Unit B - Unit 1.1-1.5

Biological Bases of Behavior (Nervous System, Neural Firing, The Brain, Sleep)

Heredity

The passing of genetic traits from parents to offspring.

Nature

The influence of genetics and biological factors on behavior and development.

Nurture

The influence of environmental factors, including upbringing and experiences, on behavior and development.

Evolutionary Perspective

A theoretical approach that explains behavior and mental processes as adaptations shaped by natural selection.

Twin Studies

Research that compares the similarity of traits between identical and fraternal twins to understand the influence of genetics and environment.

Central Nervous System (Brain And Spinal Cord)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and transmitting information.

Peripheral Nervous System

The part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord, connecting the CNS to the rest of the body.

Autonomic Nervous System

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for "fight or flight" responses during stress.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A division of the autonomic nervous system that promotes relaxation and conserves energy by slowing down bodily functions.

Somatic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements and transmits sensory information to the CNS.

Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit electrical and chemical signals throughout the body.

Glial Cells

Support cells in the nervous system that provide nutrients, protect neurons, and help with signal transmission.

Reflex Arc

The neural pathway that controls an automatic response to a stimulus, involving sensory input, spinal cord processing, and motor output.

Sensory Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit sensory information from the body to the central nervous system.

Motor Neurons

Nerve cells that transmit signals from the central nervous system to muscles, causing movement.

Action Potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron, enabling neural communication.

Refractory Period

The brief period after an action potential during which a neuron is unable to fire another action potential.

Reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron after transmitting a signal.

Multiple Sclerosis

A chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath of neurons, disrupting neural transmission.

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that increase the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing an action potential.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and the regulation of movement.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood, appetite, and sleep.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter that plays a role in arousal, alertness, and the fight-or-flight response.

Glutamate

The most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in learning and memory.

GABA

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in reducing neuronal excitability.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers and are associated with feelings of pleasure.

Substance P

A neurotransmitter involved in the transmission of pain signals to the central nervous system.

Acetylcholine

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

Endocrine System

The body's system of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to regulate bodily functions.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by glands that regulate various physiological processes in the body.

Melatonin

A hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Oxytocin

A hormone involved in social bonding, reproduction, and childbirth.

Agonists

Drugs that enhance or mimic the action of neurotransmitters.

Antagonists

Drugs that block or inhibit the action of neurotransmitters.

Stimulants

Psychoactive drugs that increase the activity of the central nervous system, leading to increased alertness and energy.

Cocaine

A powerful stimulant that increases dopamine levels in the brain, leading to intense euphoria and increased energy.

Depressants

Psychoactive drugs that decrease the activity of the central nervous system, leading to relaxation and drowsiness.

Alcohol

A depressant that impairs cognitive and motor functioning by slowing down the central nervous system.

Hallucinogens

Psychoactive drugs that alter perception, thought, and mood, often causing hallucinations.

Withdrawal

The physical and psychological symptoms that occur when a person stops using an addictive substance.

Medulla

The part of the brainstem that controls vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing.

Reticular Activating System

A network of neurons in the brainstem involved in regulating wakefulness and sleep-wake transitions.

Cerebellum

The part of the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary movements and balance.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain involved in complex thinking, decision-making, and sensory processing.

Hypothalamus

A small brain structure that regulates basic bodily functions such as hunger, thirst, and body temperature.

Hippocampus

A brain structure involved in the formation of new memories and spatial navigation.

Amygdala

A brain structure involved in the processing of emotions, particularly fear and aggression.

Corpus Callosum

A large band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain, allowing them to communicate.

Occipital Lobes

The part of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Temporal Lobes

The part of the brain involved in auditory processing and memory.

Parietal Lobes

The part of the brain that processes sensory information related to touch, temperature, and pain.

Somatosensory Cortex

A region of the parietal lobe that processes sensory input from the skin, muscles, and joints.

Frontal Lobes

The part of the brain involved in complex cognitive functions such as decision-making, planning, and voluntary movement.

Motor Cortex

A region of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements.

Split Brain Research

Studies that investigate the effects of severing the corpus callosum, revealing the separate functions of the brain's hemispheres.

Broca's Area

A region of the frontal lobe involved in speech production.

Wernicke's Area

A region of the temporal lobe involved in language comprehension.

Contralateral Hemispheric Organization

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

Plasticity

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

EEG

A neuroimaging technique that records electrical activity in the brain, often used to study sleep and brain disorders.

fMRI

A neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Circadian Rhythm (Sleep/Wake Cycle)

The biological clock that regulates the timing of sleep and wakefulness over a 24-hour period.

REM Sleep (Paradoxical Sleep)

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and heightened brain activity.

Activation-Synthesis (Dreams)

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

Insomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep.

Sleep Apnea

A sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions of breathing during sleep.

Somnambulism

A sleep disorder also known as sleepwalking, where an individual performs activities while still asleep.