Introduction to Psychology - Chapter 3: Biological Foundations of Behavior

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Biological Foundations of Behavior chapter.

Neuroscience

Study of the body's electrochemical communication circuitry.

Nervous System

Complex, integrated, adaptable system that uses electrochemical transmission.

Afferent

Nerve fibers that carry information toward the CNS from the body.

Efferent

Nerve fibers that carry information away from the CNS to muscles and glands.

CNS

Central Nervous System: brain and spinal cord.

PNS

Peripheral Nervous System: somatic (sensory and motor nerves) and autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) nerves.

Glial Cells

Support and nourish neurons; provide nutrition and structural support.

Neurons

Primary cells of the nervous system; information processing and signaling (85–100 billion in brain).

Dendrites

Branching extensions that receive signals from other neurons.

Axon

Long fiber that transmits impulses away from the cell body.

Myelin Sheath

Insulating layer around many axons that speeds transmission.

Resting Potential

Baseline electrical charge of a neuron at rest (~-70 mV).

Polarization

Imbalance in electrical charges across the neuron's membrane.

Ion Channels

Proteins in the cell membrane that regulate ion flow (polarization).

Depolarization

Reduction of polarization; interior becomes less negative, moving toward firing.

Action Potential

All-or-none neural impulse that travels along the axon when threshold is reached.

Semipermeable Membrane

Membrane that allows some ions to pass through via ion channels.

Synapse

Gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released and received.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap to convey signals.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Neurotransmitter involved in muscle action, learning, and memory.

GABA

Inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neural excitability.

Glutamate

Excitatory neurotransmitter important for learning and memory.

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter related to stress and arousal; sleep regulation; mood.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter involved in voluntary movement and reward.

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter regulating sleep, mood, attention; depression linked to low levels.

Endorphins

Natural opioids that modulate pain and pleasure.

Oxytocin

Hormone and neurotransmitter linked to bonding, lactation, and social attachment.

Mirror Neurons

Specialized neurons that support imitation and social perception.

Neural Networks

Interconnected pathways of neurons that integrate sensory input and motor output.

Brain Lesioning

Studying brain function by damaging brain tissue (naturally occurring or induced).

EEG

Electroencephalography; electrical recording of brain activity.

X-ray

Two-dimensional imaging used for basic structural information.

CT Scan

Three-dimensional X-ray imaging obtained by computer reconstruction.

PET

Positron Emission Tomography; measures metabolic activity via glucose uptake.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging; uses radio waves to image brain structure.

fMRI

Functional MRI; measures live brain activity by detecting blood flow changes.

Hindbrain

Bottom part of brain; brainstem including medulla, pons, cerebellum.

Medulla

Controls breathing and reflexes.

Pons

Regulates sleep and arousal.

Cerebellum

Coordinates motor movement and balance.

Midbrain

Relays information between brain and senses; contains Substantia Nigra and Reticular Formation.

Substantia Nigra

Dopaminergic area; linked to Parkinson's disease.

Reticular Formation

Regulates arousal and stereotyped behaviors.

Forebrain

Front part of brain; includes limbic system, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus.

Limbic System

Emotion and memory network.

Amygdala

Processes emotions, fear, and survival-related stimuli.

Hippocampus

Formation and recall of memories.

Thalamus

Relay station for sensory information to cortex.

Basal Ganglia

Coordinate voluntary movements.

Hypothalamus

Regulates eating, drinking, body temperature, sexual behaviors; links to reward.

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of brain responsible for higher-order functions.

Lobes

Occipital (vision); Temporal (hearing/language/memory); Frontal (intelligence, personality, movement); Parietal (spatial location, attention).

Occipital Lobe

Vision processing.

Temporal Lobe

Hearing, language processing, memory.

Frontal Lobe

Intelligence, personality, voluntary movement.

Parietal Lobe

Spatial location, attention, and motor control.

Somatosensory Cortex

Parietal lobe area for body sensations and touch.

Motor Cortex

Frontal lobe area for voluntary movement; topographic mapping.

Association Cortex

75% of cortex; integrates information and supports higher-level processing.

Split-Brain

Severing the corpus callosum to study hemispheric specialization.

Corpus Callosum

Large bundle of axons linking the two cerebral hemispheres.

Hemispheric Specialization

Left: language and speech areas; Right: spatial perception and emotion.

Endocrine System

Glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream; slower than nervous system.

Genotype

An individual's genetic makeup.

Phenotype

Observable traits influenced by genotype and environment.