Biological Bases of Behavior

Question 0

Neurotransmitter

Answer 0

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by sending the neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron

Question 1

Nervous System

Answer 1

The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system

Question 2

Motor neurons

Answer 2

Carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands

Question 3

Central nervous system

Answer 3

The complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates it comprises the brain and spinal cord.

Question 5

What are interneurons?

Answer 5

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Question 6

What are hormones?

Answer 6

Hormones are chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues.

Question 7

What is a synapse?

Answer 7

It is the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

Question 8

Pituitary Gland

Answer 8

The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Question 9

What is a PET (Positron Emissions Tomography) scan?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is neurogenesis?

Answer 10

The formation of new neurons.

Question 11

Pituitary Gland

Answer 11

The endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus,, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.

Question 12

Sensory neurons

Answer 12

Neurons at carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Question 13

What are nerves?

Answer 13

A whitish fiber or bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs.

Question 14

Myelin Sheath

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Neuron

Answer 15

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

Question 16

Synapse

Answer 16

Junction between axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap

Question 17

Lesion

Answer 17

Tissue destruction. A brain lesion is naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.

Question 18

Broca’s area

Answer 18

Controls language expression–an area, usually in the left frontal lobe, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Question 19

Thalamus

Answer 19

Brains sensory switchboard, located on brainstem, directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

Question 20

Behavioral Genetics

Answer 20

Study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

Question 21

Computed tomography (CT) scan

Answer 21

X-ray photographs taken from different angles and put together as a slice of the body

Question 22

Action Potential

Answer 22

An impulse that travels from the dendrite to the axon. “the firing” period

Question 23

Medulla

Answer 23

Base of the brain stem that controls heart beat and breathing.

Question 24

Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 24

The branch of neuroscience that deals with how the neurological mechanisms are involved in thinking and behavior.

Question 25

Plasticity

Answer 25

The brain's ability to change after damage by reorganization or new pathways from experience

Question 26

Hypothalamus

Answer 26

Brain region that contains pituitary gland and controls maintenance functions such as eating; helps govern endocrine system and is linked to emotion and reward.

Question 27

Genes

Answer 27

Biochemical units of heredity that make up chromosomes.

Question 28

Split brain

Answer 28

When the connection between the right and left hemispheres of the brain is severed to some degree

Question 29

What is the area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement?

Answer 29

Motor cortex

Question 30

What is evolutionary psychology?

Answer 30

The study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection.

Question 31

Brainstem

Answer 31

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions.

Question 32

Consciousness

Answer 32

Our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Question 33

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 33

The portion of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord

Question 34

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 34

he furrowed outer layer of gray matter in the cerebrum of the brain, associated with the higher brain functions, as voluntary movement, coordination of sensory information, learning and memory, and the expression of individuality

Question 35

Genome

Answer 35

a full set of chromosomes; all the inheritable traits of an organism.

Question 36

Pituitary Gland

Answer 36

the major endocrine gland. A pea-sized body attached to the base of the brain, the pituitary is important in controlling growth and development and the functioning of the other endocrine glands.

Question 37

Association Areas

Answer 37

sections of the cerebral cortex that are connected to the function of a primary part of the cerebral cortex. These areas are responsible for thought, memory, and learning, in combination with the primary parts they surround.

Question 38

Mutation

Answer 38

the changing of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations, caused by the alteration of single base units in DNA, or the deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger sections of genes or chromosomes.