Biological Psychology: The Cellular Foundations of Behavior

Bological psychology and the cellular foundations of behavior.

Biological Psychology

The study of the evolutionary and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience.

Monism

The belief that mental activity and brain activity are inseparable.

Physiological Explanation

Focuses on how behavior is produced by brain and body mechanisms.

Ontogenetic Explanation

Focuses on how behavior develops through genetic and environmental factors.

Evolutionary Explanation

Focuses on the origins of behavior by examining ancestral factors.

Functional Explanation

Explains the adaptive value of behavior in terms of its evolutionary purpose.

Neuroethics

Field of study that examines the ethical implications of neuroscience research.

Blood–Brain Barrier

A mechanism that blocks most chemicals from entering the brain, maintaining its health.

Active Transport

The process that expends energy to move chemicals into the brain from the blood.

Neurons

The specialized cells that transmit information throughout the nervous system, characterized by a distinctive shape.

Soma

The cell body of a neuron that contains the nucleus.

Afferent Axon

An axon that brings information into a structure.

Efferent Axon

An axon that carries information away from a structure.

Glial Cells

Support cells in the nervous system that perform various functions, such as cleaning up waste and guiding neuron growth.

Astrocytes

A type of glial cell that regulates neurotransmitters and blood flow.

Action Potential

A rapid rise and fall in membrane potential that occurs when a neuron fires.

Refractory Period

The time after an action potential during which a neuron cannot fire again.

Myelin Sheath

An insulating layer around some axons that increases the speed of electrical signals.

Saltatory Conduction

The process by which action potentials jump from node to node along a myelinated axon.

Local Neurons

Neurons that exchange information with close neighbors and do not produce action potentials.