Unit 1 Flashcards (Daily Videos)

Noam Chomsky

Said that because babies babble every language then refine it to the language(s) that are spoken in their household, it shows universal grammar (genetic language)

John B. Watson

Said that he could shape how someone would be (nurture argument)

genetics

determines sex, temperament, eye color, hair color, body shape

environment

helps influence culture, social groups, norms, and family

rat licking studies

Showed a genetic component change based on how they were raised (long term potentiation)

identical twins

share the same DNA, same sex, and are monozygotic (one egg)

fraternal twins

have different DNA, same or opposite sex, dizygotic (two eggs)

identical; genetics

similarities in _____ twins that are raised away from one another are due to ______

fraternal; environment

similarities in _____ twins that are raised together are due to ______

62

____ percent of academic performance is attributed to genetic factors in twin studies

brain and spinal cord

the central nervous system is made up of the

autonomic; somatic

the peripheral nervous system is made up of the _____ nervous system and the _____ nervous system

somatic nervous system

brings sensory information to the central nervous system through sensory neurons and tells how/what to move from the central nervous system to the muscles through motor neurons

sympathetic; parasympathetic

the autonomic nervous systems is made up of the ______ nervous system and the ______ nervous system

autonomic nervous system

the _______ regulates involuntary functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

sympathetic nervous system

the ________ speeds up the nervous system and activates the fight or flight response

muscles

during the fight or flight response, the sympathetic nervous system decreases digestion to reroute the blood to the _____

parasympathetic nervous system

the ______ activates rest and digestion after the fight or flight response

glial cells

________ are helper cells for neurons that send and receive chemical signals

sensory neurons

• different for each sense

• respond to non-chemical stimulation

• send afferent signals

• ex: neurons in the eye respond to certain light wavelengths

afferent

_____ signals arrive at the brain

motor neurons

• connected to all muscles

• the only way our thoughts can exist in the real world

• receive efferent signals

• ex: neurons in the arm can react to involuntary+voluntary signals

efferent

______ signals exit the brain

neurons

______ are the building blocks of the nervous system

330 mph

What is the maximum speed a neuron can send a signal?

myelin sheath

a fatty substance encasing most neurons in the brain

protect; insulate

myelin sheaths _____ and ______ axons, which speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses

multiple sclerosis

What is an example of a disorder where there are problems with the creation or deterioration of myelin sheaths?

electrical energy

neurons fire when there is a shift in __________, which creates an action potential

synapse

when action potential reaches an axon terminal, neurotransmitters are released into the ______

excitatory neurotransmitters

________ makes the next neuron more likely to fire

inhibitory neurotransmitters

_______ make the next neuron less likely to fire

-70 millivolts

resting potential, when the neuron

all-or-none law

the _______ states that once at threshold, the neuron will fire and always with the same intensity

action potential

an electrical impulse that travels down an axon

refractory period

a brief period where a neuron cannot fire again (lasts a few milliseconds)

reuptake

when the sending neuron recollects the neurotransmitters from the synapse

glutamote

enhances learning and memory by strengthening synaptic connections

glutamote

What is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter?

GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)

associated with various anxiety-related disorders

GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)

What is the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter?

acetylcholine

involved in learning+memory and is associated with Alzheimer’s with diminished functioning

acetylcholine

all movements require ______

dopamine

linked to the anticipation of pleasurable and rewarding activities and involved with movement, attention, and learning

Parkinson’s

What is associated with a lack of dopamine?

schizophrenia

What is associated with excess levels of dopamine?

endorphins

the body’s natural painkiller (involved in pain reduction and reward) that can be stimulated by intense exercise and creating euphoric feelings

epinephrine

the neurotransmitter and hormone that boosts energy and is the primary chemical in “fight or flight” responses

norepinephrine

heavily involved with the sleep cycle for arousal, alertness, and vigilance

serotonin

plays a significant role in mood, sleep, appetite, and dreams

norepinephrine; serotonin

Low levels of which two neurotransmitters are associated with depression?

tolerance

needing more amounts of a drug to create its original effect

physical dependence

drug is needed to prevent withdrawl symptoms

agonists

enhance neurotransmitters and bind to receptors to make a neuron fire

direct agonists

mimic a neurotransmitter and bind with receptors

indirect agonists

can block the reuptake of a neurotransmitter (reuptake inhibitors)

heroin

an agonist for endorphins; the receptor cannot distinguish

nicotine

an agonist for acetylcholine; stimulates skeletal muscles and increases heart rate

black widow venom

an agonist for acetylcholine; causes acetylcholine to be release continuously at neuromuscular junctions, which causes spasms and dangerously high heart rate

prozac

inhibits serotonin reuptake; floods the synapse with serotonin causing the neuron to continuously fire; used as a treatment for depression and anxiety

cocaine

an agonist that inhibits dopamine reuptake; elevates serotonin and norepinephrine; creates intense euphoria, alertness, and heightened self-confidence; highly addictive

antagonists

inhibits the actions of neurotransmitters by binding to a receptor without stimulating it

botox

an antagonist for acetylcholine; freezes muscles

thorazine

an antagonist for dopamine; blocks dopamine receptors; used as a drug for schizophrenia

blood-brain barrier

a semipermeable membrane that allows some chemicals to pass from the blood to brain

depressants

slow/inhibit central nervous system functions to create drowsiness, sedation, or sleep; combining can be deadly

alcohol

an agonist for GABA; lessens inhibitions by depressing brain centers responsible for judgement, self-control, and movement

opioids

agonists for endorphins; incredibly addictive and create powerful withdrawal symptoms

• heroin

• oxycodone

• fentanyl

stimulants

activate sympathetic nervous system by increasing brain activity, mental alertness, and arouse behavior

caffeine

a stimulant that is an agonist for adenosine; blocks sleep-inducing effects and stimulates the release of dopamine; physically addictive and can create withdrawal symptoms

hallucinogens

create sensory and perceptual distortions, alter mood, and affect thinking; research in therapeutic settings

THC

a mild hallucinogen found in marijuana that produces a sense of well-being, mild euphoria, and dreamy states of relaxation; interferes with muscle coordination, learning, memory, and cognitive function

midbrain

pons

reticular activating system

medulla

cerebellum

medulla

helps regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing as well as nonvital functions like swallowing, vomiting, and sneezing

pons

helps coordinate movements and plays a role in sleep and dreaming; connects brainstem and cerebellum

reticular activating system

a network of nerve fibers involved in arousal, attention, and alertness

cerebellum

helps coordinate sequences of movement and balance; involved in implicit memory

midbrain

connects portions of the brain; relays information between the brain and eyes/ears

hippocampus

thalamus

hypothalamus

amygdala

thalamus

receives and sorts sensory information (except smell) and sends it to the cortex for further interpretation

hypothalamus

initiates fight or flight, initiates motivation to eat as well as fullness levels, and initiates sexual motivation; connected to the brain’s reward systems

amygdala

involved with emotions+aggression, fear responses, and helps ingrain emotional memories

hippocampus

converts short-term memory to long-term memory, but does not store memory; also involved with spatial memories

hippocampus

dysfunction of the ______ is associated with Alzheimer’s and anterograde amnesia

prefrontal cortex

motor cortex

somatosensory cortex

primary visual cortex

primary auditory cortex

auditory association cortex

broca’s area

wernicke’s area

prefrontal cortex

is involved in the highest-level cognitive functions such as thinking, planning, decision-making, and impulse control