Biological Bases of Behavior
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96 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 neuropsychologists | those who explore the relationships btwn brain/nervous systems and behavior |
| lesions | precise destruction of brain tissue, enables more systematic study of the loss of function resulting from surgical removal, cutting of neural connections, or destruction by chemical applications |
| computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT) | creates a computerized image using x-rays passed through the brain to show structure and/or the extent of a lesion. SHOWS STRUCTURE |
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | creates more detailed computerized images using a magnetic field and pulses of radio waves that case emission of signals that depend upon the density of tissue. SHOWS STRUCTURE |
| EEG (electroencephalogram) | an amplified tracing of brain activity produced when electrodes positioned over the scalp transmit signals about the brains electrical activity to an EEG machine SHOWS FUNCTION |
| evoked potentials | EEFs resulting from a response to a specific stimulus presented to the subject |
| positron emission tomography | shows brain activity when radioactively tagged glucose rushes to active neurons and emits positrons. SHOWS FUNCTION |
| functional MRI (fMRI) | shows brain activity at higher resolution than the PET scanner when changes in oxygen concentration near active neurons alters its magnetic qualities. SHOWS FUNCTION |
| central nervous system (CNS) | brain and spinal cord |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | portion of the nervous system outside the brain and the spinal cord; includes all of the sensory and motor neurons, and subdivisions called the autonomic and somatic nervous systems |
| autonomic nervous system (ANS) | subdivision of PNS that includes motor nerves that innervate smooth (involuntary) and heart muscle. |
| sympathetic nervous system | subdivision of ANS and PNS whose stimulation results in responses that help your body deal with stressful events. FIGHT OR FLIGHT |
| parasympathetic nervous system | subdivision of ANS and PNS whose stimulation cals your body following the sympathetic stimulation by restoring normal body processes. CALM DOWN |
| somatic nervous system | subdivision of PNS that includes motor nerves that innervate skeletal (voluntary) muscle |
| spinal cord | portion of the CNS below the level of the medulla |
| brain | portion of the CNS above the spinal cord. |
| convolutions | folding-in and out of the cerebral cortex that increases surface area of the brain |
| gyri | folding OUT portions of convolutions of the cerebral cortex |
| sulci | folding IN portions of convolutions of the cerebral cortex |
| contralaterality | control of one side of your body by the other side of your brain |
| medulla oblongata | regulates heart rhythm, blood flow, breathing rate, digestion, vomiting |
| pons | includes portion of reticular activating system or reticular formation critical for arousal and awakefullness; sends info to and from medulla, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex |
| cerebellum | controls posture, equilibrium, and movement |
| thalamus | relays visual, auditory, taste, somatosensory info to/from appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex |
| hypothalamus | controls feeding behavior, drinking behavior, body temp, sex behavior, threshold for rage, activation of sympathetic/parasympathetic systems, and secretion of hormones |
| amygdala | influences emotions such as fear, aggression, and self-protective behaviors |
| hippocampus | enables formation of new long-term memories |
| cerebral cortex | center for higher order processes such as thinking, planning, judgement; receives/processes sensory information and directs movement |
| association areas | areas of the cerebral cortex that do not have specific sensory/motor functions, but are involved in higher mental functions such as thinking, planning, communicating, etc. |
| occipital lobes | primary area for processing VISUAL info |
| parietal lobes | from strip is somatosensory cortex that processes sensory info including touch, temp, and pain; association areas perceive objects |
| frontal lobes | interpret/control emotional behaviors, make decisions, carry out plans, produces speech, etc. |
| Broca's area | located in left frontal lobe, controls production of speech |
| temporal lobes | primary area for hearing, understanding language, understanding music, processing smell |
| Wernicke's area | located in left temporal lobe, plays role in understanding language and making meaningful sentences |
| aphasia | impairment of ability to understand/use language |
| glial cells | supportive cells of the nervous system that guide the growth of developing neurons help provide nutrition for neurons, etc. |
| neuron | basic unit structure/function of nervous system. 3 major functions: receive, process, and transmit info |
| cell body | part of neuron that contains cytoplasm and the nucleus |
| dendrites | branching tubular processes of neuron that have receptor sites for receiving info |
| axon | long, single conducting fiber that transmits an action potential and ends in tips called terminal buttons that secrete neurotransimtters |
| myelin sheath | a fatty covering of the axon made by glial cells which speeds up conduction of the action potential |
| terminal buttons | tips at the end of axons that secrete neurotransmitters when stimulated by the action potential |
| neurotransmitters | chemical messengers released by the terminal buttons of the presynaptic neuron into the synapse |
| acetylcholine (ACh) | a neurotransmitter that causes contraction of skeletal muscles, helps regulate heart muscles, is involved in memory, and also transmits messages btwn the brain and spinal cord. lack = alzheimers |
| dopamine | a neurotransmitter that stimulates the hypothalamus to synthesize hormones and affects alertness, attention, and movement. lack = parkinsons. excess = schizophrenia. |
| seratonin | a neurotransmitter associated with arousal, sleep, appetite, moods, and emotions. lack = depression |
| endorphins | a neurotransmitter similar to the opiate morphine that relieves pain and may induce feelings of pleasure |
| gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) | a neurotransmitter that inhibits firing of postsynaptic neurons. malfunctioning = huntington's and seizures |
| action potential | a net flow of sodium ions into the cell that causes a rapid change in potential across the membrane when stimulation reaches threshold |
| all or none principle | he aw that the neuron either generates an action potential when the stimulation reaches threshold or doesn't fire when stimulation is below threshold. strength of action potential is constant |
| Nodes of Ranvier | spaces btwn segments of myelin on the axons of neurons |
| saltatory conduction | rapid conduction of impulses when the acon is myelinated since depolarizations jump from node to node |
| synapse | region of communication btwn the transmitting presynaptic neuron and the receiving postsynaptic neuron, muscle, gland, etc. |
| excitatory neurotransmitter | chemical secreted at terminal button that causes the neuron on the other side of the synapse to generate an action potential |
| inhibitory neurotransmitter | chemical secreted at terminal button that reduces/prevents neural impulses in the postsynaptic dendrites |
| reflex | the simplest form of behavior |
| reflex arc | the path over which the reflex travels, which typically includes a receptor, sensory/afferent neuron, interneuron, motor/efferent neuron, and effector |
| sensory receptor | cells typically in sense organs that initiates action potentials, which then travel along the sensory/Afferent neurons to the CNS |
| afferent neuron | also called sensory neuron; nerce cell in your PNS that transmits impulses from receptors to the brain/spinal cord |
| interneuron | nerce tell in the CNS that transimits impulses btwn sensory and motor neurons |
| behavioral geneticists | study the role played by our genes and our environment in mental ability, enotional stability, temperment, personality, interests, etc. Look at the CAUSES of our individual differences |
| zygote | fertilized egg |
| identical twins | monozygotic twins two individuals who share ALL of the same genes bc they develop from the same zygote |
| fraternal twins | dizygotic twins; siblings that share about half of the same genes bc they develop from two different zygotes. Just so happen to have the same birthday |
| heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals that is due to genetic causes |
| gene | each DNA segment of a chromosome that determines a trait |
| chromosome | structure in the nucleus of cells that contains genes determined by DNA sequences |
| turner's syndrome | female with only one X sex chromosome |
| Klinefelter's syndrome | male with XXY sex chromosomes |
| down syndrome | 3 copies of the chromosome-21 |
| efferent neuron | also called motor neuron. nerve cell in your PNS that transmits impulses from sensory or interneurons to muscle cells that contract or gland cells that secrete |
| effector | muscle cell that contracts or gland cells that secrete |
| endocrine system | ductless glands that typically secrete hormones directly into the blood, which help regulate body and behavioral processes |
| hormone | chemical messenger that travels through the blood to a receptor site on a target organ |
| pineal gland | endocrine gland in the brain that produces melatonin that helps regulate circadian rhythms and is associated with SAD |
| hypothalamus | portion of the brain that acts as endocrine gland and produces hormones that stimulate/inhibit secretion of hormones by the pituitary |
| pituitary gland | sometimes called "master gland", is an endocrine gland in the brain that produces stimulating hormones, which promote secretion by other glands |
| thyroid gland | endocrine gland in neck that produces thyroxine, which simulates/maintains metabolic activities |
| parathyroids | endocrine glands atop kidneys |
| pancreas | gland near stomach that secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood sugar that fuels all behavioral processes. imbalances = diabetes and hypoglycemia |
| ovaries and testes | gonads in females and males that produce hormones necessary for reproduction and development of secondary sex characteristics |
| nature-nurture controversy | deals w the extent to which heredity and the enviro each influence each other |
| evolutionary psychologists | study how natural selection favored behaviors that contributed to the survival/spread of our ancestor's genes; look at behaviors shared by all people |
| genotype | genetic make up of an individual |
| phenotype | the expression of the genes |
| homozygous | both genes for a trait are the same |
| heterozygous | aka hybrid. genes for a trait are different |
| dominant gene | the gene expressed when the genes for a trait are different |
| recessive gene | the gene that is hidden/not expressed when the genes for a trait are different |
| Tay-Sachs syndrome | recessive trait that produces progressive loss of nervous function and death in a baby |
| albinism | recessive trait that produces lack of pigment and involves quivering eyes and inability to perceive depth with both eyes |
| phenylketonuria (PKU) | recessive trait that results in severe, irreversible brain damage unless the baby is fed a special diet low in phenylalanine |
| Huntington's disease | dominant gene defect that involves degeneration of the nervous system, characterized by tremors, jerky motions, blindness, etc. |
| sex-linked traits | recessive genes located on the X chromosome with no corresponding gene on the Y chromosome, which results in expression of recessive trait, more frequently in males |
| color blindness | sex-linked trait with which individual cannot see certain colors, esp. red and green |
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