UNIT 3 - Biological Bases of Behavior

Question 1

Neuron

Answer 1

nerve cell

Question 2

Dendrites

Answer 2

A neuron’s branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body

Question 3

Axon

Answer 3

The neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons/muscles/glands

Question 4

Myelin sheath

Answer 4

Layer of fatty tissue that speeds axon impulses

Question 5

Action potential

Answer 5

A neural impulse

Question 6

Refractory period

Answer 6

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

Question 7

Threshold

Answer 7

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

Question 8

All-or-none response

Answer 8

A neuron’s reaction of either firing (with full strength) or not firing (like guns)

Question 9

Synapse

Answer 9

Gap between sending neuron and receiving neuron

Question 10

Neurotransmitters

Answer 10

Chemical messengers released when action potential reaches axon’s terminals

Question 11

Reuptake

Answer 11

The sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitters

Question 12

Endorphins

Answer 12

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain relief and pleasure

Question 13

Agonist

Answer 13

A molecule that STIMULATES a response by binding to a receptor site

Question 14

Antagonist

Answer 14

A molecule that BLOCKS a response by binding to a receptor site

Question 15

Nervous system

Answer 15

The body’s speedy communication network

Question 16

Central Nervous System

Answer 16

brain and spinal cord

Question 17

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 17

Gathers info and transmits CNS decisions to other body parts

Question 18

Nerves

Answer 18

Bundled axons connecting to the CNS

Question 19

Sensory (afferent) neurons

Answer 19

Carry messages from tissues and sensory receptors to the CNS

Question 20

Motor (efferent) neurons

Answer 20

Carry instructions from the CNS to muscles and glands

Question 21

Interneurons

Answer 21

Neurons within the CNS that communicate internally

Question 22

Somatic NS

Answer 22

Enables voluntary control of our skeletal muscles

Question 23

Automatic NS

Answer 23

Self regulated functions; heartbeat, digestion

Question 24

Sympathetic NS

Answer 24

Arouses and expends energy

Question 25

Parasympathetic NS

Answer 25

Conserves energy as it calms you

Question 26

Reflex

Answer 26

Automatic responses to stimuli

Question 27

Endocrine system

Answer 27

Slow communication system. Set of glands that secrete hormones

Question 28

Hormones

Answer 28

Chemical messengers

Question 29

Adrenal glands

Answer 29

Releases hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that arouse the body when stressed

Question 30

Pituitary gland

Answer 30

Regulates growth

Question 31

Lesion

Answer 31

Destroying tiny clusters of brain cells

Question 32

EEG

Answer 32

Recording of waves of electrical brain activity

Question 33

CT Scan

Answer 33

Takes X-ray of brain

Question 34

PET Scan

Answer 34

Shows brain's consumption of glucose

Question 35

MRI

Answer 35

Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of soft tissue

Question 36

fMRI

Answer 36

Reveals brain's functioning and structure through bloodstream

Question 37

Brainstem

Answer 37

automatic survival functions

Question 38

Medula

Answer 38

Heartbeat and breathing; brainstem's base

Question 39

Thalamus

Answer 39

Directs messages

Question 40

Reticular formation

Answer 40

arousal and alertness

Question 41

Cerebellum

Answer 41

Movement and balance; learning and memory

Question 42

Limbic system

Answer 42

hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus

Question 43

Amygdala

Answer 43

aggression and fear

Question 44

Hypothalamus

Answer 44

Emotion and reward; maintenance activities; hormones

Question 45

Cerebral cortex

Answer 45

Neural cell surface layer that covers the brain

Question 46

Glial cells

Answer 46

support, nourish, and protect neurons

Question 47

Frontal lobes

Answer 47

Speaking, muscle movement, making plans and judgements

Question 48

Parietal lobes

Answer 48

Touch and body position

Question 49

Occipital lobe

Answer 49

Vision

Question 50

Temporal lobes

Answer 50

Hearing

Question 51

Motor cortex

Answer 51

Controls voluntary movements

Question 52

Somatosensory cortex

Answer 52

Body touch and movement sensations

Question 53

Association areas

Answer 53

learning, remembering, thinking, speaking

Question 54

Plasticity

Answer 54

Brain's ability to change by reorganizing itself (strong during childhood)

Question 55

Neurogenesis

Answer 55

Formation of new neurons

Question 56

Carpos callosum

Answer 56

Large band of neural fibers that connects the 2 hemispheres

Question 57

Split brain

Answer 57

Condition resulting from cutting corpus callosum

Question 58

Conciousness

Answer 58

our awareness of ourselves and our environment

Question 59

Environment

Answer 59

Every external influence

Question 60

Identical twins (monozygotic)

Answer 60

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two, creating two genetically identical organisms

Question 61

Fraternal twins (dizygotic)

Answer 61

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. Not identical

Question 62

Interaction

Answer 62

When the effect of one factor depends on another factor

Question 63

Epigenetics

Answer 63

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