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Psychology 101 > Chapter 3: Biopsychology > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Biopsychology Flashcards

(93 cards)

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1
Q

Action Potential

A

Electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

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2
Q

Adrenal gland

A

Sits atop the kidneys and secretes stress-response hormones

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3
Q

Agonist

A

Drug that mimics/strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

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4
Q

All-or-none

A

Signal from a neuron is either enough or not enough to reach threshold of excitation

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5
Q

Allele

A

Variation of a gene

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6
Q

Amygdala

A
  • Structure in the limbic system
  • Involved in the experience of emotion & tying it to memories
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7
Q

Antagonist

A

Drug that blocks/impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmitter

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8
Q

Auditory cortex

A
  • Strip of cortex in the temporal lobe
  • Responsible for processing auditory info
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9
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

Controls internal organs and glands

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10
Q

Axon

A

Carries nerve impulses away from the cell body

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11
Q

Biological perspective

A

Psychological disorders are associated
with imbalances in one/more neurotransmitter systems

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12
Q

Broca’s area

A
  • Region in the left hemisphere
  • Important in language production
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13
Q

Central nervous system

A
  • Consists of the brain and spinal cord
  • Receive, process, and responds to sensory info
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14
Q

Cerebellum

A
  • In the hindbrain
  • Controls balance, coordination, movement, motor skills
  • Important in processing (some) memories
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15
Q

Cerebral cortex

A
  • Surface of the brain
  • Associated with “highest” mental capabilities
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16
Q

Chromosome

A
  • Long strand of genetic info
  • Contain genes (segments of DNA)
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17
Q

Computerized tomography (CT) scan

A
  • Imaging technique
  • Computer coordinates & integrates
    multiple x-rays of a given area
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18
Q

Corpus callosum

A
  • Thick band of neural fibers
  • Connects the brain’s two hemispheres
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19
Q

Dendrite

A

Branched extension of a neuron that receives signals from other neurons

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20
Q

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A
  • Double helix molecule made of nucleotide base pairs
  • Genetic info in the cells of the body that code for different traits
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21
Q

Diabetes

A

Disease due to insufficient insulin production

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22
Q

Dominant allele

A
  • Phenotype will be expressed
  • Big letter
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23
Q

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A

Recording the electrical activity of the brain using electrodes on the scalp

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24
Q

Endocrine system

A

Series of glands that produce hormones

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25
Epigenetics
- Studies gene-environment interactions - How the same genotype leads to a different phenotype
26
Flight or fight response
- Activated by the sympathetic autonomic NS - Allows access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity (fight or flight)
27
Forebrain
- Largest part of the brain - Contains cerebral cortex, thalamus, limbic system, etc
28
Fraternal twins
- Developed from 2 different eggs and fertilized by different sperm - Genetic material varies
29
Frontal lobe
- Part of the cerebral cortex - Reasoning, motor control, emotion, language - Contains motor cortex
30
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time
31
Gene
- Sequence of DNA - Dictates physical traits
32
Genetic environmental correlation
Idea that genes affect our environment and our environment influences gene expression
33
Genotype
Genetic makeup of an individual
34
Glial cell
- Nervous system cell - Aids in neuronal insulation, communication, nutrient/waste transport
35
Gonad
- Secretes sexual hormones - Important in reproduction - Mediates sexual motivation/behavior
36
Gyrus
Bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex
37
Heterozygous
- Two different alleles - Ie: Aa
38
Hindbrain
- Division of the brain - Contains medulla, pons, cerebellum
39
Hippocampus
- Structure in the temporal lobe - Associated with learning and memory
40
Homeostasis
State of equilibrium in the body
41
Homozygous
- Two dominant or recessive alleles - Ie: AA or aa
42
Hormone
- Chemical messenger released by endocrine glands - Travels through the blood
43
Hypothalamus
- Forebrain structure - Regulates sexual motivation and behavior - Connection between the nervous and endocrine system
44
Identical twins
Twins developed from the SAME sperm and egg
45
Lateralization
Concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions
46
Limbic system
Collection of structures involved in processing emotion & memory
47
Longitudinal fissure
- Deep groove in the brain’s cortex - Separates brain's hemispheres
48
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged
49
Medulla
- Hindbrain structure that controls automated processes - Ie: breathing, BP, heart rate, etc
50
Membrane potential
Difference in charge across the neuronal membrane
51
Midbrain
- Located between forebrain and hindbrain - Contains the reticular formation
52
Motor cortex
- Strip of cortex - Involved in planning/coordinating movement
53
Mutation
Permanent change in a gene sequence
54
Myelin sheath
- Fatty substance that insulates axons - Allows electrical impulses to travel along nerve cells
55
Neuron
- A nerve cell - Responsible for sending/receiving neurotransmitters
56
Neuroplasticity
The nervous system's ability to change
57
Neurotransmitter
Chemicals that carry info between brain cells
58
Nodes of Ranvier
Open spaces on the myelin sheath that encase the axon
59
Occipital lobe
- Part of the cerebral cortex - Associated with visual processing - Contains primary visual cortex
60
Pancreas
Secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar
61
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Associated with routine operations of the body
62
Parietal lobe
- Part of cerebral cortex - Involved in processing sensory & perceptual info - Contains the primary somatosensory cortex
63
Peripheral Nervous System
Consists of the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord
64
Phenotype
Physical manifestation of genetics
65
Pituitary gland
Regulates growth, metabolism, reproduction by releasing hormones
66
Polygenic
Multiple genes affecting a trait
67
Pons
- Hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord - Regulates brain activity during sleep
68
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
- Injects people with radioactive substance - Monitors changes in blood flow to the regions of the brain
69
Prefrontal cortex
- Area in the frontal lobe - Responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning
70
Psychotropic medication
Drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance
71
Range of reaction
- Genes set the boundaries within which we can operate - Environment interacts with genes to determine where in the range we fall
72
Receptor
Protein on cell surface where neurotransmitters attach
73
Recessive allele
- Ie: aa - Cannot be expressed in the presence of a dominant allele
74
Resting potential
Electrical potential difference across plasma membrane when the cell is in a non-excited state
75
Reticular formation
- Midbrain structure - Regulates sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, motor activity
76
Reuptake
Neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it
77
Semipermeable membrane
- Selectively permeable - Think: bouncer
78
Soma
Cell body
79
Somatic Nervous System
Relays sensory and motor info to and from the CNS
80
Somatosensory cortex
- Important in processing sensory info from across the body - Ie: touch, temp, pain, etc
81
Substantia nigra
- Midbrain structure - Where dopamine is produced - Involved in control of movement
82
Sulcus
Depressions/grooves in cerebral cortex
83
Sympathetic Nervous System
- Involved in stress-related activities/functions - "Fight or flight" response
84
Synaptic cleft
Gap between neurons where communication occurs
85
Synaptic vesicle
Storage site for neurotransmitters
86
Temporal lobe
- Part of cerebral cortex - Hearing, memory, emotion, language - Contains primary auditory cortex
87
Terminal button
- Terminal portion of the axon - Contains apparatus necessary to release neurotransmitters
88
Thalamus
Sensory relay for the brain
89
Theory of evolution by natural selection
Organisms best suited for their environments will persist and reproduce
90
Threshold of excitation
Level of charge in the membrane that causes neurons to become active
91
Thyroid
Secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite
92
Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
- Midbrain structure - Where dopamine is produced - Associated with mood, reward, addiction
93
Wernicke's area
Important for speech comprehension

Psychology 101 (4 decks)

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