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instinctual behaviours
behaviours that are hard-coded and shaped by genetics
adaptive traits
traits or behaviours that have been selected for because they promote reproductive success
heritability
the proportion of variation in a trait/phenotype that is due to variation in the genotype
epigenetics
changes that affect how genes work that don’t involve changing the actual nucleotide content
methylation
mechanism of epigenetics in which a methyl group is added to nucleotides, which silences the gene (shuts down expression)
first trimester
stage of pregnancy in which the major structures of the fetus are forming
second trimester
stage of pregnancy in which the fetus’s major organs/structures have formed and growing is the main priority
third trimester
stage of pregnancy in which the fetus grows and finalizes preparations for the outside world
patellar reflex
reflex in which your leg will jerk in response to your knee being hit
palmar grasp reflex
reflex in babies where if you stroke the palm of their hand, they will grab onto your finger
rooting reflex
feeding reflex in babies where if a baby’s mouth or cheek is touched by something, it will search for the object that brushed by it
sucking reflex
feeding reflex in babies where if something grazes a baby’s mouth, it will automatically start making sucking motions
Moro reflex
reflex in babies in which they startle in response to sudden movement or loud sounds by extending their arms and legs, pulling them back in, and throwing their head back before crying
Babinski reflex
reflex in babies in which if the bottom of their foot is stroked, they will extend their toes outward
adolescence
transition from childhood to adulthood
puberty
process of biological changes that happen during adolescence
endocrine system
network of organs distributed throughout the body that secrete signalling molecules (hormones) into the bloodstream
direct hormones
signalling molecules that cause their target cells to make direct changes in some physiological function
tropic hormones
signalling molecules that cause their target cells to release hormones
hypothalamus
structure in the endocrine system that converts input from the nervous system into endocrine signals, also releases various tropic hormones
**releases GnRH, CRF, and TRH
GnRH
tropic hormone that travels from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary to trigger the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) → tropic hormone that stimulates the release of the hormones that regulate reproduction
CRF
tropic hormone that travels from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary to trigger the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
ACTH
tropic hormone that travels from the anterior pituitary to the adrenal glands to trigger the release of cortisol
TRH
tropic hormone that travels from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary to trigger the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which promotes thyroid hormone to be released by the thyroid gland
anterior pituitary gland
structure in the endocrine system that is located below the hypothalamus and receives hypothalamic hormonal input through the hypophyseal portal system
**releases LH, FSH, ACTH, TSH, prolactin, endorphins, and growth hormone
hypophyseal portal system
system of blood vessels connecting the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary in the endocrine system
posterior pituitary gland
structure in the endocrine system that receives input from the hypothalamus in the form of neuronal signals
**releases ADH and oxytocin
thyroid gland
structure in the endocrine system found in the throat that releases calcitonin and thyroid hormone
adrenal glands
structures in the endocrine system found on top of the kidneys and divided into two distinct portions (cortex and medulla)
adrenal cortex
portion of the adrenal gland that secretes steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids and cortisol
adrenal medulla
portion of the adrenal gland that secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are involved in the acute stress response
ovaries
structures in the endocrine system that release estrogen
testes
structures in the endocrine system that release testosterone
oxytocin
hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland that has roles in uterine contractions, social bonding, and mood
prolactin
hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that has roles in lactation and modulating the stress response, anxiety, and depression
melatonin
hormone secreted by the pineal gland of the brain that has roles in inducing sleep
leptin
hormone involved in hunger that reduces hunger and tells the body to stop eating → primarily released by adipose/fat cells and acts on the hypothalamus
ghrelin
hormone involved in hunger that promotes hunger → released by cells in the gastrointestinal tract and acts on the hypothalamis
neuropeptide Y
hormone involved in hunger that stimulated appetite to increase food intake
epinephrine
hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla that are responsible for the acute stress (fight or flight) response
cortisol
hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that is responsible for the chromic/long-term stress response
thyroid hormone
hormone released by the thyroid gland that has roles in metabolism and neurological development
hypothyroidism
condition in which abnormally low levels of thyroid hormone cause fatigue and depression
hyperthyroidism
condition in which abnormally high levels of thyroid hormone cause irritability
reflex arcs
simple neural pathways that control reflexes
neurons
cells of the nervous system
depolarization
increase in electric potential (potential becomes less negative)
synapse
space between one neuron and another neuron or its target cell
sensory neurons
neurons that carry information about stimuli to the central nervous system
afferent neurons
sensory neurons
motor neurons
neurons that carry signals to react from the central nervous system to the target cell
efferent neurons
motor neurons
excitatory neurotransmitters
neurotransmitters that depolarize the target neuron → making it more likely to generate an action potential
inhibitory neurotransmitters
neurotransmitters that hyperpolarize the target neuron → making it less likely to generate an action potential
acetylcholine
neurotransmitter responsible for activating muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction and has a role in the ‘rest-digest’ functions of the parasympathetic nervous system
glutamate
excitatory neurotransmitter → depolarizes postsynaptic neurons to push them closer to the action potential threshold
GABA
inhibitory neurotransmitter → hyperpolarizes postsynaptic neurons to push them further away from the action potential threshold
dopamine
neurotransmitter involved in reward pathways and mediating certain motor functions
serotonin
neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, appetite, sleep, and regulation of intenstinal movement in the gastrointestinal tract
endorphins
neurotransmitters that suppress pain and can cause a euphoric response
norepinephrine
neurotransmitter involved in the acute stress (fight or flight) response, allowing the heart rate and blood pressure to elevate → involved in the autonomic nervous system
epinephrine
neurotransmitter with similar roles and effects to norepinephrine
**also called adrenaline
agonist
compound that activates a certain receptor, causing some kind of response
antagonist
compound that bind to a receptor, blocking it, so that it is not activated and no response is triggered
central nervous system
system that consists of the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
section of the nervous system containing everything but the brain and spinal cord
somatic nervous system
section of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for carrying out voluntary activities
autonomic nervous system
section of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for unconscious activities
sympathetic nervous system
section of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the fight or flight (acute stress) response
**dilates pupils and bronchioles, raises heart rate, and inhibits the activity of the digestive organs
parasympathetic nervous system
section of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the rest and digest response
**constricts pupils and bronchioles, reduces heart rate, and stimulates the activity of the digestive organs
enteric nervous system
section of the autonomic nervous system that regulates the activity of the gut
hindbrain
part of the central nervous system consisting of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata
midbrain
part of the central nervous system consisting of the substantia nigra, superior colliculus, and inferior colliculus
brainstem
part of the central nervous system consisting of the midbran, medulla oblongata, and pons
forebrain
part of the central nervous system consisting of the diencephalon and the telencephalon
diencephalon
part of the central nervous system consisting of the thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary gland, and pineal gland
cerebellum
structure in the hindbrain responsible for coordinated movement
medulla oblongata
structure in the hindbrain responsible for autonomic functions (ie. breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure)
pons
structure in the hindbrain that acts as a relay station to coordinate signals from the hindbrain and the rest of the brain → also involved in sleep, respiration, swallowing, taste, bladder control, and balance
inferior colliculus
structure in the midbrain that helps process auditory information
superior colliculus
structure in the midbrain that helps process visual input
substantia nigra
structure in the midbrain responsible for using dopamine to help coordinate voluntary movements
reticular activating system
complex set of structures in the brain stem that is responsible for alertness and arousal
thalamus
structure in the forebrain that relays sensory and motor signals and regulates sleep and alertness
hypothalamus
bridge between the nervous and endocrine systems
hippocampus
structure in the brain that consolidates short term memory into long term memory
basal ganglia
group of subcortical nuclei that is involves in procedural and habitual learning as well as eye and other voluntary movements
limbic system
group of structures involved in emotion, memory, and motivation → made of the hypothalamus, thalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala
amygdala
structure in the brain that is involved in episodic memory, attention, and emotion
nucleus accumbens
structure in the brain that is involved in reward, motivation, and learning
frontal lobe
lobe involved in voluntary movement, memory processing, planning, motivation, and attention
parietal lobe
lobe involved in sensory processing
occipital lobe
lobe involved in vision
temporal lobe
lobe involved in meaning, making visual memories, attaching meaning to information, and language
broca’s area
structure in the frontal lobe of the brain that is involved in language production
wernicke’s area
structure in the temporal lobe that is involved in language comprehension
ventral
side of the spine that motor/efferent neurons are found
dorsal
side of the spine that sensory/afferent neurons are found
cervical spine
seven vertebrae in your neck
thoracic spine
twelve vertebrae in your middle back