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AP Psychology > Unit 3 - Biological Bases of Behavior > Flashcards

Unit 3 - Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards

(62 cards)

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1
Q

Neuron

A

A nerve cell

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2
Q

Sensory neuron

A

Carries information from sensory receptors in organs and tissues to the brain and spinal cord

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3
Q

Motor neuron

A

Sends information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

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4
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons inside the brain/spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs

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5
Q

Action Potential

A

A neural impulse, an electrical charge

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6
Q

Resting potential

A

A state in which the fluid interior of an axon has an excess of negatively-charged ions and the fluid exterior has excess positively charged ions

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7
Q

Depolarize

A

The action-potential causes positively charged sodium ions to flood through a section of the axon membrane, allowing the subsequent axon section’s channel to open

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8
Q

Refractory period

A

The neuron pushes positively charged sodium ions back out of the axon membrane, allowing for more neural impulses

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9
Q

Threshold

A

The minimum intensity signal required to trigger an action potential, determined by the amount of excitatory signals and inhibitory signals received

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10
Q

Synapse

A

Area between axon tips and dendrites of neuron cells

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11
Q

Synaptic gap

A

The small gap separating axons and dendrites

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12
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

a chemical/molecule that travels across synapses and allows ions to enter a neuron and excite/inhibit a new action potential

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13
Q

Re-uptake

A

a reabsorption of neurotransmitters

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14
Q

Endorphins

A

A neurotransmitter that is released in response to pain or pleasure

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15
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

enables muscle action, learning, and memory

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16
Q

Dopamine

A

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

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17
Q

GABA

A

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

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18
Q

Glutamate

A

Excitatory neurotransmitter

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19
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Helps control alertness and arousal

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20
Q

Serotonin

A

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal

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21
Q

Agonist

A

A molecule that is similar enough to a neurotransmitter to mimic it’s effects

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22
Q

Antagonist

A

A molecule that blocks neurotransmitters by being similar enough in structure to bond to the receptor site, but not similar enough to mimic it’s effects

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23
Q

Nervous system

A

The network of nerve cells and fibers that transmit nerve impulses in the body
Contains the Central Nervous system and the Peripheral Nervous system

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24
Q

Central Nervous system

A

The brain and spinal cord

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25
Nerves
Bundled axons that connect the Central Nervous system to muscles, glands, and sensory organs
26
Neural networks
Interconnected neural cells
27
Reflexes
A simple automatic response to a sensory stimulus
28
Peripheral Nervous system
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the Central Nervous system to the rest of the body
29
Somatic nervous system
Part of the Peripheral nervous system that controls skeletal muscle
30
Autonomic nervous system
Part of the Peripheral nervous system that controls the muscles and glands of internal organs
31
Sympathetic nervous system
Division of the Autonomic nervous system that arouses and expends energy
32
Parasympathetic nervous system
Division of the Autonomic nervous system that calms and conserves energy
33
Endocrine System
Set of glands throughout the body that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
34
Hormones
Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream and affect tissues
35
Adrenal glands
Glands above the kidneys that release epinephrine and norepinephrine and increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar
36
Pituitary gland
Gland controlled by the Hypothalamus that secretes many types of hormones that control growth, blood pressure, etc and also influences the release of hormones in other Endocrine glands
37
Lesion
Damage to tissue
38
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that travel across the brain's surface
39
PET scan
Depicts brain activity by showing an area's consumption of glucose by using radioactive sugars
40
MRI scan
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a computer generated images of brain tissue, and shows brain structures
41
fMRI (functional MRI)
A technique that reveals blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans
42
Brainstem
An extension of the spinal cord that connects to the brain and is responsible for automatic survival functions
43
Medulla
The base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing
44
Reticular formation
A network of neurons in the brainstem that filters stimuli and controls arousal
45
Thalamus
The top section of the brainstem, directs messages to sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla
46
Cerebellum
Rear part of the brainstem, processes sensory input and coordinates movement output, balance, and judgement of time
47
The Limbic system
The neural system between the older brain structures and the cerebral hemispheres
48
Amygdala
Small neural clusters in the Limbic system that influence aggression and fear
49
Hypothalamus
a neural structure under the Thalamus which has neural clusters that influence hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sexual behavior
50
Cerebral cortex
outer layer of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebrum
51
Glial cells
cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
52
Frontal Lobe
Portion of the cerebral cortex towards the front of the brain Involved in speaking, muscle movements, making plans and judgments, and conscious thought
53
Parietal Lobe
Portion of the cerebral cortex at the top of the brain and to the rear Involved in receiving sensory input for touch and body position
54
Occipital Lobe
Portion of the cerebral cortex at the back of the brain | Involved in receiving information from visual fields
55
Temporal Lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the sides of the brain, above the ears Involved in receiving information from the ears
56
Motor cortex
An area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movement
57
Sensory cortex
An area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations
58
Association areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are primarily involved in mental functions like learning, thinking, speaking, and remembering
59
Plasticity
The ability to be changed or molded
60
Neurogenesis
the formation of new neurons
61
Corpus collosum
the band of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain
62
Split brains
A condition caused by surgery that separates the two hemispheres of the brain by cutting through the corpus collosum

AP Psychology (10 decks)

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