Unit 1 Study Guide - Biological Bases of Behavior

Vocabulary flashcards for review

Nature vs. Nurture

the concept of how both environmental and predisposed factors affect human development

Heredity

The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Natural Selection

The principle in which individuals who possess favorable traits live and pass down those traits to offsprings

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence; modifications caused by external factors.

Brain Plasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life; allows the brain to adapt to changing circumstances. ability to change the neural pathways and efficiency of neural communication.

Nervous System

A network of neurons, glial cells, the brain, and the spinal cord working together to communicate stimuli and react accordingly.

Central Nervous System

consists of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

everything in the NS outside the brain and spinal cord.

Afferent (Sensory) Neurons

neurons that ARRIVE at the brain and carry sensory stimuli.

Efferent (Motor) Neurons

Neurons that EXIT the brain to send signals to muscles and glands accordingly.

Somatic Nervous System

(peripheral nervous system) SOMA. soma means BODY; so it controls the skeletal muscles, which make up a large part of our BODIES.

Autonomic Nervous System

(peripheral nervous system) controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs and regulates non conscious automatic functions; breathing, heartbeat.

Sympathetic Division

responsible for fight or flight responses. Increases heart rate, dilates pupils, and inhibits digestion.

Parasympathetic Division

that calms the body, conserving its energy; rest and digest. After fight or flight the body calms down; pupils constrict, digestion is stimulated, heart beat slows, breathing slows.

Glial Cell

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

Neuron

The basic functional unit of the nervous system; a nerve cell.

Reflex Arc

An automatic response to a stimulus.

Action Potential

A rapid electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron.

Resting Potential

The state of a neuron when it is not firing a neural impulse.

Synapse

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. NOT gap of neurotransmission that allows communication between neurons; that is the synaptic gap. Synapse is the whole junction/ structure in which neurotransmission takes place.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical substance released by a neuron that carries signals across the synapse to another neuron or target cell.

Synaptic Gap

The tiny gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals.

Reuptake

A process in which leftover neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the presynaptic terminal after being released into the synapse.

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

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

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

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

Hyperpolarization

A condition in which the membrane potential of a neuron becomes more negative than the resting potential, effectively making it harder to generate an action potential.

Multiple Sclerosis

A chronic, progressive autoimmune DISORDER that affects the MYELIN SHEATH of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.

Myasthenia Gravis

A chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease that causes WEAKNESS in the SKELETAL MUSCLES, which are responsible for breathing and movement.

Acetylcholine

neurotransmitter: muscle ACTION, LEARNING, and MEMORY.

Substance P

neurotransmitter: in pain perception and transmission of sensory info

Dopamine

neurotransmitter: movement, attention, learning, and the brain's pleasure and reward system. (PARKINSON’S DISEASE IS A RESULT OF DISFUNCTIONING OF DOPAMINE)

Serotonin

TONE. neurotransmitter: affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

Endorphins

END; end pain. opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

Epinephrine (Adrenaline)

A hormone and neurotransmitter that prepares the body for "fight or flight." It excites the nervous system and body.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter that regulates alertness and arousal; undersupply can depress mood. Does opposite of adrenaline/epinephrine.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory.

GABA

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system. Calms the nervous system.

Adrenaline (Epinephrine)

A hormone released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress. Arousal, stress, anxiety.

Leptin

A hormone produced by fat cells that signals the brain to DECREASE appetite and energy balance.

Ghrelin

A hormone produced by the stomach that STIMULATES (not inhibits) appetite.

Melatonin

A hormone secreted by the pineal gland that regulates SLEEP and wakefulness.

Oxytocin

A hormone released by the pituitary gland that causes increased contraction of the uterus during labor and stimulates the ejection of milk into the ducts of the breasts. Hormone for LOVE, AFECCTION, PROSOCIAL behavior.

Agonist

drugs that mimic neurotransmitters; creates an affect of high intensity of certain neurotransmitters.

Antagonist

inhibits the action of a neurotransmitter by binding to its receptors and blocking it.

Psychoactive Substance

PSYCHO- ACTIVE; meaning it makes the psychological state active. A chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood.

Stimulants

Drugs that excite/STIMULATE neural activity and speed up body functions.

Depressants

Drugs that reduce/SUPRESS neural activity and slow body functions.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that distort perceptions and evoke HALLUCINATIONS in the absence of sensory input.

Opioids

PAIN RELIEVERS. morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

Hindbrain

The lower part of the brain, including the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.

Medulla

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain. Coordination of movements (on each side of body).

Reticular Activating System

ATTENTION, AROUSAL, alertness. Brain area that regulates arousal and sleep-wake cycles.

Cerebellum

A large structure of the hindbrain that controls balance, movement, implicit memory (dont have to consciously recall)

Midbrain

The middle division of brain responsible for hearing and vision; motor control; sleep/wake; arousal (alertness); and temperature regulation. RELAYS info between brain/eyes/ears/mouth (sensory input).

Forebrain

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

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain, consisting of two hemispheres.

Cerebral Cortex

gray matter COVERING cerebrum. controls perception, memory, language, and voluntary movement

Corpus Callosum

The large bundle of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

Frontal Lobe

FRONT; FORHEAD. The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in SPEAKING and MUSCLE movements and in making PLANS and JUDGEMENTS.

Prefrontal Cortex

highest level of cognition: thinking, planning.

Motor Cortex

initiating voluntary movementof the body, located at the back of the frontal lobe.

Broca's Area

An area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Broca's aphasia

A condition resulting from damage to Broca's area, causing the affected person to be unable to speak fluently, to mispronounce words, and to speak haltingly.

Parietal Lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.

Somatosensory Cortex

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Temporal Lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage.

Amygdala

Two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Auditory Cortex

The area of the temporal lobe responsible for processing sound information.

Wernicke's Area

An area of the temporal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that is involved in language comprehension.

Wernicke's aphasia

Condition resulting from damage to Wernicke's area, causing the affected person to be unable to understand or produce meaningful language.

Occipital Lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.

Thalamus

A brain structure that relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex.

Limbic System

Neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities and helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

Pituitary Gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Brain Lateralization

The specialization of function in each hemisphere of the brain.

Lesion Studies

A method involving destruction of brain tissue to observe the impact on behavior.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An amplified recording of the electrical activity of the brain.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

Consciousness

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Circadian Rhythm

The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle.

Alpha Waves

Slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state.

Beta Waves

Smaller and faster brain waves of an alert, waking state.

Theta Waves

Brain waves that are slower and less frequent than alpha waves.

Delta Waves

The large, slow brainwaves associated with deep sleep.

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other body systems are active.

REM rebound

Vivid dreams occur, muscles are relaxed but other body systems are active.

Hypnagogic Sensations

False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus.

Activation-Synthesis Theory

The theory that dreams result from the brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity during sleep.

Consolidation Theory

The theory that dreams help us sort out and solidify our memories of the day.

Restoration Theory

The theory that sleep allows the body to repair and restore itself.

Insomnia

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

A neurological disorder in which the person does not lose muscle tone during REM sleep, allowing the person to act out their dreams.

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking, which usually starts in the deeper stages of NREM sleep.

Sleep Terrors/Night Terrors

A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during Stage 3 sleep, within two or three hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times.