Chapter 3 The biological bases of behavior

Question 1

What are the key parts of the neuron?

Answer 1

Soma-cell body, dendrites- receives information, Axon- fibers that carries signals away from the soma, Myelin Sheath - insulating material that encases the axons. Terminal buttons - small knobs, that releases neurotransmitters at synapses.

Question 2

What does the Glial cell do?

Answer 2

provides support for neurons and contributes to signaling in the nervous system

Question 3

what is a resting potential?

Answer 3

negative charge when inactive, neuron is stable.

Question 4

What is an action potential?

Answer 4

voltage spike that travels along an axon

Question 5

What is an absolute refractory period?

Answer 5

brief time after an action potential, before another action potential can begin

Question 6

What is the all or nothing law?

Answer 6

a neuron either fires or doesn’t fire

Question 7

what is the first steps to synaptic transmission?

Answer 7

synthesis, transportation, and storage of neurotransmitters in synaptic vesicles.

Question 8

What is the second step to synaptic transmission?

Answer 8

Release of neurotransmitters into synaptic cleft

Question 9

What is the fourth step in the synaptic transmission?

Answer 9

Binding of neurotransmitters at receptor sites leads to excitatory and inhibitory PSPs. Some neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the same neuron that released them. This is called autoreceptor activation.

Question 10

What are the last two steps pf synaptic transmission?

Answer 10

inactivation or removal - drifting away of neurotransmitters

reuptake - of neurotransmitters by presynaptic neuron.

Question 11

What does Acetylcholine do to neurotransmitters and behavior?

Answer 11

released by neurons that control skeletal muscles

Question 12

What does serotonin do to neurotransmitters and behavior?

Answer 12

involved in the regulation of sleep and arousal, and aggression, abnormal levels linked to depression.

Question 13

What does dopamine do to neurotransmitters and behavior?

Answer 13

Abnormal levels linked to schizophrenia, dopamine circuits activated by cocaine and amphetamines.

Question 14

What does Norepinephrine do to neurotransmitters and behavior?

Answer 14

Abnormal levels linked to depression, norepinephrine circuits can be activated by cocaine and amphetamines.

Question 15

What does GABA do to neurotransmitters and behavior?

Answer 15

inhibitory transmitter that contributes to regulation of anxiety.

Question 16

What does Endorphins do to neurotransmitters and behavior?

Answer 16

opiate like chemicals involved in modulation of pain.

Question 17

Central nervous system has two parts, what are they?

Answer 17

Brain and spinal cord.

Question 18

Peripheral nervous system, what are the two parts?

Answer 18

somatic nervous system - nerves to voluntary muscles, sensory receptors and autonomic nervous system - nerves to heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, glands.

Question 19

What are two parts of the somatic nervous system?

Answer 19

Afferent- incoming nerves Efferent - outgoing nerves

Question 20

What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 20

Sympathetic division - mobilizes bodily resources

Parasympathetic division - conserves bodily resources

Question 21

What are the three parts of the brain in the hindbrain?

Answer 21

Cerebellum - coordinates fine muscle movement, balance.
Medulla - regulates unconscious functions such as breathing and circulation.
Pons - involved in sleep and arousal

Question 22

What does the midbrain do?

Answer 22

involved in locating things in space, dopamine synthesis.

Question 23

What parts of the brain is in the forebrain?

Answer 23

Cerebrum - handles complex mental activities such as learning, thinking, planning.
Thalamus - relay center for cortex, incoming sensory signals, except smell.
Limbic system - loosely connected network that contributes to emotion, memory, motivation, and reward.
Hypothalamus - regulates basic biological needs, such as hunger, thirst, sex.

Question 24

What are the 4 lobes of the brain?

Answer 24

Frontal lobes - primary motor cortex
Parietal lobes - primary somato sensory cortex (touch, temperature)
Temporal lobes - primary auditory cortex
Occipital lobes - primary vision cortex

Question 25

What are the limbic system 2 parts of the brain?

Answer 25

Hippocampus - memory | Amygdala - learning of fear responses.

Question 26

What are the research methods for studying the brain behavior?

Answer 26

electric stimulation and MRI, fMRI scans

Question 27

What is the spilt brain surgery?

Answer 27

Bundle of fibers (corpus callosum) that connects two hemispheres is severed

Question 28

What is perceptual asymmetries?

Answer 28

left right imbalances in the speed of processing are studied in normal subjects.

Question 29

what does the left hemisphere do?

Answer 29

verbal processing, including language, speech, writing.

Question 30

What does the right hemisphere do?

Answer 30

non verbal hemisphere, musical processing, and visual recognition tasks.

Question 31

What are the basic concepts of heredity and behavior?

Answer 31

Chromosomes - threadlike strains of DNA that carry info Genes - DNA segments that are the key functional units in heredity transmissions. Closer relatives share greater genetic overlap most behavioral traits appear to involve polygenic inheritance

Question 32

What are the research methods for heredity and behavior?

Answer 32

family studies assess trait resemblance among blood relatives twin studies compare trait resemblance of identical or fraternal twins. adoption studies compare adopted children to their adoptive parents and biological parents CRISPRS are a natural part of our immune system, modified genomes.

Question 33

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 33

- system consists of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream in a pulsatile fashion. - governed by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, the endocrine system regulates our response to stress. - recent research suggests that the hormone oxytocin fosters bonding and influences social behavior

Question 34

What are Darwin's insights in evolutionary bases of behavior?

Answer 34

organisms vary in endless ways some traits are heritable variations in hereditary traits might affect organisms survival and reproductive success. heritable traits that provide a survival or reproductive advantage will become more prevalent over generations

Question 35

What are Darwin's key concepts?

Answer 35

fitness - refers to the reproductive success of an organism relative to the population. adaptations - are inherited characteristics sculpted through natural selection b/c they helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction when they emerged.

Question 36

What are some behaviors as adaptive traits ?

Answer 36

- species typical patterns of behavior often reflect evolutionary solutions to adaptive problems. - for example, behavioral strategies that help organisms avoid predators have obvious adaptive value. - many behavioral adaptations improve organisms chances of reproductive success.