Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

ap psych > Unit 2: Biological Basis of Behavior 2.1-2.5 + Drugs > Flashcards

Unit 2: Biological Basis of Behavior 2.1-2.5 + Drugs Flashcards

(102 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

behavioral genetics

A

focuses on discovering how genes and experiences interact and lead to specific behaviors and mental abilities

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

Molecular genetics

A

the study of how specific genes influence behavior and psychological traits.

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

DNA

A

a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

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

Genes

A

segments of DNA that contain instructions to make proteins - building blocks of life

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

Heritability

A

a measure of how well differences in people’s genes account for differences in their traits
imagine a city full of clones (all identical genes) who grow up with different environments. If they all took an IQ test, any differences between their scores could be explained by the environment, so heritability would be zero. On the other hand, if we imagine a city full of people with different genes but who all had identical environmental experiences then any score differences would be due to genes so heritability would be 1.

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

dominant alleles

A

show their effect even if the individual only has one copy of the allele

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

Recessive alleles

A

only show their effect if the individual has two copies of the allele

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

genome

A

the entirety of that individual’s hereditary information

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

genotype

A

the collection of genes responsible for the various genetic traits of a given organism (example: bb)

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

phenotype

A

the visible or observable expression of the results of genes, combined with the environmental influence on an organism’s appearance or behavior (blue eyes)

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

reciprocal determinism

A

The characteristics of the person, the person’s behavior, and the environment all affect one another in a two-way causal relationships

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

Phenylketonuria

A

causes cognitive disabilities, but only if the affected person’s diet includes foods containing a certain enzyme. If the person with the PKU gene is kept on a strict diet for the first two decades of life, they will have normal intelligence.

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

epigenetic

A

he study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change

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

identical twins

A

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms
Have similar personality and intelligence levels

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

fraternal twins

A

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.

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

charles darwin

A

creator of natural selection - some psychological traits might be advantageous for survival and those traits would be passed down from parents to the next generation

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

evolutionary psychology

A

the branch of psychology that studies the mental adaptations of humans to a changing environment

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

natural selection

A

certain behaviors and genes best for survival (Survival of the Fittest)
-Behaviors such as stranger anxiety, parental love, phobias (spiders, snakes) can all be explained natural selection
-If a person is outgoing, he or she might make friends an allied and these connections could improve the individual’s chances of survival, which increases the person’s chances of passing this trait for extroversion down to his or her kids

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

endocrine system

A

the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and mood

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

hormone

A

A chemical messenger produced in the body that controls and regulates the activity of certain cells or organs (released in the bloodstream)

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

hypothalamus

A

brain region controlling the pituitary gland

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

pituitary gland

A

the “master control gland;” controls other glands and makes the hormones that trigger growth

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

pineal gland

A

produces melatonin which affects sleep

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

adrenal gland

A

make hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to help your body handle stress.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Thyroid gland
affects metabolism
26
parathyroid gland
help regulate the level of calcium in the blood
27
pancreus
regulates the level of sugar in the blood
28
testis
secretes male sex hormones -- linked with aggressive behavior
29
ovary
secretes female sex hormones
30
melatonin
chemical associated with sleep
31
Nervous system
The body's electrochemical communications network.
32
central nervous system
The brain & spinal cord, which distribute & process messages.
33
spinal cord
nerves that form the connections between the brain and the peripheral nervous system and are encased in the spine
34
peripheral nervous system
A branch of the human nervous system that includes all components except the brain and spinal cord
35
Somatic Nervous System -
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movements
36
Autonomic Nervous System
A part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates bodily processes such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion
37
sympathetic nervous system
branch of the autonomic nervous system that excites body by preparing it for action (increased heartbeat, pupils dilate, lungs increase oxygen, relax bladder, etc) FIGHT OR FLIGHT
38
parasympathetic nervous system
branch of the autonomic nervous system that restore the body's energy sources once they have been depleted (pupils constrict, heart beat slows, constrict airways, stomach contract, etc), REST AND DIGEST
39
sensory or afferent nuerons
neurons that take information from the senses to the brain
40
Motor or efferent neurons
Neurons that take information from the brain to the rest of the body
41
Internuerons
in the brain or spinal cord, neurons that take messages and send them elsewhere in the brain or spinal cord
42
spinal reflex
An immediate response to external stimuli directed at the level of the spinal cord
43
mirror nuerons
brain cells that fire both when you do something and when you see someone else do the same thing, helping with empathy and learning.
44
nuerons
individual nerve cells that make up our entire nervous system
45
dendrites
receive neural messages
46
Cell body(soma)
contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life
47
axon
wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons that extends from the cell body -- passes the messages along
48
myelin sheath
a fatty covering around the axon of some neurons that speeds neural impulses (lack of it can cause Multiple Sclerosis)
49
Terminal Buttons (Axon Terminals) -
branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters
50
synapse
space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron
51
glial cells
provide nutrition and protection for the neurons
52
schwann cells
Supporting cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the formation of myelin.
53
Node of Ranvier
Tiny gaps within the myelin sheath covering a nerve cell; may help speed impulses
54
action potential
An impulse or brief electric charge that travels down the axon.
55
threshold
The level of stimulation needed to trigger a neural impulse.
56
all or none response
A neuron either sends an impulse or it does not.
57
resting potential
When a neuron does not have an action potential
58
polarized
The state of a resting neuron; the outside of the membrane is positively charged while the inside of the membrane is negatively charged.
59
depolarization
describes an axon that is firing. Positive ions enter the axon, and cause other positive ions to move into the axon in the form of a neural impulse down the axon.
60
refractory period
A resting pause, where neurons pump positively charged sodium ions back outside of the cell.
61
acetylcholine
enables muscle action, and memory
62
example of acetylcholine malfunction
with alzheimers disease acetylcholine producing nuerons deteriorate
63
dopamine
movement, attention and rewards
64
oversupply of dopamine leads to
schizophrenia
65
undersupply of dopamine related to
decreased mobility in parkinson's
66
serotonin
affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
67
undersupply of serotonin is linked to
depression
68
norepinephrine
helps control alertness and arousal
69
GABA
major inhibitory neurotransmitter
70
undersupply of GABA is linked to
seizures,tremors and insomnia
71
glutamate
a major excitatory nuerotransmitter
72
oversupply of Glutamate can cause
migraines or seizures
73
Norepinephrine
affects levels of alertness
74
endorphins
bodys natural painkillers
75
Vesicles -
small membrane sacs that specialize in moving products into, out of, and within a cell
76
receptor sites
Locations on neurons receiving incoming messages; neurotransmitters fit into these sites
77
Pre synaptic nueron
A neuron that is about to receive a neurotransmitter from the neuron across the synaptic gap.
78
postsynaptic nueron
is the membrane that receives a signal (binds neurotransmitter)
79
nuerotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons that generate the next neural impulse.
80
endorphins
Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked with pain control & pleasure.
81
Reuptake
The reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron.
82
Excitatory neurotransmitters -
- send signals that stimulate the brain
83
Inhibitory neurotransmitters -
send signals to calm the brain down and create balance.
84
agonists
chemicals that activate the receptors for certain neurotransmitters and make the effects of neurotransmitters stronger
85
whats caffeine an agonist for
achetylcholine
86
SSRIs
increase the amount of serotonin available to the brain, and are commonly prescribed for depression.
87
Adderall, methamphetamine, cocaine, and speed:
agonists of norepinephrine. When these drugs increase the excitatory effects of norepinephrine, they create feelings of euphoria and extreme alertness.
88
Benzodiazepines and alcohol:
agonists of GABA.
89
Opiates (morphine, oxycodone, heroin, etc.):
agonists of endorphins
90
antagonists
chemicals that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters
91
LSD
antagonist for serotonin.
92
reuptake inhibitors
-drugs that prevent the axon terminals from engaging in the reuptake of neurotransmitters. -Cocaine, for instance, is a reuptake inhibitor for dopamine. Its stimulating effects are caused by extra dopamine leftover in the synaptic gap.
93
psychoactive drugs
chemical substances that alter perceptions, mood, or behavior
94
depressants
lower neural activity and slow body functioning
95
alcohol
slows neural processing and thinking and impairs physical activity
96
opiates
drugs that reduce neurotransmission and temporarily lessen pain and anxiety
97
stimulants
drugs that speed up the body’s functions Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine, meth, Amphetamines
98
hallucinagens
drugs that distort perceptions of reality LSD, Marijuana
99
tolerance
after long-term use the brain then produces less of that specific neurotransmitter - this creates a need for increasing amounts of the drug to experience the same effect
100
withdrawal
set of symptoms associated with discontinuing a drug - reverses neuroadaptation
101
addiction
craving for a chemical substance despite its adverse effects
102
substane abuse disorder
continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk

ap psych (16 decks)

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