Biology and Behavior (ch 3 )

Question 1

Dendrites

Answer 1

detect information from other neurons

Question 2

cell body

Answer 2

information is collected and integrated

Question 3

axon

Answer 3

information is conducted to the terminal buttons

Question 4

terminal buttons

Answer 4

small nodules that release chemical signals from the neuron to the synapse

Question 5

synapse

Answer 5

gap between the terminal buttons of a sending neuron where chemical communication occurs between neurons

Question 6

action potential

Answer 6

electrical signal that passes along the axon and subsequently causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons

Question 7

resting membrane potential

Answer 7

electric charge of a neuron when it is not active (~70 millivolts)
two ions: sodium and potassium

Question 8

sodium potassium pump

Answer 8

increases potassium and decreases sodium inside the neuron, maintaining resting membrane potential

Question 9

excitatory signal

Answer 9

depolarize cell membrane, increase the likelihood that a neuron will fire

Question 10

inhibitory signals

Answer 10

hyperpolarize the cell, decrease the likelihood that the neuron will fire

Question 11

when a neuron fires

Answer 11

sodium gates in the cell membrane open, allows sodium to rush into the neuron which positively charges it
potassium channels open to allow potassium ions inside the cell membrane to rush out

Question 12

relative refractory period

Answer 12

brief period of time after action potential when a neurons membrane potential is more negative, making it harder to fire again

Question 13

all or none principle

Answer 13

principle that when a neuron fires, it fires with the same potency each time

Question 14

nodes of ranvier

Answer 14

small gaps of exposed axon between the segments of myelin sheath where action potentials take place

Question 15

neurotransmitters

Answer 15

chemical substances that transmit signals one neuron to another, stored in vesicles

Question 16

acytelcholine

Answer 16

motor control over muscles, learning, memory, sleeping, and dreaming

Question 17

norepinephrine

Answer 17

arousal, vigilance, attention

Question 18

serotonin

Answer 18

emotional states and impulsiveness

Question 19

dopamine

Answer 19

reward and motivation

Question 20

GABA

Answer 20

inhibition of action potentials, anxiety reduction

Question 21

glutamate

Answer 21

enhancement of action potentials learning and memory

Question 22

endorphins

Answer 22

pain reduction/ reward

Question 23

agonists

Answer 23

drugs and toxins that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters

Question 24

antagonists

Answer 24

inhibit actions of neurotransmitters

Question 25

EEG

Answer 25

measures electrical activity in the brain

Question 26

PET

Answer 26

injection of harmless radioactive substance, finds most active brain areas

Question 27

MRI

Answer 27

powerful magnetic field to determine the location of brain damage or brain tumors

Question 28

fMRI

Answer 28

imaging technique used to examine changes in the activity of the brain by measuring changes in oxygen levels

Question 29

TMS

Answer 29

strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity to study brain regions

Question 30

cerebral cortex

Answer 30

outer layer of brain tissue which forms the convoluted surface of the brain, site of all thoughts, perceptions, and complex behavior

Question 31

gray matter

Answer 31

dominated by neurons cell bodies and non myelinated axons that communicate with nearby neurons

Question 32

corpus callosum

Answer 32

massive bridge of millions of axons that connects the hemispheres of the brain

Question 33

occipital lobes

Answer 33

region important for vision

Question 34

parietal lobes

Answer 34

devoted partially to touch

Question 35

temporal lobes

Answer 35

important for processing auditory information, memory, and object/face perception

Question 36

frontal lobes

Answer 36

essential for planning and moement

Question 37

prefrontal cortex

Answer 37

frontmost portion, important for attention, working memory, decision making, appropriate social behavior, and personality

Question 38

split brain

Answer 38

removing the corpus callosum results in the two hemispheres not communicating

Question 39

thalamus

Answer 39

receives the most sensory information, organizes it, relays to cortex

Question 40

hypothalamus

Answer 40

main regulatory structure, functions many organs, regulates temperature, body rhythms, blood pressure, and glucose levels

Question 41

hippocampus

Answer 41

formation of new memories

Question 42

amygdala

Answer 42

biological stimuli, fight or flight, evaluates facial expressions emotional significance

Question 43

basal ganglia

Answer 43

planning and producing movement, damage to this area can cause tremors or parkinson’s

Question 44

cerebellum

Answer 44

for proper motor function and motor memory

Question 45

endocrine system

Answer 45

communicates through hormones and influences thoughts, behaviors, and actions

Question 46

sympathetic system

Answer 46

prepares body for action

Question 47

parasympathetic division

Answer 47

returns the body to a resting state