hemispheres.

Split Brain Research

Broca’s Area is involved in producing speech.

Broca’s Area

Wernicke’s Area is involved in language comprehension.

Wernicke’s Area

Aphasia is a language disorder that affects speech and comprehension.

Aphasia

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization means the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and vice versa.

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

Brain Plasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize itself, especially after injury.

Brain Plasticity

Lesioning is deliberate damage to brain tissue to study function.

Lesioning

An EEG records brain waves to study electrical activity.

EEG

CT Scan uses X-rays to produce cross-sectional images of the body.

CT Scan

PET Scan visualizes metabolic processes by detecting radiolabeled tracers.

PET Scan

MRI provides detailed images of soft tissues using magnetic fields.

MRI

fMRI detects brain activity by measuring changes associated with blood flow.

fMRI

A circadian rhythm is the body’s internal 24-hour cycle that governs sleep-wake timing.

Circadian rhythm

Levels of Consciousness describe states from full wakefulness to deep sleep.

Levels of Consciousness

Jet lag is a disruption of the circadian rhythm caused by crossing time zones.

Jetlag

Sleep Stages 1-3 are part of NREM sleep, progressing from light to deep sleep.

NREM

Hypnagogic sensations are dreamlike experiences occurring while falling asleep.

Hypnagogic Sensations