Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

AP Psych Exam > Biological bases of behavior > Flashcards

Biological bases of behavior Flashcards

(85 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is the concept of nature vs nurture?

A

The debate regarding the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to human development.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does threshold refer to in neuroscience?

A

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an action potential?

A

A brief electrical charge that travels down an axon, signaling the transmission of information.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is depolarization?

A

The process during which the membrane potential becomes less negative, leading to the generation of an action potential.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does all-or-nothing mean in the context of action potentials?

A

The principle that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the refractory period?

A

The time following an action potential during which a neuron is unable to fire another action potential.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is resting potential?

A

The state of a neuron when it is not actively sending a signal, typically around -70mV.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is acetylcholine?

A

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement and memory.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is dopamine?

A

A neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, reward, and motor control.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is serotonin?

A

A neurotransmitter that contributes to mood regulation, sleep, and appetite.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is norepinephrine?

A

A neurotransmitter involved in arousal and alertness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is GABA?

A

A neurotransmitter that inhibits neural activity, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is glutamate?

A

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in learning and memory.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are endorphins?

A

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers and are involved in pleasure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is substance P?

A

A neuropeptide involved in the transmission of pain signals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q
A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the thalamus?

A

A brain structure that acts as a relay station for sensory information.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

A

Regulates vital bodily functions, including temperature and hunger.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What role does the hippocampus play?

A

Involved in memory formation and spatial navigation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the optic nerve?

A

The nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What does the pituitary gland do?

A

Secretes hormones that regulate various bodily functions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the midbrain?

A

A part of the brain involved in vision, hearing, and motor control.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the pons?

A

A brain structure that connects different parts of the brain and regulates sleep.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the medulla?

A

Controls autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is the cerebellum?
Coordinates voluntary movements and balance.
26
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outer layer of the brain involved in complex functions like thought and action.
27
What is the corpus callosum?
A bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
28
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Processing visual information.
29
What is Wernicke's area?
A region of the brain important for language comprehension.
30
What is Broca's area?
A region of the brain critical for speech production.
31
What is the parietal lobe?
Processes sensory information such as touch and temperature.
32
What is the temporal lobe?
Involved in processing auditory information and memory.
33
What is the amygdala?
Involved in emotion regulation and response.
34
What is adrenaline?
A hormone that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses.
35
What is melatonin?
A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.
36
What is oxytocin?
A hormone associated with social bonding and reproduction.
37
What are opiates?
A class of drugs derived from opium, used for pain relief.
38
What is alcohol classified as?
A depressant that affects the central nervous system.
39
What are depressants?
Substances that reduce neural activity and slow body functions.
40
What are stimulants?
Substances that increase neural activity and speed up body functions.
41
What is split brain research?
Studies on patients with severed corpus callosum to understand hemispheric functions.
42
What is brain plasticity?
The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.
43
What are hallucinogens?
Substances that alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes.
44
What is narcolepsy?
A sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness.
45
What is sleep apnea?
A disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
46
What is insomnia?
A condition characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.
47
What is somnambulism?
Also known as sleepwalking, it involves walking or performing other activities while asleep.
48
What is REM sleep behavior disorder?
A condition where individuals act out their dreams during REM sleep.
49
What are the theories of dreaming?
Theories that explain the purpose and function of dreams.
50
What are the theories of sleeping?
Theories that explore why we sleep and the processes involved.
51
What is absolute threshold?
The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected.
52
What is difference threshold?
The smallest change in stimulus intensity that can be detected.
53
What is sensory adaptation?
The process by which sensitivity to a stimulus decreases over time.
54
What is habituation?
A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations.
55
What is dichromaticism?
A condition where an individual has two types of color receptors.
56
What is monochromaticism?
A condition where an individual has only one type of color receptor.
57
What are monocular cues?
Depth cues that can be perceived with one eye.
58
What are binocular cues?
Depth cues that require the use of both eyes.
59
What is the opponent-process theory?
A theory that suggests color perception is controlled by opposing pairs.
60
What is the Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory?
A theory that states color vision is based on three primary colors.
61
What is the cornea?
The transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil.
62
What is the pupil?
The opening in the center of the iris that allows light to enter the eye.
63
What is the iris?
The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil.
64
What is the lens?
The transparent structure behind the pupil that helps focus light.
65
What is the ciliary body?
The structure that contains the muscles to change the shape of the lens.
66
What is the sclera?
The white outer layer of the eyeball.
67
What is the retina?
The light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye that contains photoreceptors.
68
What are cones?
Photoreceptors in the retina responsible for color vision.
69
What are rods?
Photoreceptors in the retina that are sensitive to low light levels.
70
What are bipolar cells?
Cells in the retina that transmit signals from photoreceptors to ganglion cells.
71
What are ganglion cells?
Cells in the retina that receive signals from bipolar cells and send them to the brain.
72
What is place theory?
A theory that explains how we perceive pitch based on the location of activated hair cells in the cochlea.
73
What is frequency theory?
A theory that suggests we perceive pitch based on the frequency of the auditory nerve's impulses.
74
What is volley theory?
A theory that proposes that groups of auditory nerve fibers fire in a volley pattern to encode pitch.
75
What are the parts of the ear involved in hearing?
Ear-drum, anvil, hammer, stirrup, oval window, cochlea, cochlear nerve.
76
What is the role of the vestibular nerve?
It transmits information about balance and spatial orientation from the inner ear to the brain.
77
What is the function of the pinna?
The outer part of the ear that helps to collect sound waves.
78
What is the ear canal?
The tube through which sound travels to reach the eardrum.
79
What is the cochlea?
A spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into neural signals.
80
What is olfaction?
The sense of smell.
81
What are pheromones?
Chemical signals released by an individual that can affect the behavior of others of the same species.
82
What is gate control theory?
A theory that explains how the perception of pain can be controlled by the nervous system.
83
What is sensory interaction?
The principle that one sense may influence another, such as smell affecting taste.
84
What is transduction?
The process of converting physical energy (like sound or light) into neural signals.
85
What are the five basic tastes?
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

AP Psych Exam (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions