Biological Bases of Behavior & Sensation – Lecture Review

These fill-in-the-blank flashcards cover major concepts from heredity and evolution through neural communication, brain structures, sleep, and sensory processes.

Sir Francis Galton coined the phrase __ to describe the debate over genetics and environment.

nature versus nurture

John Locke described the newborn mind as a __, emphasizing experience.

tabula rasa ("blank slate")

Modern psychologists often replace “nature vs. nurture” with the term __.

gene-environment interaction

__ is a statistic that estimates how much of the variation in a trait within a group is due to genes.

Heritability

Identical twins share __ % of their genes.

100

Parents share about __ % of their genes with each child.

50

Evolution is defined as a change in the __ of genes in a population over time.

frequency

Charles Darwin explained evolution through the process of __.

natural selection

W.D. Hamilton introduced the concept of __ fitness, which includes helping relatives reproduce.

inclusive

An inherited trait that increases survival or reproduction is called an __.

adaptation

Small genetic changes that fuel evolution are known as __.

mutations

The controversial movement aiming to improve the human species genetically is called __.

eugenics

In __ studies, researchers compare trait similarity in identical vs. fraternal twins.

twin

The __ nervous system connects the CNS to voluntary skeletal muscles.

somatic

The fight-or-flight response is activated by the __ branch of the autonomic nervous system.

sympathetic

Neurons follow the __ law, meaning they either fire fully or not at all.

all-or-none

The resting potential of a neuron is approximately __ millivolts.

-70

After an action potential, the brief time when a neuron cannot fire again is the __ period.

refractory

Neurotransmitters are typically recycled back into the presynaptic neuron through __.

reuptake

Loss of myelin that slows neural transmission is characteristic of __.

multiple sclerosis

__ enables muscle movement and is deficient in Alzheimer’s disease.

Acetylcholine

Excess __ activity is linked to schizophrenia, whereas too little is linked to Parkinsonism.

dopamine

Low levels of __ are associated with depression and sleep problems.

serotonin

The brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter is __.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

Opioid drugs like morphine act as __ for endorphins.

agonists

Naloxone reverses opioid overdose by acting as an __.

antagonist

SSRIs elevate mood by __ serotonin reuptake.

inhibiting/blocking

The __ controls heartbeat and breathing and is located in the hindbrain.

medulla oblongata

The cerebellum is crucial for coordination and for storing __ memories.

procedural

The limbic system’s emotional center that processes fear is the __.

amygdala

Conversion of short-term to long-term memory relies on the __.

hippocampus

Broca’s area (speech production) is primarily in the brain’s __ hemisphere.

left

Cutting the __ (split-brain surgery) reduces epileptic seizures by separating hemispheres.

corpus callosum

The brain’s capacity to reorganize after damage is called __.

plasticity (neuroplasticity)

A brain-imaging technique that tracks radioactive glucose is __.

PET (positron emission tomography)

The master circadian clock located in the hypothalamus is the __.

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

During stage 3 NREM sleep, EEGs show predominantly __ waves.

delta

Rapid eye movement combined with muscle atonia defines __ sleep.

REM (paradoxical)

Chronic inability to fall or stay asleep is known as __.

insomnia

Sleepers who stop breathing repeatedly at night suffer from __.

sleep apnea

According to Weber’s Law, the __ is a constant proportion of the stimulus magnitude.

just noticeable difference (difference threshold)

Reduced sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus is called sensory __.

adaptation

The retina’s photoreceptors that enable color vision are __.

cones

Staring at red then seeing a green afterimage supports the __ theory of color vision.

opponent process

Rods are most abundant in the __ of the retina and enable dim-light vision.

periphery

Specialized cortical neurons that respond to edges and lines are called __ detectors.

feature

Pitch perception for sounds above 5,000 Hz is explained by __ theory.

place

Groups of neurons firing alternately to encode 1,000–5,000 Hz exemplify the __ principle.

volley

Damage to hair cells or the auditory nerve produces __ deafness.

sensorineural

Olfactory information bypasses the __ and projects directly to limbic areas.

thalamus

Alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, the savory taste is called __.

umami

The theory that a spinal “gate” modulates incoming pain signals is the __ theory.

gate control

Balance is sensed by the __ canals of the vestibular system.

semicircular