Biological Basis of Behavior
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Created by:
brownies_n_milk on May 4, 2009
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13 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
Biopsychology | Specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior and mental process |
Neuroscience | a relatively new interdisciplinary field that focuses on the brain and its role in psychological processes |
Evolution | the gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environment |
Natural Selection | driving force behind evolution by which the environment selects the fittest organism |
Genotype | an organisms genetic makeup |
Phenotype | an organisms observable, physical characteristics |
DNA | a long complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics. |
Gene | segment of a chromosome that encodes the directions for the inherited physical and mental characteristics of an organism, these are the funtional units of a chromosome |
Chromosome | tightly coiled, threadlike structure along with the genes are organized like beads on a necklace |
Neuron | cells specialized to recieve and transmit information to other cells in the body. Also called a nerve cell |
Sensory Neuron | nerve cell that carries messages from sense receptors toward the central nervous system. Also called an afferemt neuron |
Motor Neuron | nerve cell that carries messages away from the central nervous system towards the muscles and glands; efferent neuron |
Interneuron | a nerve cell that relays messages between nerve cells especially in the brain and spinal cord |
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