Chapter Three - Biology and Behavior

Question 1

dendrites

Answer 1

branchlike extensions of the neuron that detect information from other neurons

Question 2

cell body

Answer 2

site, in the neuron, where information from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated

Question 3

axon

Answer 3

a long narrow outgrowth of a neuron by which information is transmitted to other neurons

Question 4

terminal buttons

Answer 4

small nodules, at the end of axons, that release chemical signals from the neuron into the synapse

Question 5

synapse

Answer 5

the site at which chemical communication occurs between neurons

Question 6

synaptic cleft

Answer 6

the gap between the axon of a “sending” neuron and the dendrites of a “receiving” neuron; it contains extracellular fluid

Question 7

myelin sheath

Answer 7

a fatty material, made up of glial cells, that insulates the axon and allows for the rapid movement of electrical impulses along the axon

Question 8

nodes of Ranvier

Answer 8

small gaps of exposed axon, between the segments of myelin sheath, where action potentials are transmitted

Question 9

resting membrane potential

Answer 9

the electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active

–> ratio of neg to pos ions in the neuron is greater than outside the neuron (more neg on inside)

Question 10

action potential

Answer 10

the neural impulse that passes along the axon and subsequently causes the release of chemicals from the terminal buttons

Question 11

all-or-none principle

Answer 11

the principle whereby a neuron fires with the same potency each time, although frequency can vary, a neuron either fires or not, it cannot partially fire

Question 12

neurotransmitters

Answer 12

chemical substances that carry signals from one neuron to another

Question 13

receptors

Answer 13

in neurons, specialized protein molecules on the postsynaptic membrane; neurotransmitters bind to these molecules after passing across the synaptic cleft

Question 14

reuptake

Answer 14

the process whereby a neurotransmitter is taken back into the presynaptic terminal buttons, thereby stopping its activity

Question 15

agonists

Answer 15

drugs that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters

Question 16

antagonists

Answer 16

drugs that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters

Question 17

Broca’s area

Answer 17

a small portion of the left frontal region of the brain, crucial for the production of language

Question 18

brain stem

Answer 18

an extension of the spinal cord; it houses structures that control functions associated with survival, such as breathing and swallowing

Question 19

cerebellum

Answer 19

a large, convoluted protuberance at the back of the brain stem; it is essential for coordinated movement and balance

Question 20

hypothalamus

Answer 20

a brain structure that is involved in the regulation of bodily functions, including blood pressure and blood glucose levels
influences are basic motivated behaviors

Question 21

thalamus

Answer 21

gateway to the brain

receives almost all incoming sensory information before it reaches the cortex

Question 22

hippocampus

Answer 22

a brain structure that is associated with the formation of memories

Question 23

amygdala

Answer 23

a brain structure that serves a vital role in our learning to associate things with emotional responses and in processing emotional information

Question 24

basal ganglia

Answer 24

a system of subcortical structures that are important for the production of planned movement

Question 25

cerebral cortex

Answer 25

the outer layer of brain tissue | forms the convoluted surface of the brain

Question 26

occipital lobes

Answer 26

regions of the cerebral cortex (at the back of the brain),= | important for vision

Question 27

parietal lobes

Answer 27

regions of cerebral cortex - in front of occipital, behind frontal - important for sense of touch and for conceptualizing the spatial layout of an environment

Question 28

temporal lobes

Answer 28

regions of the cerebral cortex - below the parietal and in front of the occipital - important for processing auditory information, for memory, and for object and face perception

Question 29

frontal lobes (general definition)

Answer 29

regions of the cerebral cortex - at front of brain - important for movement and higher-level psychological processes associated with the prefrontal cortex

Question 30

prefrontal cortex

Answer 30

the frontmost portion of the frontal lobes, especially prominent in humans, important for attention, working memory, decision making, appropriate social behavior, and personality

Question 31

chromosomes

Answer 31

structures within the cell body that are made up of DNA. DNA consists of genes

Question 32

genes

Answer 32

the unites of heredity that help determine characteristics of an organism

Question 33

dominant gene

Answer 33

a gene that is expressed in offspring when present

Question 34

recessive gene

Answer 34

gene that is expressed only when matched with a smilier gene from the other parent

Question 35

genotype

Answer 35

genetic constitution of an organism, determined at the moment of conception (never changes)

Question 36

phenotype

Answer 36

observable physical characteristics which result from both genetic and environmental characteristics (always changing)

Question 37

monozygotic twins

Answer 37

"identical twins" | twin siblings that result from one zygote splitting in two and therefore share the same genes

Question 38

dizygotic twins

Answer 38

"fraternal twins" | twin siblings that result from two separately fertilized eggs and therefore are no more similar than non twins

Question 39

heritability

Answer 39

a statistical estimate of the extent to which variation in a trait within a population is due to genetic factors

Question 40

plasticity

Answer 40

a property of the brain that allows it to change as a result of experience, drugs, or injury

Question 41

synesthesia

Answer 41

cross-sensory experience (ex. visual image has a taste)

Question 42

twin studies

Answer 42

compare similarities between different types of twins to determine the genetic basis of specific traits

Question 43

adoption studies

Answer 43

compare similarities between biological relatives and adoptive relatives

Question 44

Caspi study

Answer 44

longitudinal study of criminality - followed 1000+ New Zealanders from birth-adulthood and examined factors of who would become a violent criminal - MAO (enzyme: monoamine oxidase) low levels = more aggression - low-MAO led to greater susceptibility of childhood mistreatment and a greater likelihood of being convicted of a crime - -> showed that nature and nurture and inextricably intertwined

Question 45

phantom limb

Answer 45

the intense sensation that the amputated body part still exists -other areas of body take over sensitivity in somatosensory cortex where leg sensation used to be (touching face may feel like touching missing leg)

Question 46

radical hemispherectomy

Answer 46

the surgical removal of an entire cerebral hemisphere | -->only done on kids who can reorganize their brain to use only one hemisphere

Question 47

gender differences in brain

Answer 47

1. males have larger brain | 2. female brains are more bilaterally organized for language (use both sides of brain)

Question 48

cerebral hemispheres

Answer 48

- two halves of cerebellum | - wrinkled surface

Question 49

gyri

Answer 49

bumps on brain

Question 50

sulci

Answer 50

valleys on brain

Question 51

corpus callosum

Answer 51

connections between the left and right hemispheres

Question 52

Frontal Lobe functions

Answer 52

1. Motor Cortex: sends signals to body parts to move (organized by body part, unstructured organization) 2. Broca's Area: speech production (left hemisphere) 3. Memory 4. Emotion/Planning

Question 53

Parietal Lobe functions

Answer 53

1. Somatosensory Cortex (front section): feedback from muscles, touch, sensation, body mapped on this area (unstructured organization) 2. Spatial Processing: finding your way, rotating objects in mental space, identifying body Disorders: 1. phantom limb 2. neglect syndrome

Question 54

Neglect Syndrome

Answer 54

damage to right parietal lobe, don't include left side of anything when remembering (only eat food on right side of plate)

Question 55

Temporal Lobe functions

Answer 55

1. Auditory cortex: conscious sound information 2. Wernicke's Area (left hemisphere): speech comprehension, can't understand speech or make your speech comprehendible 3. Hippocampus + memory 4. Emotion/Aggression Disorders: 1. Capgras Delusion

Question 56

Capgras Delusion

Answer 56

believe their loved one or themselves has been replaced by an imposter -connection between vision and emotion is cut

Question 57

Occipital Lobe functions

Answer 57

1. Visual Cortex: gives conscious experience of seeing Disorders 1. Blindsight 2. Alexia

Question 58

Blindsight

Answer 58

damage to visual cortex, consciously blind but able to avoid obstacles, have peripheral vision

Question 59

Alexia

Answer 59

inability to read, can see letters but unable to string words together

Question 60

Techniques to study function

Answer 60

1. case study: example is Phineas Gage --> showed link between parts of body and function (beginning of neuroscience) 2. correlational: observe behavior while measuring brain activity

Question 61

Recording Techniques

Answer 61

1. EEG | 2. Intercranial Recording Electrodes

Question 62

EEG

Answer 62

(Electroencephalography) | tells overall state of consciousness

Question 63

Intercranial Recording Electrodes

Answer 63

surgically implanted into brain in specific part to measure activity --> just measuring activity not creating it

Question 64

Imaging Techniques

Answer 64

1. MRI Scans 2. Functional MRI Scans 3. PET Scan

Question 65

MRI Scan

Answer 65

measure brain STRUCTURE in magnetic field to produce static image of brain tissue pro: excellent measure of brain anatomy con: NO info about activity/function

Question 66

Functional MRI Scan

Answer 66

measure blood flow indirectly by assessing changes in the blood's oxygen level pro: excellent measure of brain activity and structure con: lag time in recording signal

Question 67

PET Scan

Answer 67

uses radioactive substance to produce activity-related image (injected into brain) pro: good measure of activity, can label substances con: weak measure of structure, radioactivity

Question 68

Experimental Techniques

Answer 68

Brain Activation/Inactivation: precisely manipulate specific brain area, only method that provides cause/effect info 1. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) 2. Direct Brain Stimulation 3. Intercranial Stimulation 4. Deep Brain Stimulation

Question 69

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Answer 69

magnetic field manipulates brain activity in a specific brain region with a wand -most useful in structures near brain surface

Question 70

Direct Brain Stimulation

Answer 70

stimulation during brain surgery --> mapping brain function anatomy on surface of brain --> Wilder Penfield: neurosurgeon stimulated parts of brain so that he wouldn't remove more than necessary

Question 71

Intercranial Stimulation

Answer 71

electrodes implanted deep inside brain (temporary)

Question 72

Deep Brain Stimulation

Answer 72

permenant implanted electrodes used to treat some disorders (ex. Parkinson's)

Question 73

Phrenology

Answer 73

study of skull to determine a person's character/mental capacity