Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior quiz 1

acetylcholine (ACh)

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.

action potential

The change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.

agonists

Chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neurotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing the activity of that cell.

autonomic nervous system

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.

axon

A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

brain lateralization (hemispheric specialization)

Specialization of function in each brain hemisphere. The right hemisphere may be more active during spatial and creative tasks, while the left hemisphere may be more active during spoken language, logic, and sequential tasks.

brain lesioning

Abnormal disruption in the tissue of the brain resulting from injury or disease.

brain lobe

A subdivision in the brain that often specializes in a type of brain activity.

brain stem

Connects the brain to the spinal cord, filtering information flow between peripheral nervous system and the rest of the brain.

Broca's area (Paul Broca)

Controls language expression through an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

central nervous system

The division that consists of the brain and spinal cord.

cerebellum

Known as the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.

cerebral cortex

The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.

cerebrum

Area of the brain responsible for all voluntary activities of the body.

Charles Darwin

English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection ("survival of the fittest").

computerized tomography (CT) scanning

A computerized imaging technique that uses X-rays passed through the brain at various angles and then combined into an image.

consciousness (Freud)

Belief that the conscious mind consists of everything inside of our awareness. This is the aspect of our mental processing that we can think and talk about in a rational way.

dendrite

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with movement, attention and learning and the brain's pleasure and reward system.

electroencephalography (EEG)

Recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp.

endocrine system

The organ system that consists of glands that control many of the body's activities by producing hormones.

epinephrine

A neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress (connected to the fight-or-flight response); also known as adrenaline.

evolutionary psychology

The study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection. Usually involves the study of heredity and genetics on human behavior.

excitatory neurotransmitters

Chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that excite the next neuron into firing.

frontal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement.

gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

A neurotransmitter that reduces activity across the synaptic cleft and thus inhibits a range of behaviors and emotions, especially generalized anxiety.

glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter, involved in strengthening long-term memory and learning (repeated tasks).

heredity

The transmission of physical traits or predispositions from one generation to the next.

hormones

Chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another.

hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus. Directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

inhibitory neurotransmitters

Chemicals released from the terminal buttons of a neuron that inhibit the next neuron from firing.

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain.

maladaptive behaviors

Behaviors that impair a person's ability to function socially, academically, or professionally.

medulla oblongata

Part of the brain stem that controls vital life-sustaining functions such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion.

Michael Gazzaniga

Pioneer in split-brain research. Developed our understanding of functional lateralization in the brain and how the cerebral hemispheres communicate.

motor cortex

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

motor (efferent) division

Division of the nervous system that carries motor (movement) commands from the central nervous system to muscles and glands.

narcolepsy

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

nature versus nurture

A debate surrounding the relative importance of heredity (nature) and environment (nurture) in determining behavior.

nervous system

A conglomeration of billions of cells specifically designed to provide a communication network within the human body.

neuron

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

neuroplasticity

The ability within the brain to constantly change both the structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma.

norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation. Works to increase alertness, blood pressure, heart rate, and works with epinephrine to regulate flight-or-flight.

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information by providing meaning and interpretation.

parasympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy (i.e. rest-and-digest).

parietal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

peripheral nervous system

A division of the nervous system consisting of all nerves that are not part of the brain or spinal cord.

pons

A brain structure involved in the control of breathing, communication between different parts of the brain, and sensations such as hearing, taste, and balance.

psychoactive drugs

Chemicals that affect the nervous system and result in altered consciousness.

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.

reuptake mechanisms

The chemical process that allows neurotransmitters to be reabsorbed into the sending neuron.

sensory (afferent) division

Division of the nervous system that contains sensory nerve fibers, conducting impulses from receptors to the CNS.

serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects hunger, sleep, arousal and sexual desire, and mood.

sleep cycle

A period of sleep lasting about 90 minutes and including one or more stages of NREM sleep, followed by REM sleep.

sleep disorder

Any sleep disturbance that regularly disrupts sleep, causing distress or impairment in important areas of everyday life during normal waking hours.

soma

The cell body of a neuron.

somatic nervous system

A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that enables voluntary actions to be undertaken due to its control of skeletal muscles.

somatosensory cortex

A brain area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations

split-brain research

Surgical cutting of the corpus callosum to study the effects of disconnecting the right and left brain hemispheres, specifically, the independent functioning of the two hemispheres.

sympathetic nervous system

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations (i.e. fight-or-flight).

synapse

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.

temporal lobe

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples which serves as the primary receiving area for auditory information, such as hearing and language.

thalamus

The brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem. Directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

visual cortex

The visual processing areas of cortex in the occipital and temporal lobes.

Wernicke's area (Carl Wernicke)

Controls language reception through a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.

antagonsits

chemical substances that block or reduce a cell’s response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters