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AP Psych 23-24 > Unit 2: Biological Basis of Behavior > Flashcards

Unit 2: Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

biological psychology

A

scientific study of link between biological and psychological processes

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2
Q

dendrites

A

tendril-like parts of a neuron that LISTEN - receive + integrate info from other cells to their native cell body

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3
Q

cell body/soma

A

life support of the entire nerve cell (neuron)
it’s where excitatory (yay) and inhibitory (nay) signals interact to generate an action potential

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4
Q

axon

A

passes neural impulse from cell body to other cells through its terminal branches when threshold reached (E > I by certain amt)
* it’s an all or none response - pulling the trigger harder doesn’t make the bullet go faster
* after an impulse is fired, no more action potentials can happen until the axon returns to rest (this is the refractory period)

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

insulates some axons and MAINLY helps speed up neural impulses
its degeneration indicates Multiple Sclerosis

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6
Q

axon terminal

A

once a neural impulse reaches the end of the terminal, neurotransmitters are triggered - they’re sent across the synaptic gap (neurons don’t actually touch, there’s the synapse between them)

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7
Q

sensory neurons

A

IN
carry incoming info from tissues/senses to the CNS
part of somatic NS

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8
Q

motor neurons

A

OUT
carry outgoing info from CNS to muscles/glands
part of somatic NS

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9
Q

interneuron

A

communicate + process internal info in CNS
billions of them in the body!

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10
Q

Describe the general path of a neural impulse.

A

dendrites –> cell body -> axon -> axon terminal -> synapse

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11
Q

synaptic gap

A

the meeting point between neurons that connects terminal of one to dendrite of another
neurons don’t quite touch - instead, neurontransmitters cross the synapse

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12
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptors in the receiving neuron like a key in a lock
afterwards, reuptake happens

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13
Q

reuptake

A

the process by which excess NTs are reabsorbed by the sending neuron or otherwise broken down

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14
Q

List the most common kinds of neurotransmitters.

A

Ach, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, endorphins

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15
Q

Ach: functions and malfunctions

A

motor mov
Too little Acetylcholine =-= Alzheimer’s

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16
Q

Dopamine: functions and malfunctions

A

Fine motor mov + alertness
Too little =-= Parkinson’s
Too much =-= schizophrenia

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17
Q

Serotonin: functions and malfunctions

A

Mood control
Too little =-= depression

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18
Q

Norepinephrine: functions and malfunctions

A

Alertness, arousal
Depression

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19
Q

GABA: functions and malfunctions

A

Inhibitory neurotransmitter
Involved in seizures / sleep problems

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20
Q

Glutamate: functions and malfunctions

A

Excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory
Excess assoc w migraines, seizures

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21
Q

Endorphins: functions and malfunctions

A
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22
Q

Agonists vs Antagonists

A

Agonists:
* excitatory
* increase / mimic NT action
* e.g. morphine
Antagonists:
* inhibitory
* blocks NT action
* e.g. curate poisoning

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23
Q

Nervous System vs Endocrine System

A

Nervous sys = speedy, electrochemical, happens through nerves, dissipates quickly
Endocrine sys = slow, hormonal, happens through bloodstream, lasts longer

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24
Q

Describe the structure of the Nervous System

A

Central (brain and spinal cord) vs Periphery
(Somatic vs Autonomic
[Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic])

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25
Peripheral Nervous System
sensory/motor neurons that connect CNS to the rest of the body through **nerves**
26
nerves
bundled axons that form neural cables connect CNS to organs
27
Somatic vs Autonomic Nervous System
**Somatic**: controls body's skeletal muscles (enabling voluntary control) **Autonomic**: controls glands + internal organ muscles (self-regulates but can be consciously overriden)
28
Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous System
**Sympathetic**: arouses body + mobilizes its energy (fight or flight) **Parasympathetic**: calms body+conserves energy (rest and digest)
29
neural networks
the clustering of neurons in working groups (interconnected neural cells)
30
reflex
an automatic response to a sensory stimulus (e.g. knee jerk response)
31
hormones
chemical messengers that act in the body by traveling through the bloodstream
32
List the glands involved in the endocrine system.
**pituitary**: growth; the "master gland" **thyroid**: regs metabolism **parathyroid**: regs calcium lvls in blood **pancreas**: regs sugar lvls in blood **adrenal**: secretes epinephrine + norepinephrine --> fight or flight rsp **testis**: male sex hormones **ovary**: female sex hormones
33
pituitary gland
the "master gland" - located in brain controlled by hypothalamus (brain region) produces growth hormone + secretes many different hormones, some of which affect other glands
34
simple reflex
helps respond/react quickly to painful stimuli (where the normal sequence would take too long) 1) skin receptors receive info (sensory neuron) 2) info goes thrgh PNS to spinal cord (wired thrgh back) 3) goes up to brain (CNS) and travels DIRECTLY through interneuron to motor neuron 4) info comes out thrgh front pt of spine 5) muscles receive info to move away from danger
35
Describe how the endocrine system interacts with the body and brain.
brain --> pituitary gland --> other glands --> hormones (bloodstream) -> body/brain action --> repeat
36
lesion ## Footnote module 11
a natural / experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
37
methods of studying the brain
EEG, MEG, CT/CAT scan, MRi, PET scan, fMRI
38
EEG
records electric signals aross brain surface by placing electrodes on the scalp stimulus presented, recording shows electric wave provoked by stimulus useufl in studying sleep + seizures
39
MEG
measures magnetic fields from brain + nautral electric activity ppl do activities, MEG records spped + strength of electromagnetic fields
40
CT/CAT scan
takes x-ray photos of the brain from different angles and combines them to reveal composite brain structure (and potential dmg)
41
PET scan
detects different brain areas' consumption of glucose (slightly radioactive sample given to participants) while participant does task
42
MRI
participants lie down in machine while scan uses magnetic fields + radio waves to generate images of brain anatomy
43
fMRI
tracks successive brain images to show brain function, structure, and blood flow/oxygen
44
Older Structures of the Brain
the ones that evolved first (most primitive) brainstem, medulla, pons, thalamus, reticular formation
45
brainstem
oldest + most central part of the brain responsible for automatic survival funcs + coordinates the body
46
medulla
base of brain stem (is the spinal swelling just after entering the skull) controls heartbeat and breathing
47
pons
just above medulla - controls sleep and coordinates unconscious movement
48
thalamus
located on top of brainstem sensory control center (coords info between sensory cortex areas and cerebellum + brain stem
49
reticular formation
located inside brainstem - goes from spinal cord through thalamus nerve network that filters incoming stimuli (helps multitask), relays info to other brain areas, and affets arousal if severed, comatose if stimulated, hyperactive
50
cerebellum
located at rear of brainstem coordinates muscle movement and balance supports mlearning and muscle memory
51
Limbic System
a neural system associated with emotions and drives sits between older + newer brain structures includes amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus
52
amygdala
small neural clusters (lima beans) involved in aggression + fear responses
53
hypothalamus
right below the thalamus maintains body / endocrine system: stimulates hormone release in pituitary gland, enables alertness, stimulates hunger, thirst, and body temperature (homeostasis)
54
hippocampus
processes explicit/conscious/episodic/declarative (they all mean the same thing) memory of facts and events
55
cerebral cortex ## Footnote module 12
thin surface layer of neural cell fabric covering cerebral hemisphers body's ultimate control + info processing center subdivided into four lobes; frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal
56
frontal lobe
part of cerebral cortex and located behind forehead involved in speaking/muscle mov, planning, and rational judgments (contains motor cortex and prefrontal cortex)
57
parietal lobe
part of cerebral cortex and located and top+back of head receives sensory input for touch/body position (contains sensory cortex)
58
occipital lobe
part of cerebral cortex and located at the very back of the head receives info from visual fields (contains visual cortex)
59
temporal lobe
part of cerebral cortex and located just above the ears plays role in recognizing + using language by receiving auditory info from ears
60
motor cortex
located at rear of front lobesand goes ear to ear controls voluntary movement (wired to opposite sides of the body) OUTPUT
61
somatosensory cortex
located at front of parietal lobes registers and processes body touch and movement(receiving wired from opposite sides of the body) INPUT
62
visual cortex
in occipital lobes - receives in put from eyes
63
association areas
areas of cerebral cortex inolved in hgiher functions as opposed to basic motor/sensory located in all four areas - no response to electrical stimuli ex: prefrontal cortex - judgment, planning, processing in frontal cortex
64
Phineas Gage
1840s railroad worker whose front lobes were imapled by iron rod afterwards, he was functional ut impulsive, irritable immoral
65
If the right temporal lobe was destroyed, what would happen?
We couldn't recognize faces
66
plasticity
brain's ability to change/adjust, especially in childhood by reorganizing itself + building new pathways
67
How does plastic reorganization of the brain work?
It can occur to an extent in response to dmg severed CNS cannot regrow, some brain func isolated to spec areas that can't be compensated for ex: blind/deaf can use unused brain areas for new func - they compensate somewhat (also can do this for idsease)
68
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons - can help repair brain ex: natural promoters: [WIP]
69
Broca’s area
Located in frontal lobe near motor cortex (left hemisphere) Helps move muscles involved in producing speech
70
Wernicke’s area
Located in left hemisphere Helps comprehend speech + grammar
71
corpus callosum
a thin band of nerve fibers that connects the left (verbal+lang) and right (spatial+faces) hemispheres Split brain patients have it severed to help localize full-brain seizures
72
Is vision processed ipsilaterally or contralaterally?
Contralateral Right hemisphere controls left hand (and processes left visual field) Left hemisphere controls right hand (processes right visual field)
73
An apple is flashed to the left eye and a cantaloupe is flashed to the right eye. Which object will the split brain patient be able to pick out but not name? With which hand?
Apple, left hand
74
An apple is flashed to the left eye and a cantaloupe is flashed to the right eye. Which object will the split brain patient be able to verbally report seeing?
Cantaloupe
75
A face made up of pieces of fruit is flashed first to the left eye, then to the right eye. What will the split brain report seeing (sequentially)?
1. Face (Left eye = right hemisphere, sees faces) 2. Pieces of fruit (right eye = left hemisphere, can’t see faces)
76
dual processing
simultaneous conscious and unconscious processing **explicit**: hippocampus **implicit**: cerebellum
77
Sequential vs parallel processing
Processing one pt of a problem at a time - for new and difficult things Vs Processing many things simultaneously - for well-learned ez things/ routine biz, generally faster than sequential
78
blindsight
Response to visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it
79
heritability
the extent to which variation among members of a group can be attributed to genes high h = differences in pop w sameish enviro, diff genes low h = difference in pop w diffish enviro, same genes

AP Psych 23-24 (10 decks)

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