Biology and Behavior Lecture Practice Flashcards

115 flashcards reviewing nervous system basics, neuron structure, brain anatomy, neurotransmitters, sleep biology, and sensory systems based on the provided lecture notes.

What is the body's rapid communication system composed of neurons that transmit electrical and chemical signals?

Nervous System

Which division of the nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord?

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Which division of the nervous system consists of all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord?

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Which part of the PNS is responsible for voluntary control of skeletal muscles?

Somatic Nervous System

Which part of the PNS is responsible for involuntary regulation of organs and glands?

Autonomic Nervous System

Which branch of the autonomic nervous system is associated with arousal and energy expenditure?

Sympathetic Nervous System

Which branch of the autonomic nervous system is associated with rest, digestion, and energy conservation?

Parasympathetic Nervous System

What is the sympathetic nervous system's characteristic response to stress?

Fight-or-Flight Response

What is the parasympathetic nervous system's characteristic state?

Rest-and-Digest Response

What is the basic functional unit of the nervous system?

Neuron

What are the branched projections that receive incoming signals from other neurons?

Dendrites

Which portion of the neuron integrates incoming signals?

Cell Body (Soma)

What is the long projection that carries action potentials away from the cell body?

Axon

What insulating layer around axons increases conduction speed?

Myelin Sheath

Which cells produce myelin in the Central Nervous System?

Oligodendrocytes

Which cells produce myelin in the Peripheral Nervous System?

Schwann Cells

What is the name for the gap between adjacent myelin segments?

Node of Ranvier

What is the terminal end of an axon that releases neurotransmitters?

Axon Terminal

What is the small gap between communicating neurons?

Synapse

What is the term for the difference in electrical charge across a neuron's membrane at rest?

Resting Membrane Potential

What is the typical resting membrane potential of a neuron?

$$-70\,mV$$

What is the membrane potential at which an action potential is triggered?

Threshold Potential

What is the rapid rise in membrane potential due to sodium influx?

Depolarization

What is the return of membrane potential toward resting level due to potassium efflux?

Repolarization

What occurs when the membrane potential becomes more negative than the resting potential?

Hyperpolarization

What is the movement of $Na$ into the neuron during depolarization called?

Sodium Influx

What is the movement of $K$ out of the neuron during repolarization called?

Potassium Efflux

Which principle states that action potentials either occur completely or not at all?

All-or-None Principle

During what period can another action potential absolutely not occur?

Absolute Refractory Period

During what period is a stronger-than-normal stimulus required to trigger an action potential?

Relative Refractory Period

What is the type of action potential conduction that jumps from node to node?

Saltatory Conduction

What are the chemical messengers released by neurons?

Neurotransmitters

By what process are neurotransmitters released into the synapse?

Exocytosis

What protein on the receiving neuron binds to neurotransmitters?

Receptor

What is the removal of neurotransmitters through reabsorption by the presynaptic neuron?

Reuptake

What process involves the breakdown of neurotransmitters by enzymes in the synapse?

Enzymatic Degradation

What neurotransmitter effect increases the likelihood of a neuron firing?

Excitatory Effect

What neurotransmitter effect decreases the likelihood of a neuron firing?

Inhibitory Effect

Which neurotransmitter is involved in voluntary muscle contraction and memory?

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Degeneration of acetylcholine-producing neurons is associated with what disease?

Alzheimer Disease

Which neurotransmitter is involved in reward, motivation, and movement?

Dopamine

An excess of dopamine is associated with what disorder?

Schizophrenia

Deficiency of dopamine in the substantia nigra causes what disorder?

Parkinson Disease

Which neurotransmitter is involved in mood, sleep, and appetite regulation?

Serotonin

Low levels of serotonin are associated with what condition?

Depression

What is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

Glutamate

What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS?

GABA

Which neurotransmitter is involved in alertness and arousal?

Norepinephrine

Which neurotransmitter is involved in pain reduction and euphoria?

Endorphins

What is the largest part of the brain responsible for higher cognition?

Cerebrum

What is the outer layer of the cerebrum responsible for complex processing?

Cerebral Cortex

Which brain region is responsible for balance and coordination?

Cerebellum

Which brain region controls vital functions such as breathing and heart rate?

Brainstem

What is the relay station for sensory information entering the cortex?

Thalamus

Which brain structure is responsible for homeostasis and endocrine regulation?

Hypothalamus

What structure connects the nervous and endocrine systems?

Pituitary Gland

Which brain structure is primarily involved in memory formation?

Hippocampus

Which brain structure is involved in emotion and fear processing?

Amygdala

What is the bundle of fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres?

Corpus Callosum

Which cerebral lobe is involved in executive function and voluntary movement?

Frontal Lobe

In which lobe is the primary motor cortex located?

Frontal Lobe

Which cerebral lobe is primarily involved in somatosensation?

Parietal Lobe

In which lobe is the primary somatosensory cortex located?

Parietal Lobe

Which cerebral lobe is responsible for auditory processing?

Temporal Lobe

Which cerebral lobe is responsible for visual processing?

Occipital Lobe

Which area of the brain is responsible for speech production?

Broca Area

What type of aphasia results from damage to the Broca area?

Broca Aphasia

Which area of the brain is responsible for language comprehension?

Wernicke Area

What type of aphasia results from damage to the Wernicke area?

Wernicke Aphasia

What are the chemical messengers secreted directly into the bloodstream?

Hormones

Which master gland controls many other endocrine organs?

Pituitary Gland

Which hormone is released by the adrenal cortex during stress?

Cortisol

Which hormone is involved in the fight-or-flight response?

Epinephrine

Which hormone is involved in social bonding and childbirth?

Oxytocin

Which hormone is responsible for sleep regulation?

Melatonin

What is the conversion of physical stimuli into neural signals?

Transduction

What is the term for the smallest detectable stimulus intensity?

Absolute Threshold

What is the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli?

Difference Threshold (JND)

Which law states that the JND is proportional to stimulus intensity?

Weber's Law

What is the failure to consciously perceive an unattended stimulus called?

Inattentional Blindness

What are the observable characteristics of an organism?

Phenotype

What is the genetic makeup of an organism?

Genotype

What is the study of how genes influence behavior?

Behavioral Genetics

What is the study of changes in gene expression that do not alter the DNA sequence?

Epigenetics

Which theory proposes that physiological arousal occurs before the experience of emotion?

James-Lange Theory

Which theory proposes that physiological arousal and emotion occur simultaneously?

Cannon-Bard Theory

Which theory proposes that emotion results from physiological arousal plus a cognitive label?

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory

Which sleep stage is associated with rapid eye movement and vivid dreaming?

REM Sleep

Which sleep stage is characterized by slow delta waves?

N3 Sleep

What is the body's biological clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles?

Circadian Rhythm

Which brain structure regulates circadian rhythms?

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

Alcohol enhances which inhibitory neurotransmitter system?

GABA

Cocaine stimulates which neurotransmitter system?

Dopamine

Which class of drugs increases central nervous system activity?

Stimulants

Which class of drugs decreases central nervous system activity?

Depressants

Which class of drugs distorts perception and sensory experience?

Hallucinogens

Which type of neuron carries sensory information from receptors to the CNS?

Sensory (Afferent) Neuron

Which type of neuron carries signals from the CNS to muscles and glands?

Motor (Efferent) Neuron

Which neuron type connects sensory and motor neurons within the CNS?

Interneuron

What are the support cells of the nervous system?

Glial Cells (Neuroglia)