Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

AP Psychology > Unit 3: Biological Basis of Behavior > Flashcards

Unit 3: Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards

(80 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Mutation

A

Random error in gene replication leading to a change

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

Natural selection

A

Says, “traits contributing to survival will most likely be passed onto successful generations”

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

Evolutionary psychologists

A

Study the evolution of behavior, mind and cognitive processes using natural selection

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

Epigenetics

A

Study of environmental influences on gene expression without a change in DNA

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

Interaction

A

Interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor depends on another

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

Heritability

A

Proportion of variation among individuals with the same genes

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

Molecular Genetics

A

Subfield of biology that studies molecular structure of the function of genes

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

Fraternal/Dizygotic twins

A

Twins that develop from separate eggs

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

Identical/Monozygotic twins

A

Twins that develop from the same fertilized egg that later split in two

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

Genome

A

Complete instructions for making an organism

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

Genes

A

Biochemical units of heredity making up chromosomes

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

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A

A complex molecule containing genetic information

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

Chromosomes

A

Threadlike structures of DNA molecules that contain genes

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

Environment

A

Any and every external influence

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

Behavior genetics

A

Study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

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

Dual processing

A

Principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious levels

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

Cognitive neuroscience

A

The interdisciplinary study of brain activity linked with cognition and mental processes

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

Consciousness

A

Awareness of self and environment

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

Split brain

A

A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brains to hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them

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

Corpus callosum

A

Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them

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

Neurogenesis

A

The formation of new neurons

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

Plasticity

A

The brains ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

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

Association areas

A

Areas of cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions, but are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking and speaking

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

Somatosensory cortex

A

Area of the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes touch and movement sensations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Motor cortex
Area at the rear of the frontal lobes controlling voluntary movements
26
Temporal Lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex right above the ears, that includes information from the ears (hearing)
27
Occipital lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head, includes areas that receive information from the eyes (sight)
28
Parietal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying on the top of the head and toward the rear, receives sensory input for touch and body position
29
Frontal lobes
Portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the four head, involved in speaking ,muscle movements, making plans and judgments
30
Pituitary gland
Regulates growth (important to endocrine system)
31
Adrenal gland
A pair of endocrine glands that help arouse the body
32
Hormones
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands and sent into the bloodstream
33
Endocrine glands
"Slow" Chemical communication system that secretes hormones into the blood
34
Reflex
Simple, automatic response to sensory stimuli
35
Parasympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic nervous system that calms the body
36
Sympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic nervous system that arouses the body
37
Autonomic nervous system
Part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and muscles of internal organs
38
Somatic nervous system
Division of the peripheral nervous system that controls skeletal muscles
39
Interneurons
Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate with sensory and motor inputs
40
Motor (efferent) neurons
Neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous system
41
Sensory (afferent) neurons
Neurons bringing in information from the central nervous system
42
Nerves
Bundled axons that connect the central nervous system with muscles and glands
43
Peripheral nervous system
Sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body (perimeter of body)
44
Central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
45
Nervous system
The body's electrochemical communication network consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system's
46
Antagonist
A molecule that blocks a response
47
Agonist
A molecule that by binding to the receptor site stimulates a response
48
Endorphins
Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure
49
Reuptake
Neurotransmitters reabsorption by sending neuron
50
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps between neurons
51
Synapse
The space between axon tip to the dendrite in the next cell
52
All or none response
A neuron's reaction of firing up or not
53
Threshold
Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
54
Action potential
Neural impulse or brief electrical charge that travels down the axon
55
Refractory period
Period of inactivity after a neuron is fired
56
Myelin Sheath
Tissue encasing axons of the same neuron, makes for faster transmission speed
57
Neuron
Nerve cell, or the basic building block of the nervous system
58
Axon
Neuron extensions that pass messages through its branches to other neurons, muscles or glands
59
Dendrites
Neurons bushy extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
60
Biological psychology
Scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes
61
Hypothalamus
Neural structure lying below the thalamus that directs bodily maintenance, activities, and helps govern the endocrine system , specifically the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward
62
Amygdala
To lima beans sized neural clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion
63
Limbic system
A neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres, associated with emotions and drives
64
Cerebellum
"Little brain" at the rear of the brainstem, functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
65
Reticular formation
A nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal
66
Thalamus
Sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem and directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex by transmitting replies to the cerebellum and medulla
67
Medulla
The base of the brainstem, controlling heartbeat and breathing
68
Brainstem
Oldest part, and central core of the brain beginning where the spinal cord enters the school and is responsible for functions needed for survival
69
FMRI (functional MRI)
Technique to reveal blood flow and brain activity
70
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue
71
PET scan (positron emission tomography)
Visual display of brain activity that reflects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a task
72
CT scan (computed tomography)
X-ray photos taken from different angles and combined by a computer into a composite representation of the brain structure
73
EGG (Electroencephalogram)
Amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain surface, measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
74
Lesion
Tissue destruction
75
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Enables muscle action, learning and memory
76
Dopamine
Influences movement, learning, attention and emotion
77
Serotonin
Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
78
Norepinephrine
Helps to control alertness and arousal
79
GABA (gammaminobutyric acid)
A major inhibitory neurotransmitter
80
Glutamate
A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

AP Psychology (2 decks)

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