Unit 2.1- Biological bases rvw

The Quizlet review for the 1st half of the biological bases test, which deals with neurons, the nervous system, and the brain

acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle activation, memory, and learning.

action potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron, generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the neuron's membrane.

agonist

A drug or chemical that enhances the activity of neurotransmitters.

all-or-nothing

The principle that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all.

amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression.

antagonist

A drug or chemical that inhibits or blocks the action of neurotransmitters.

aphasia

A condition characterized by the loss of ability to understand or express speech.

association areas

Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions but are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.

Auditory Cortex

The part of the brain that processes auditory information; temporal lobe

autonomic nervous system

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and glandular secretion.

axon

The extension of a neuron through which neural impulses are sent.

behavior genetics

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

biological psychology

A branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior.

biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social

brainstem

The oldest part and central core of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions.

Broca's Area

A region in the frontal lobe of the brain associated with speech production.

central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and coordinating information.

cerebellum

A structure in the hindbrain that helps coordinate voluntary movement and balance; impacted by alcohol

cerebral cortex

The outer layer of the brain responsible for complex cognitive processes such as thinking, planning, and language.

Contralateral Control

The principle that each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body.

corpus callosum

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

dendrites

Branchlike extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

Depolarization

The process by which a neuron's membrane potential becomes less negative, leading to the firing of an action potential.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor control.

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A recording of the electrical waves sweeping across the brain's surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

endocrine system

The body's "slow" chemical communication system, consisting of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

endorphins

Neurotransmitters that are natural painkillers produced by the brain.

environment (nurture)

Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

evolutionary psychology

The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

A neurotransmitter that promotes the firing of neurons.

fMRI

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

forebrain

The largest and most prominent part of the brain, including the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures.

fraternal (dizygotic) twins

Twins who develop from separate eggs and are no more similar genetically than non-twins

frontal lobes

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead, involved in planning and judgment.

GABA

The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

glial cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, and play a role in learning and thinking.

Glutamate

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.

heredity

The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring.

hindbrain

The lower part of the brainstem, comprising the medulla, pons, and cerebellum, responsible for basic life functions.

hippocampus

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

hormones

Chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands and circulated in the bloodstream, regulating the activity of target cells or organs.

hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus, regulating bodily functions such as hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sexual behavior, and controlling the pituitary gland.

identical (monozygotic) twins

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

A neurotransmitter that inhibits the firing of neurons.

interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

lesion

Damage to body tissue, often caused by disease or injury.

limbic system

A set of structures in the brain, including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus, involved in emotion, motivation, and memory.

medulla

The base of the brainstem, controlling heartbeat and breathing.

motor (efferent) neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

motor cortex

An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

Multiple Sclerosis

A disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves, leading to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.

Myasthenia Gravis

An autoimmune disorder that affects communication between nerves and muscles, leading to muscle weakness.

myelin sheath

A fatty tissue layer that encases the axons of some neurons, speeding up the neural impulses.

natural selection

The principle that heritable traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

nature/nurture issue

The debate over the relative contributions of genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development.

nervous system

The body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life, particularly in response to learning, experience, or injury.

neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synaptic gap between neurons.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter and hormone involved in arousal and alertness.

parasympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy and promoting rest and digestion.

parietal lobes

Regions of the cerebral cortex located at the top of the brain, responsible for processing sensory information such as touch and spatial awareness.

peripheral nervous system

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, transmitting information to and from the brain and spinal cord.

Pituitary Gland

The "master gland" of the endocrine system that regulates other glands and controls various bodily functions.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience.

reflex

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway that controls a reflex action.

refractory period

A brief period after a neuron has fired during which it cannot generate another action potential.

Resting Potential

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active.

Reticular Activating System

A network of neurons in the brainstem involved in arousal and attention.

reticular formation

A network of neurons running through the core of the brainstem, involved in controlling arousal and attention.

reuptake

The reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron after they have been released into the synaptic gap.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, and sleep.

somatic nervous system

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles and transmits sensory information to the central nervous system.

somatosensory cortex

A brain region located in the parietal lobe that processes sensory information from the skin and internal body receptors for touch, temperature, and body position.

Spinal Cord

The part of the central nervous system that transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body.

split brain procedure

A surgical procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibers connecting the brain's hemispheres, typically done to treat severe epilepsy.

Substance P

A neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of pain signals.

sympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources during stress and emergencies, preparing the body for "fight or flight" responses.

synapse

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron, where neurotransmitters are released.

temporal lobes

The regions of the cerebral cortex located above the ears, responsible for processing auditory information and containing areas involved in memory, language comprehension, and emotion.

thalamus

The brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem, relaying sensory information (except for smell) to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex.

threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Visual Cortex

The part of the brain that processes visual information.

Wernicke's Area

A region in the temporal lobe of the brain associated with language comprehension.