AP Psychology Unit 3: Biological Bases of Behavior

frontal lobe

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

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

occiptal lobe

visual processing

parietal lobe

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

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

auditory cortex

the area of the temporal lobe responsible for processing sound information

visual cortex

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

limbic system

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Hypothalamus

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

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

brain stem function

controls automatic behaviors necessary for survival

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

Cerebellum

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

Broca's area

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

Wernicke's area

a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Amygadala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Thalmus

sensory perception and regulation of motor functions

Hippocampus

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

corpus callosum

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

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

cerebral cortex

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

lesion

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

EEG

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

CT scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body

PET scan

a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

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

fMRI

a form of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that registers blood flow to functioning areas of the brain

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

hormone

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

pituitary gland

The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Neuron

The neuron is the basic working unit of the brain, a specialized cell designed to transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells. Neurons are cells within the nervous system that transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells. Most neurons have a cell body, an axon, and dendrites.

Axon

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

myelin sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Dendrites

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

cell body

Largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm

nucleus of nueron

Control center of the cell

axon terminal buttons

Where neurotransmitters are started and released

behavior genetics

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

Chromosomes

a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

DNA

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

Identical Twins

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

fraternal twins

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.

molecular genetics

the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes

Heritability

The proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the range of populations and environments studied.

Epigenetics

the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

natural selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Plasticity

the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

split brain

a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callous) connecting them

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

synapse

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

refractory period

a resting period after orgasm, during which a man cannot achieve another orgasm

reputake

A neurotransmitters reabsorption by the sending neuron.

Ex. Paper towel cleaning up a spill

Acetylcholine

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

Endorphins

"morphine within"--natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep and arousal. Undersupply linked to depression.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal, as well as in learning and mood regulation

Dopamine

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

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

GABA

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia. It functions to reduce neuronal excitability by inhibiting nerve transmission.

Agonist

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

antagonist

An antagonist is a compound that has the opposite effect of an agonist. It decreases the activation of a synaptic receptor by binding and blocking neurotransmitters from binding or by decreasing the amount of time neurotransmitters are in the synaptic cleft.

afferent neurons

sensory neurons that relay messages from the sense organs to the brain

efferent neurons

neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body. motor skills.

Interneurons

Central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

reflex

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

glial cells

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

Thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

frontal lobe

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

temporal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language.

occiptal lobe

visual processing

parietal lobe

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

motor cortex

an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

somatosensory cortex

area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations

auditory cortex

the area of the temporal lobe responsible for processing sound information

visual cortex

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

limbic system

neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Hypothalamus

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

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

brain stem function

controls automatic behaviors necessary for survival

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular formation

a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal

Cerebellum

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

Broca's area

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

Wernicke's area

a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Amygadala

two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Thalmus

sensory perception and regulation of motor functions

Hippocampus

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

corpus callosum

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

association areas

areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking

cerebral cortex

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

lesion

tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue