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Ap Psych Vocab > Unit 3- Biology of Behavior > Flashcards

Unit 3- Biology of Behavior Flashcards

(90 cards)

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1
Q

biological psychology

A

study of links between bio +psych processes

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2
Q

neuron

A

nerve cell, basic building block of nervous system

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3
Q

dendrites

A

receive messages and conduct impulses toward cell body

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4
Q

axon

A

passes messages through branches to neurons/muscles/glands

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

speeds up neural impulses, covers axon

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6
Q

action potential

A

electric charge, travels down axon (neural impulse)

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7
Q

refractory period

A

period of inactivity after a neuron fired

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8
Q

threshold

A

level of stimulation required to trigger neural impulse

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9
Q

all-or-none response

A

neuron reaction of firing/not-firing

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10
Q

synapse

A

junction between axon tip (sending neuron) and dendrite of receiving neuron

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11
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that cross synaptic gap between neurons

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12
Q

reuptake

A

neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by sending neuron

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13
Q

endorphins

A

neurotransmitter linked to pain, control, and pleasure

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14
Q

agonist

A

molecule, binds to receptor site, stimulates response

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15
Q

antagonist

A

bind to receptor site, inhibits/blocks response

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16
Q

nervous system

A

electrochemical communication network, all nerve cells

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17
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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18
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

sensory/motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body

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19
Q

nerves

A

bundled axons, connect CNS with muscles/glands/sense organs

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20
Q

sensory (afferent) neurons

A

carry incoming info from sensory receptors to brain/spinal cord

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21
Q

motor (efferent) neurons

A

carry outgoing info from brain/spinal cord to muscles/glands

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22
Q

interneurons

A

within brain/spinal cord , communicate internally, intervene between sensory inputs/motor outputs

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23
Q

somatic nervous system

A

division of PNS that controls body’s skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system)

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24
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

part of PNS that controls glands/muscles of internal organs

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25
sympathetic nervous system
division of ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing energy during stress
26
parasympathetic nervous system
division of ANS that calms body, conserving energy
27
reflex
automatic response to sensory stimulus
28
endocrine system
set of glands that secrete hormones to blood
29
hormones
chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands
30
adrenal glands
part of endocrine glands, secrete hormones (epinephrine/norepinephrine) that help arouse body in stress
31
pituitary gland
regulates growth, controls other endocrine glands
32
lesion
tissue destruction
33
electroencephalogram (EEG)
amplified readout of waves of electrical activity in brain
34
CT (computed tomography) scan
series of x-ray scans that represent brain structure
35
PET (position emission tomography) scan
detects radioactive glucose while brain performs task
36
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
magnetic fields/radio waves show brain anatomy
37
fMRI
reveals blood flow, show brain function/structure
38
brainstem
core of brain, automatic survival functions
39
medulla
controls heartbeat and breathing, in brainstem
40
thalamus
sensory control center, top of brainstem, directs messages and transmits replies to cerebellum/medulla
41
reticular formation
nerve network in brainstem, controls arousal
42
cerebellum
"little brain" at brainstem, nonverbal learning, memory, movement output/balance, process sensory input
43
limbic system
associated with emotions/drives
44
hippocampus
in limbic system, processes conscious memories
45
amygdala
in limbic system, linked to emotion
46
hypothalamus
in limbic system, directs several maintenance activities, linked to emotion/reward, helps govern endocrine system via pituitary gland
47
cerebral cortex
ultimate control + information-processing center
48
glial cells (glia)
cells in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons, play a role in learning/thinking
49
frontal lobes
speaking, muscle movements, making plans/judgements
50
parietal lobes
receives sensory input for touch/body position, top of rear head
51
occipital lobes
receive info from visual fields, back of head
52
temporal lobes
above ears, receive info primarily from opposite ear
53
motor cortex
area at rear frontal love, controls voluntary movements
54
somatosensory cortex
front of parietal lobes, registers/processes body touch/movement sensations
55
association areas
involved in higher functions in cerebral cortex, learning/remembering/thinking/speaking
56
plasticity
brain's ability to change by reorganizing after damage/building new pathways based on experience
57
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
58
corpus callosum
connecting brain hemispheres, carrying messages between them
59
split brain
isolation of hemispheres by cutting connecting fibers
60
consciousness
our awareness of ourselves and our environment
61
cognitive neuroscience
study of brain activity linked with cognition
62
dual processing
info simultaneously processed, conscious + unconscious tracks
63
behavior genetics
study of relative power/limits of genetic environmental influences on behavior
64
environment
every external influence
65
chromosomes
made of DNA, contain genes
66
DNA
contain genetic info, make up chromosomes
67
genes
make up chromosomes, segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins
68
genome
complete instructions for making organism, consist all generic material in organism's chromosomes
69
identical twins
develop from single fertilized egg that splits in 2
70
fraternal twins
develop from separate fertilized eggs
71
molecular genetics
studies molecular structure/function of genes
72
heritability
proportion of variation among individuals that attribute to genes
73
interaction
effect of one factor depends on another
74
epigenetics
study of environmental influences on gene expression, without DNA change
75
evolutionary psychology
study of evolution of behavior and mind, using natural selection principles
76
natural selection
key traits passed on to generations
77
mutation
random error in gene replication, leads to change
78
Paul Broca
research on Broca's brain area, responsible for speech production
79
Carl Wernicke
research on Wernicke's brain area, responsible for understanding
80
Roger Sperry
split brain research, left-language comprehension, right-articulation
81
Michael Gazzaniga
discovered hemispheres experience world differently and communication between hemispheres
82
Charles Darwin
natural selection founder
83
Polarization
when the inside of the neuron is negatively charged relative to outside (resting potential)
84
Depolarization
when the electrical charge of a cell moves to zero
85
Serotonin
affects mood, hunger, arousal, and sleep, undersupply linked to depression (happiness)
86
Dopamine
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion (rewards and motivation), oversupply linked to schizophrenia, undersupply linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson's disease and ADHD
87
Acetylcholine (ACh)
enables muscle action, learning, and memory, ACh-producing neurons deteriorate as Alzheimer's disease progresses
88
GABA
a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, undersupply links to seizures, tremors, and insomnia
89
Left Hemisphere
thoughts and logic, language: words and definitions, pieces and details
90
Right Hemisphere
feelings and intuition, language: tone, inflection, context, wholes including the self

Ap Psych Vocab (14 decks)

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