Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

AP Psychology > Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Unit 2: Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

receptor sites

A

proteins found on the surface of a cell responsible for bonding to specific molecules

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

dendrites

A

a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

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

soma (cell body)

A

contains the cell’s nucleus

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

axon

A

the neuron extension that passages messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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

myelin sheath

A

a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; increases the transmission speed of neural impulses

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

nodes of ranvier

A

gaps between the myelin sheath; allows the generation of a fast electrical impulse

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

terminal buttons

A

small knobs at the end of the axon that release neurotransmitters

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

vesicles

A

contains neurotransmitters

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

synapses

A

space between the neurons

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

semipermeable membrane

A

layer that only certain molecules can pass through

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

glial cells

A

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; may also play a role in thinking and learning

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

schwann cells

A

major glial cell type in the PNS; important for the development, maintenance, function and regeneration of peripheral nerves

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

depolarization

A

the action potential; the rushing in and out of positively charged ions

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

polarization

A

the resting state of the neuron, charge is more positive outside the membrane and more negative inside

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

action potential

A

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon

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

repolarization

A

the refractory period; the closing of the membrane and reestablishing a more negative charge inside

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

resting potential

A

when a neuron is not firing, and has a negative charge with mostly potassium ions inside and mostly sodium ions outside

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

reuptake

A

a neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

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

refractory period

A

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

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

all-or-none response

A

a neuron’s reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing

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

threshold

A

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

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

agonist

A

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response

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

antagonist

A

a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response

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

excitatory

A

increase the likelihood the neuron will fire an action potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
inhibitory
decrease the likelihood the neuron will fire an action potential
26
acetylcholine
enables muscle action, learning, and memory
27
epinephrine
plays an important role in the body's fight-or-flight response
28
norepinephrine
helps control alertness and arousal
29
glutamate
a major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory
30
dopamine
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
31
serotonin
affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
32
GABA
a major inhibitory neurotransmitter
33
sensory/affluent neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord
34
motor/efferent neurons
neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
35
interneurons
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
36
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
37
adrenal gland
a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress
38
pituitary gland
the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.
39
central nervous system
the brain and the spinal cord
40
peripheral nervous system
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
41
somatic nervous system
the division of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles
42
autonomic nervous system
the part of the PNS that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs
43
sympathetic nervous system
the division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
44
parasympathetic nervous system
the division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy
45
depressants
reduce neural activity and slow body functions ex. alcohol, marijuana
46
stimulants
excite neural activity and speed up body functions ex. cocaine, nicotine
47
barbiturates
depress CNS activity, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement ex. Nembutal, Seconal, Amytal
48
opiates
depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety ex. morphine, heroin, MDMA, meth
49
tolerance
the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect
50
addiction
compulsive craving of drugs or certain behaviors (such as gambling) despite known adverse consequences
51
withdrawal
the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior
52
physical dependence
when a person has a chemical need for the drug
53
psychological dependence
when the person believes they need the drug to feel good
54
electroencephalogram (EEG)
an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
55
position emission tomography (PET)
a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
56
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy.
57
functional MRI (fMRI)
a technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as its structure.
58
brainstem
the oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions.
59
medulla
the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing
60
pons
helps coordinate movement
61
reticular formation
a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal.
62
thalamus
the brain’s sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
63
cerebellum
the “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory.
64
limbic system
neural system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.
65
amygdala
two lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.
66
hypothalamus
a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
67
hippocampus
processes conscious memories
68
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.
69
frontal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
70
parietal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.
71
occipital lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.
72
temporal lobes
portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
73
motor cortex
an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.
74
somatosensory cortex
area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
75
association areas
areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
76
corpus callosum
the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
77
split brain
a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them.
78
brain plasticity (neuroplasticity)
the brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.
79
neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons

AP Psychology (4 decks)

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