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91 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Charles Darwin |
The Origin of Species |
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Natural Selection |
Darwin's theory that favorable adaptations to features of the environment allow some members of a species to reproduce more successfully than others |
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Peter and Rosemary Grant study |
shows that natural selection can have notable effects even after short periods due to environment |
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Genotype |
the genetic structure an organism inherits from its parents |
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Phenotype |
The observable characteristics of an organism, resulting from the interaction between the organism's genotype and its environment |
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Bipedalism |
the ability to walk upright |
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Encephalization |
increases in brain size |
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Cultural evolution |
the tendency of cultures to respond adaptively, through learning-environmental change |
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Heredity |
the biological transmission of traits from parents to offspring |
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Genetics |
the study of the inheritance of physical and psychological traits from ancestors |
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Human behavior genetics |
the area of study that evaluates the genetic component of individual differences in behaviors and traits |
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Sociobiology |
A field of research that focuses on evolutionary explanations for the social behavior and social systems of humans and other animal species |
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Evolutionary psychology |
the study of behavior and mind using the principles of evolutionary theory |
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DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) |
The physical basis for the transmission of genetic information |
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Gene |
the biological unit of heredity; discrete section of a chromosome responsible for transmission of traits |
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Sex Chromosome |
chromosome that contains the genes that code for the development of male or female characteristics |
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Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) |
suggested "factors" (genes) inherited from each parent to determine the properties of offspring using round and wrinkled garden peas |
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Polygenic trait |
characteristic that is influenced by more than one gene |
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Genome |
the genetic information for an organism, stored in the DNA of its chromosomes |
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Heritability |
The relative influence of genetics--versus environment--in determining patterns of behavior (Measured on a scale of 0-1. Closer to 0 is a product of environmental influences, closer to 1 is a product of genetic influences) |
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Neuroscience |
The scientific study of the brain and of the links between brain activity and behavior |
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Neuron |
A cell in the nervous system specialized to receive, process, and/or transmit information to other cells |
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Dendrite |
One of the branched fibers of neurons that receive incoming signals |
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Soma |
The cell body of a neuron, containing the nucleus and cytoplasm |
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Axon |
The extended fiber of neuron through which nerve impulses travel from the soma to the terminal buttons |
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Terminal button |
A bulblike structure at the branched ending of an axon that contains vesicles filled with neurotransmitters |
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Sensory neuron |
neuron that carries messages from sense receptors toward the central nervous system |
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Motor neuron |
neuron that carries messages from sense receptors toward the muscles and glands |
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Interneuron |
Brain neuron that relays messages from sensory neurons to other interneurons or to motor neurons |
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Giacomo Rizzolatti |
accidentally discovered new type of neuron (mirror neuron) |
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Mirror Neuron |
neuron that responds when an individual observes another individual preforming a motor action |
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Glia |
The cells that hold neurons together and facilitate neural transmission, remove damaged and dead neurons, and prevent poisonous substances in the blood from reaching the brain |
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Myelin Sheath |
Insulating material that surrounds axons and increases the speed of neural transmission |
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Excitatory Input |
Information entering a neuron that signals it to fire |
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Inhibitory Input |
Information entering a neuron that signals it not to fire |
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Action Potential |
the nerve impulse activated in a neuron that travels down the axon and causes neurotransmitters to be released into a synapse |
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Resting Potential |
the polarization of cellular fluid within a neuron, which provides the capability to produce an action potential |
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Ion Channel |
A portion of neurons cell membranes that selectively permits certain ions to flow in and out |
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All-or-None Law |
The Rule that the size of the action potential is unaffected by the increases in the intensity of stimulation beyond the threshold level |
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Refractory Period |
The period of rest during which a new nerve impulse cannot be activated in a segment of an axon |
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Synapse |
the gap between one neuron and another |
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Synaptic transmission |
The relaying information from one neuron to another across the synaptic gap |
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GABA |
most common inhibatory neurotransmitter in the brain |
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Neurotransmitter |
chemical messenger released from a neuron that crosses the synapse from one neuron to another, stimulating the postsynaptic neuron |
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Neuromodulator |
any substance that modulates the activities of the postsynaptic neuron |
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Broca's area |
the region of the brain that translates thoughts into speech or signs |
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Lesion |
injury to or destruction of brain tissue |
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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) |
a technique for producing temporary inactivation of brain areas using repeated pulses of magnetic stimulation |
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Walter Hess |
pioneered the use of electrical stimulation to probe structures deep in the brain |
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Electroencephalogram (EEG) |
A recording of the electrical activity of the brain |
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Computerized Axial Tomography (CT or CAT) |
A technique that uses narrow beams of X-rays passed through the brain at several angles to assemble complete brain images |
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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan |
Brain image produced by device that obtains detailed pictures of activity in the living brain by recording the radioactivity emitted by cells during different cognitive or behavioral activities |
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) |
A technique for brain imaging that scans the brain using magnetic fields and radio waves |
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Functional MRI (fMRI) |
A brain technique that combines benefits of both MRI and PET scans by detecting magnetic changes in the flow of blood to cells in the brain |
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Central Nervous System |
The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and the spinal cord |
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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) |
The part of the nervous system composed of the spinal and cranial nerves that connect the body's sensory receptors to the CNS and the CNS to the muscles and glands |
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Somatic Nervous System |
The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system to the skeletal muscles and skin |
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Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) |
The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's involuntary motor responses by connecting the sensory receptors to the central nervous system (CNS) to the CNS to the smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands |
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Sympathetic Division |
The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that deals with emergency response and the mobilization of energy |
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Parasympathetic Division |
The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that monitors the routine operation of the body's internal functions and conserves and restores body energy. |
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Brain Stem |
the brain structure that regulated the body's basic life processes |
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Medulla |
the region of the brain that regulates breathing, walking, heartbeat |
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Pons |
the region of the brain stem that connects the spinal cord with the brain and links parts of the brain to one another |
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Reticular Formation |
the region of the brain stem that alerts the cerebral cortex to incoming sensory signals and is responsible for maintaining and awakening from sleep |
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Thalamus |
The brain structure that relays sensory impulses to the cerebral cortex |
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Cerebellum |
The region of the brain attached to the brain stem that controls motor coordination, posture, and balance as well as the ability to learn and control movements |
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Limbic System Region |
of the brain that regulates emotional behavior, basic motivational urges, and memory, as well as major physiological functions |
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Hippocampus |
part of limbic system responsible for explicit memory |
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Amygdala |
part of the limbic system that controls emotion, aggression, and the formation of emotional memory |
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Hypothalamus |
the brain structure that regulates motivated behavior (such as eating, drinking) and homeostasis |
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Cerebrum |
region of the brain that regulates higher cognitive and emotional functions |
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Cerebral cortex |
outer surface of the cerebrum |
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Cerebral Hemispheres |
the two halves of the cerebrum, connected by the corpus callosum |
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Corpus Callosum |
the mass of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the cerebrum |
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Frontal Lobe |
Region of the brain located above the lateral fissure and in front if the central sulcus; involved in motor control and cognitive activities |
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Parietal Lobe |
region of the brain behind the frontal lobe and above the lateral fissure; contains somatosensory cortex |
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Occipital lobe |
Rearmost region of the brain; contains primary visual cortex |
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Temporal Lobe |
Region of the brain found below the lateral fissure; contains auditory cortex |
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Wernicke's area |
A region of the brain that allows fluent speech production and comprehension |
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Motor Cortex |
The region of the cerebral cortex that controls the action of the body's voluntary muscles |
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somatosensory cortex |
the region of the parietal lobes that processes sensory input from various body areas |
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association cortex |
the parts of the cerebral cortex in which many high-level brain processes occur |
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endocrine system |
the network of glands that manufacture and secrete hormones into the bloodstream |
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pituitary gland |
located in the brain, the gland that secretes the growth hormone and influences the secretion of hormones by other endocrine glands |
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plasticity |
changes in the performance of the brain; may involve the creation of new synapses or changes in the function of existing synapses |
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neurogenesis |
The creation of new neurons |
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testosterone |
the male sex hormone, secreted by the testes, that stimulates production of sperm and is also responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics |
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hormone |
one of the chemical messengers, manufactured and secreted by the endocrine glands, that regulate metabolism and influence body growth, mood, and sexual characteristics |
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estrogen |
the female sex hormone, produced by the ovaries, that is responsible for the release of eggs from the ovaries as well as for the development and maintenance of female reproductive structures and secondary sex characteristics |
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auditory cortex |
the area of the temporal lobes that receives and processes auditory information |
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visual cortex |
the region of the occipital lives in which visual information is processed |
