Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Z Fall 2024 > PSYC 2015 Ch 03: Biological Psychology > Flashcards

PSYC 2015 Ch 03: Biological Psychology Flashcards

(77 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

action potential

A

electrical SIGNAL that moves down the neuron’s axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

adrenal gland

A

TISSUE atop the kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response (adrenaline and cortisol; during emotional arousal)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

amygdala

A

structure in the limbic system involved in
-our experience of emotion and
-tying emotional meaning to our memories
-modulates attention, perception, and memory based on emotions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

part of the nervous system controlling the involuntary actions of organs and glands,
* which along with the limbic system, participates in emotion regulation

(system) controls our internal organs and glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

axon

A

major EXTENSION of the soma that sends signals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Broca’s area

A

REGION in the left hemisphere (prefrontal cortex) that is essential for speech production and articulation

coordinates muscles of the lips, tongue, and throat to form words and se

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

absolute refractory period

A

TIME during which another action potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

adoption study

A

ANALYSIS of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

association cortex

A

REGIONS of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

basal ganglia

A

STRUCTURES in the forebrain that help to control movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

brain stem

A

PART of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the
-midbrain,
-pons and
-medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

(system) brain and spinal cord; controls the mind and behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

cerebellum

A

hindbrain STRUCTURE that controls our
-balance,
-coordination,
-movement and motor skills, and
-Is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

cerebral cortex

A

SURFACE of the brain (outermost part of the forebrain) that is responsible for
-analyzing sensory information
-higher brain functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

cerebral hemispheres

A

two HALVES of the cerebral cortex, with distinct yet highly integrated functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

cerebral ventricles

A

POCKETS in the brain that
-contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and
-provide nutrients and
-cushion against injury

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

chromosome

A

long STRAND of genetic information inside a cell’s nucleus
-caries genes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

computerized tomography (CT) scan

A

imaging TECHNIQUE in which a computer coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area to construct 3D images

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

corpus callosum

A

thick BAND of neural fibers connecting the two cerebral hemispheres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

deep brain stimulation (DBS)

A

technique in which electrodes and a battery source are implanted in the brain to deliver electricity to specific brain areas
-used to treat Parkinsons, OCD, Tourette Syndrome, epilepsy, cluster headaches, pain disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

dendrite

A

branch-like extension of the soma that receives signals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

dominant gene
(dominant allele)

A

gene (or allele) that:
-masks other genes’ effects
-will be expressed in an idividual that posseses that gene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

electroencephalograph (EEG)

A

medical test that measures the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp
-helps diagnose and monitor: seizures/epilepsy, brain inhuries, Alzheimers, tumors, narcolepsy, anesthesia, brain death, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

endocrine system

A

system of glands that secrete hormones that act as chemical messengers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
epigenetics
**study of** gene-environment interactions that affect gene expression -ex: how the same *genotype* leads to different *phenotypes*
26
fitness
an organism's **ability/capacity** to survive and reproduce in its environment; to pass on their genes
27
forebrain
topmost and largest **part of the brain** that allows advanced intellectual abilities | contains: cerebral cortex, cerebrum, the limbic system, etc.
28
frontal lobe
**part** of the *cerebral cortex* that ; is responsible for * motor fxn & control, * language, * decision making * planning | contains the *motor cortex*
29
functional MRI (fMRI)
**MRI** that shows changes in metabolic activity over time (**technique** that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using changes in blood oxygen level)
30
gene
**genetic material** comprised of DNA
31
genotype
**genetic makeup** of an individual
32
glial cell
**Nervous system cell** that provides physical and metabolic support to the neurons including * neuronal insulation (*myelin sheath* and blood-brain barrier) * neuronal communication * nutrient and waste transport
33
heritability
**percentage of the variability** in a trait across individuals that is the result of *genes*
34
hindbrain
**region** below the *midbrain* that contains the * *cerebellum*, * *pons*, and * *medulla*
35
hippocampus
**part** of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory
36
hormone
**chemical messenger** released by *endocrine* glands
37
hypothalamus
***forebrain* structure** that serves as an interface between the *nervous system* and the *endocrine system*; regulates * sexual motivation and behavior * homeostatic processes
38
interneuron
**neuron ** that sends messages to other nearby neurons
39
lateralization
**concept** that certain cognitive functions rely more on one side of the brain than the other; that each hemisphere is associated with specialized functions
40
limbic system
**a network of regions** involved in * processing emotions * motivation * learning * memory
41
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
**imaging technique** that uses magnetic field to indirectly visualize brain structure
42
magnetoencephalography (MEG)
**technique** that measures brain activity by detecting tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain
43
medulla
a ***hindbrain* structure**, part of the *brain stem*, that controls basic fxns like * breathing * blood pressure * heart rate
44
midbrain
**part of the brainstem** that contributes to: * movement * tracking of visual stimuli and * reflexes triggered by sound * located b/t the *forebrain* and the *hindbrain*; * contains the *reticular formation*
45
motor cortex
**part of frontal lobe** responsible for body movement; strip of *cortex* involved in planning and coordinating movement
46
myelin sheath
**glial cells wrapped around *axons*** that act as insulators of the *neuron*'s signal
47
neurogenesis
creation of new neurons in the adult brain
48
neurotransmitter
**chemical messenger** specialized for communication from *neuron* to *neuron*
49
occipital lobe
back **part of the *cerebral cortex*** specialized for vision * associated w/ visual processing * contains the primary *visual cortex*
50
parasympathetic nervous system
**division of autonomic nervous system** that controls rest and digestion * associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body
51
phenotype
individual's **inheritable physical traits**; out observable traits
52
pituitary gland
**master gland** that, under control of the *hypothalamus*, directs other glands of the body
53
plasticity
tha *nervous system's* ability to change
54
pons
**part of the brain stem** (*hindbrain* structure) that connects the *cortex* with the *cerebellum* * between the *midbrain* and the *medulla*
55
positron emission tomography (PET)
**imaging technique** that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain
56
prefrontal cortex
**part of the frontal lobe** responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning including: * thinking, * planning and * language
57
receptor site
**specific location on a receptor protein** that uniquely recognizes a *neurotransmitter*
58
recessive gene
**gene** that is expressed only in the absence of a *dominant gene*
59
reflex
**automatic motor response** to sensory stimulus
60
resting potential
**electrical charge difference (-60 mV)** across the *neuronal membrane* when the *neuron* is not being stimulated or inhibited (2e: the **state of readiness** of a *neuron* membrane's potential between signals)
61
reticular activating system (RAS)
(**a component of the reticular formation**) brain area that plays a key role in * arousal, * alertness, * the sleep/wake cycle
62
reuptake
means of recycling neurotransmitters | (NT is pumped back into the neuron that released it)
63
somatic nervous system
**part of the *nervous system*** that conveys information between the *CNS* and the body, controlling and coordinating voluntary movement | relays sensory and motor info to and from the *CNS*
64
somatosensory cortex
**regions of the *cerebral cortex*** that initially process sensory information (ex: touch, temperature, pain)
65
spinal cord
**thick bundle of nerves** that conveys signals between the brain and the body
66
split-brain surgery
**procedure** that involves severing the *corpus callosum* to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures
67
stem cell
**a cell**, often originating in embryos, having the capacity to differentiate into a more specialized cell
68
sympathetic nervous system
**division of the *autonomic nervous system*** engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight | involved in stress-related activities and fxns
69
synapse
**space** between two connecting *neurons* through which messages are transmitted chemically
70
synaptic cleft
**a gap** into which *neurotransmitters* are released from the *axon terminal* | small gap where communication occurs b/t two *neurons*
71
synaptic vesicle
**spherical sac** containing *neurotransmitters* | vesicle/storage site for *NTs*
72
temporal lobe
**lower part of *cerebral cortex***; associated w/ * hearing, * understanding language, and * memory * contains primary *auditory cortex*
73
thalamus
**gateway** from the sense organs to the *somatosensory cortex* | sensory relay for the brain
74
threshold of excitation
**membrane potential** necessary to trigger an *action potential* | lvl of charge in the membrane that causes the *neuron* to become active
75
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
**technique** that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either **enhance or interrupt brain function**
76
twin study
**analysis** of how traits differ in monozygotic (genetically identical) versus dizygotic (genetically different) twins
77
Wernicke’s area
**part of the *temporal lobe*** responsible for language comprehension and lexical selection processing | understand & produce meaningful verbal communication

Z Fall 2024 (34 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions