Unit 3 Biological Bases Of Behavior

Front 1

Absolute refractory period

Back 1

The minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin.

Front 2

Action potential

Back 2

A brief change in a neuron's electrical charge.

Front 3

Adaptation

Back 3

An inherited characteristic that increased in a population (through natural selection) because it helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction during the time it emerged.

Front 4

Adoption studies

Back 4

Research studies that assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and their adoptive parents.

Front 5

Afferent nerve fibers

Back 5

Axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body.

Front 6

Agonist

Back 6

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.

Front 7

Antagonist

Back 7

A chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter.

Front 8

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Back 8

The system of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands.

Front 9

Axon

Back 9

Along, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the neuron cell body to other neurons, or to muscles or glands.

Front 10

Central nervous system (ANS)

Back 10

The brain and the spinal chord.

Front 11

Cerebral cortex

Back 11

The convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum.

Front 12

Cerebral hemispheres

Back 12

The right and left halves of the cerebrum.

Front 13

Cerebrospinal fluid

Back 13

The fluid in and around the brain and spinal cord that protects the central nervous system.

Front 14

Chromosomes

Back 14

Threadlike strands of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules that carry genetic information.

Front 15

Corpus callosum

Back 15

The structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres.

Front 16

Critical period

Back 16

A limited time span in the development of an organism when it is optimal for certain capacities to emerges because the organism is especially responsive to certain experiences.

Front 17

Dendrites

Back 17

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

Front 18

Dominant gene

Back 18

A gene that is expressed when paired genes are heterozygous (different).

Front 19

Efferent nerve fibers

Back 19

Axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body.

Front 20

Electrical stimulation of the brain(ESB).

Back 20

Sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate (activate) it.

Front 21

Electroencephalograph (EEG)

Back 21

A device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp.

Front 22

Endocrine system

Back 22

A group of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning.

Front 23

Endorphins

Back 23

Chemical inhibiting the transmission of pain, often experienced during exercise, i.e. "runner's high"; discovered in 1970s when trying to find out how opiates were (morphine, heroin); "endorphins" is a pharmacological (drug/med) term.

Front 24

Acetylcholine

Back 24

A neurotransmitter used by neurons in the PNS and CNS in the control of functions ranging from muscle contraction and heart rate to digestion and memory.

Front 25

Fitness

Back 25

The reproductive success (number of descendants) of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success of the population.

Front 26

Forebrain

Back 26

The largest and most complicated region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

Front 27

Dizygotic twins

Back 27

Often called fraternal twins, occuring when two eggs each get fertilized by two different sperm, resulting in two zygotes in the uterus at the same time.

Front 28

Genes

Back 28

DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission.

Front 29

Genetic mapping

Back 29

The process of determining the location and chemical sequence of specific genes on specific chromosomes.

Front 30

Genotype

Back 30

A person's genetic makeup.

Front 31

Glia

Back 31

Cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons.

Front 32

Dopamine

Back 32

A neurotransmitter that is associated with Parkinson's disease (too little of it) and schizophrenia (too much of it).

Front 33

Testosterone

Back 33

The most important of the male sex hormones. Both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.

Front 34

Twin studies

Back 34

Studies in which the traits of identical and fraternal twins are compared in order to assess the influence of heredity.

Front 35

Myelin sheath

Back 35

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

Front 36

Relative refractory period

Back 36

A period after firing when a neuron is returning to its normal polarize state and will only fire again if the incoming message open parentheses impulse) is stronger than usual; returning to arresting state.

Front 37

Synaptic vesicles

Back 37

Tiny oval-shaped sacs in a terminal of one neuron; assist in transferring mineral impulse from one neuron to another neuron by releasing specific neurotransmitters.

Front 38

All-or-None Law

Back 38

Neural Impulses either Fire or don't fire. There is no Half-Fire.
-A faster Rate of transmission means a stronger Stimulus

Front 39

Heterozygous condition

Back 39

The situation that occurs when two genes in a specific pair are different.

Front 40

Hindbrain

Back 40

The part of the brain that includes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brainstem: the medulla and the pons.

Front 41

Homozygous condition

Back 41

The situation that occurs when two genes in a specific pair are the same.

Front 42

Hormones

Back 42

The chemical substance released by the endocrine glands.

Front 43

Monozygotic twins

Back 43

Identical twins

Front 44

Inclusive fitness

Back 44

The sum of an individual's own reproductive success plus the effects the organism has on the reproductive success of related others.

Front 45

Lesioning

Back 45

Destroying a piece of the brain.

Front 46

Limbic system

Back 46

A densely connected network of structures roughly located along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas.

Front 47

Midbrain

Back 47

The segment of the brain stem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain.

Front 48

Mirror neurons

Back 48

Neurons that are activated by performing an action or by seeing another monkey or person perform the same action.

Front 49

Natural selection

Back 49

Principle stating that heritable characteristics that provide a survival reproductive advantage are more likely than alternative characteristics to be passed on to subsequent generations and thus come to be "selected" over time.

Front 50

Nerves

Back 50

Bundles of neuron fibers (axons) that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system.

Front 51

Neurogenesis

Back 51

The formation of new neurons in the brain.

Front 52

Neurons

Back 52

Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information.

Front 53

Neurotransmitters

Back 53

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another.

Front 54

Parasympathetic division

Back 54

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources.

Front 55

Perceptual asymmetrics

Back 55

Left-right imbalances between the cerebral hemispheres in the speed of visual or auditory processing.

Front 56

Peripheral nervous system(PNS)

Back 56

Consists of the nerves that carry messages away from the brain and the spinal chord. (subdivided into somatic and autonomic nervous systems).

Front 57

Phenotype

Back 57

The ways in which a person's genotype is manifested in observable characteristics.

Front 58

Pituitary gland

Back 58

The "master gland" of the endocrine system; it releases a great variety of hormones that fan out through the body, stimulating actions in the other endocrine glands.

Front 59

Polygenic traits

Back 59

Characteristics that are influenced by by more than one pair off genes.

Front 60

Postsynaptic potential (PSP)

Back 60

A voltage change at the receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.

Front 61

Recessive gene

Back 61

A gene whose influence is masked by when paired genes are different (heterozygous).

Front 62

Resting potential

Back 62

The stable, negative charge of a neuron when it is inactive.

Front 63

Reuptake

Back 63

A process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane.

Front 64

Soma

Back 64

The cell body of a neuron; it contains the nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells.

Front 65

Somatic nervous system

Back 65

The system of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors.

Front 66

Split-brain surgery

Back 66

A procedure in which the bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres (the corpus callosum) is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures.

Front 67

Sympathetic division

Back 67

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies.

Front 68

Synapse

Back 68

A junction where information is transmitted for one neuron to the next.

Front 69

Synaptic cleft

Back 69

The gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron.

Front 70

Terminal buttons

Back 70

Small knobs at the ends of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Front 71

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Back 71

A technique that permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain.

Front 72

Zygote

Back 72

A one-celled organism formed by the union of a sperm and an egg.

Front 73

oxytocin

Back 73

- Produced in the hypothalamus
- Part of the limbic system
- HORMONE OF LOVE
- Consistently involved in all forms of love
- Coats brain during the first 90 days of love
- Risk takers get a rush of oxytocin

Front 74

microelectrodes

Back 74

studies the function of a single neuron

Front 75

absolute refractory period

Back 75

The minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin.

Front 76

Receptor sites

Back 76

A location on a receptor neurons which is like a key to a lock (with a specific nerve transmitter); allows for orderly pathways.

Front 77

Monoamines

Back 77

A neurotransmitter found in the brain and essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system.

Front 78

Norepinephrine

Back 78

Helps control alertness and arousal

Front 79

Glutamate

Back 79

Excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

Front 80

CT Scan

Back 80

A series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body (also called a CAT scan).

Front 81

Cerebrum

Back 81

The large structure of the brain occupying most of the cranial cavity, divided into two cerebral hemispheres that are joined at the bottom by the corpus callosum. It controls and integrates motor, sensory and higher mental functions, such as thought, reason, emotion and memory.

Front 82

Hypothalamus

Back 82

AKA rewards center...maintenance activities: eating, drinking, body and temperature;
it governs the endocrine system via the pituitary gland and is linked to emotion

Front 83

Pons

Back 83

Contains centers for the control of vital processes, including respiration and cardiovascular functions. It also is involved in the coordination of eye movements and balance.

Front 84

Broca's area

Back 84

In the frontal lobe, in the left hemisphere; directs muscle movements involved in speech.

Front 85

Wernicke's area

Back 85

In the left temporal lobe; involved in language comprehension and expression.

Front 86

Hippocampus

Back 86

Part of the limbic system; involved in memory.

Front 87

Cerebellum

Back 87

voluntary movement and balance

Front 88

Thalamus

Back 88

sensory switchboard

Front 89

Reticular Formation

Back 89

A nerve network that plays a role in controlling arousal.

Front 90

Medulla

Back 90

heartbeat and breathing

Front 91

Amygdala

Back 91

part of the limbic system; linked to emotion, especially fear and anger

Front 92

PET Scan

Back 92

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

Front 93

Charles Darwin

Back 93

English naturalist, the father of Evolutionary Psychology, proposed the scientific theory that he called natural selection.

Front 94

Alan Hodgkin&Andrew Huxley

Back 94

studied neural impulses by implanting microelectrodes into squid axons

Front 95

James Olds and Peter Milner

Back 95

discovered that a rat would press a lever repeatedly because they were getting a pleasure center stimulation

Front 96

Candace Pert and Solomon Snyder

Back 96

discovered that morphine has its effects because it binds to specialized receptors in the brain

Front 97

Robert Plomin

Back 97

leading behavioral genetics researcher, heredity and experience are related (nature vs. nurture)

Front 98

Rodger Sparry and Michael Gazzaniga

Back 98

first to study split-brain research, patients whose cerebral hemispheres had been disconnected

Front 99

Elizabeth Gould

Back 99

conducted groundbreaking research showing how the brain continues to create neurons throughout life