Chapter 2.1 & 2.2

Question 1

biopsychology

Answer 1

The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and mental processes

Question 2

evolution

Answer 2

the gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environment

Question 3

natural selection

Answer 3

The driving force behind evolution by which nature “selects” its fittest organisms

Question 4

genotype

Answer 4

an organisms genetic makeup

Question 5

phenotype

Answer 5

an organisms physical and behavioral characteristics

Question 6

genome

Answer 6

the complete set of genetic information contained within a cell

Question 7

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Answer 7

a long, complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics

Question 8

gene

Answer 8

segment of a chromosome that encodes the directions for the inherited mental and physical characteristics of an organism. Genes are the functional units of a chromosome.

Question 9

chromosome

Answer 9

tightly coiled threadlike structure along which the genes are organized, like beads on a necklace. Chromosomes consists primarily of DNA.

Question 10

neuron

Answer 10

also called a nerve cell, it is a cell specialized to receive and transmit information to other cells in the body

Question 11

sensory neuron

Answer 11

Afferent neurons - a nerve cell that carries messages towards the central nervous system from sense receptors

Question 12

motor neuron

Answer 12

Efferent neurons - a nerve cell that carries messages away from the central nervous system toward the muscles and glands

Question 13

interneuron

Answer 13

a nerve cell that relays messages between nerve cells, especially in the brain and spinal cord

Question 14

dendrite

Answer 14

branched fiber that extends outward from the cell body and carries information into the neuron

Question 15

soma

Answer 15

cell body - part of the cell that contains the nucleus

Question 16

axon

Answer 16

an extended fiber in a nerve cell that conducts information from the soma to the terminal buttons

Question 17

resting potential

Answer 17

the electrical charge of the axon in its inactive state

Question 18

action potential

Answer 18

the nerve impulse caused by an electrical change across the cell membrane of the axon. When the neuron fires, this charge travels down the axon and causes neurtransmitters to be released by the terminal buttons

Question 19

all-or-none principle

Answer 19

refers to the fact that the action potential occurs completely or not at all

Question 20

synapse

Answer 20

microscopic gap that serves as a communication link between neurons as well as between neurons and the muscles/glands they serve

Question 21

terminal buttons

Answer 21

tiny bulb-like structures at the end of the axon that contain neurtransmitters that carry the neuron’s message into the synapse

Question 22

synaptic transmission

Answer 22

the relaying of information across the synapse by means of chemical transmitters

Question 23

neurotransmitters

Answer 23

chemical messenger that relays neural messages across the synapse, many of these are also hormones

Question 24

reuptake

Answer 24

the process of which unused neurotransmitters are drawn back into the vesicles of the originating neurons

Question 25

plasticity

Answer 25

the nervous systems ability to adapt or change as a result of experience and can even help the nervous system adapt to physical damage

Question 26

glial cells

Answer 26

one of the cells that provide structural support for the neurons

Question 27

nervous system

Answer 27

the entire network of neurons in the body, including the central and peripheral nervous systems and their subdivisions

Question 28

central nervous system

Answer 28

the brain and spinal cord

Question 29

reflex

Answer 29

simple, unlearned response triggered by stimuli

Question 30

contralateral pathways

Answer 30

pathways between brain and body that allow the left side of the brain to control the right side of the body and vice versa

Question 31

peripheral nervous system

Answer 31

all parts of the nervous system that lies outside the central system, includes autonomic and somantic nervous systems

Question 32

somantic nervous system

Answer 32

division of the peripheral system that carries sensory messages to the central system and voluntary messages to the muscles

Question 33

autonomic nervous system

Answer 33

division of the peripheral system that sends communication between the central system and the inner organs and glands

Question 34

sympathetic division

Answer 34

division of the autonomic system that deals with stressful and emergency situations (fight or flight)

Question 35

parasympathetic division

Answer 35

division of the autonomic system that calms the body down

Question 36

endocrine system

Answer 36

the hormone system, the body’s chemical messenger system, including the endocrine glands: pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries, testes

Question 37

hormones

Answer 37

chemical messengers used by the endocrine system, many serve as neurotransmitters in the nervous system

Question 38

pituitary gland

Answer 38

the “master control gland” that produces hormones as well as influences growth, attached to the brains hypothalmus

Question 39

agonists

Answer 39

drugs or other chemicals that facilitate the effects of neurotransmitters

Question 40

antagonists

Answer 40

drugs or other chemicals that inhibit the effects of neurotransmitters

Question 41

neural pathways

Answer 41

bundles of nerve cells that generally follow the same route and use the same neurotransmitters