AP Psych > Biological Perspectives > Flashcards

Biological Perspectives Flashcards

Quiz (83 cards)

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1
Q

afferent nerves

A

motor neuron, send information to the brain

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2
Q

The neuron

A

basic nervous system cell that is involved in recieving and transmitting neural impulses (electrical)

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3
Q

efferent nerves

A

send information from the brain (think e=exit)

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4
Q

glia

A

nervous system support cells, part of the neuron

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5
Q

soma

A

cell body of the nucleus

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6
Q

dendrites

A

branch like structures on the soma that recieve information from other neurons

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7
Q

axon

A

thin fiber that carries the neural impulse, can be several feet long

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8
Q

myelin sheath

A

fatty tissue that encases some axons, speeds transmisssion, MS caused when this breaks down

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9
Q

terminal buttons

A

located at the end of the axon, secretes neurotransmitters (chemicals) that get passed to other neurons

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10
Q

synapse

A

a tiny space between neurons in which neurotransmission occurs

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11
Q

the nervous system is divided into which two systems?

A

the central and the peripheral

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12
Q

peripheral division of the nervous system

A

outside the brain and the spinal cord, further divided into the somatic and autonomic divisions

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13
Q

autonomic division of the peripheral

A

deals with involuntary behaviors like reflexes, divided into the parasympathetic and sympathetic

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13
Q

somatic division of the peripheral

A

deals with voluntary behaviors

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14
Q

parasympathetic division of the somatic division of the peripheral nervous system

A

keeps your body in a state of homeostasis and conserves your body’s resources (normal)

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15
Q

sympathetic division of the somatic division of the peripheral nervous system

A

(fight or flight) mobilizes your body’s resources for an emergency (think sympathizes with your situation –> makes you more aware and stronger, your brain pities you)

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16
Q

what happens during fight or flight (sympathetic?)

A

heart rate increases, pupils dilate, digestion is inhibited, muscles have increased blood supply, liver stimulates glucose release, bladder relaxes, adrenal glands release ephinephrine and norepinephrine, mouth becomes dry

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17
Q

the Cerebrum

A

responsible for complex thought, planning, decision making and sensory imagination. divided in half, each half controlling the movement of the other half of the body, each half is specialized for different cognitive functions.

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18
Q

left cerebral hemisphere

A

specialized for language, (Brocas area - production of speech and Wernickes area - comprehension of language) and speech

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19
Q

Right cerebral hemisphere

A

specialized for spatial and visual recognition tasks

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20
Q

corpus calloseum

A

joins the two cerebral hemispheres, sometimes cut in epileptic seizure patients

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21
Q

phrenology

A

founded by Franz Gall, a pseudoscience that involves the measurement of bumps on the skull to predict mental traits.

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22
Q

lobes

A

divisions of the outer wrinkled portion of the brain called the cerebrum

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23
Q

the cerebral cortex

A

surface of the cerebrum, responsible for higher order thinking. categorized into lobes

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24
occiptal lobe
processes vision, primary visual cortex
25
temporal lobe
processes hearing
26
parietal lobe
processes touch (somatasensory cortex)
27
frontal lobe
processes movement + higher order thinking (primary motor cortex)
28
components of the hindbrain
brain stem, contains the cerebellum, the pons, and the medulla
29
cerebellum
in the hindbrain, controls coordination and balance.
30
pons
in the hindbrain, controls sleep and arousal
31
medulla
in the hindbrain, controls unconcious vital functions like breathing and heart beat
32
midbrain
also part of the brain stem, contains the reticular formation
33
reticular formation
in the midbrain, also regulates sleep and arousal.
34
forebrain
contains the limbic system, or the seat of emotion
35
the limbic system
seat of emotion, composed of the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and the hippocampus.
36
thalamus
a relay station for incoming sensory signals, located in the forebrain limbic system
37
hypothalamus
controls thirst, hunger, and body temperature (located in the forebrain/limbic system)
38
amygdala
controls emotion and aggression, located in the forebrain/limbic system
39
hippocampus
formation of new memories, located in the forebrain/limbic system
40
biological perspective of psychology
psychiological basis of behavior dictated by the brain and nervous center
41
evolutionary perspective of psychology
behavior is a function of survival and reproduction and adaptive behaviors
42
function of resting potential
to maintain an electrical charge difference across the membrane, enabling excitable cells (like neurons and muscle cells) to be ready to fire a signal when stimulated
43
function of action potential
to rapidly transmit electrical signals, or impulses, along a neuron's axon to communicate with other cells.
44
function of absolute refractory period
to ensure distinct and unidirectional electrical signaling in excitable cells like neurons and cardiac cells, preventing a second action potential from being generated and protecting against overexcitation
45
process of neurotransmission
Neurotransmission is the process where neurons communicate using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters; it involves an action potential triggering neurotransmitter release into the synaptic cleft, where they bind to receptors on the next neuron, triggering a signal. Reuptake is the reabsorption of these neurotransmitters by the original (presynaptic) neuron through specialized transporter proteins, which allows for their recycling and reuse, thereby terminating the signal and regulating neurotransmitter levels in the synapse
46
serotonin
affects mood, sleep and wakefulness, and hunger. can be linked to depression and anxiety.
47
norepinephrine
controls mood and arousal (alertness)
48
dopamine
linked with thought processes, pleasurable emotions, voluntary movement, and sensations
49
acetylcholine
controls skeletal muscles, contributes to regulation of attention, arousal, and memory
50
endorphins
body's natural pain reliever
51
GABA
controls inhibition of brain activity, and inadequate supply can be linked to anxiety and sleep problems.
52
agonist
a substance that binds to a specific receptor in the body and activates it, leading to a cellular or physiological response
53
antagonist
a chemical substance that blocks a receptor, preventing a neurotransmitter from activating it thus decreasing its effect
54
broca's area
production of speech (left hemisphere)
55
wernicke's area
comprehension of language (left hemisphere
56
MRI
(magnetic resources image) or fMRI uses magnetic fields to map out the brain
57
PET
Positron Emission Topography involves using a radioactive substance that can be traced to show the active areas of the brain
58
CAT Scan
Computerized tomography takes x-rays from multiple angles to make an image
59
EEG
electroence pahlograph monitors the electrical activity of the brain
60
Lesioning
destroys part of the brain to see the result
61
electrical stimulation
involves tiny electrodes that mimick the brain's natural impulses to activate areas of the brain
62
pituitary gland
the mastery gland that sends signals to other glands in the endocrine system (produces hormones and oxytocin)
63
adrenal gland
glands that control salt and carbohydrate metabolism and adrenaline that regulates arousal and sleep
64
thyroid gland
produces thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth, and development
65
pancreas
produces insulin and glucogen that control sugar metabolism
66
gonads
ovaries XX and tested XY produce estrogen and testosterone
67
estrogen
female sex hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle, promotes uterine growth, and prepares body for pregnancy
68
testosterone
male sex hormone that promotes male developments
69
growth hormone
responsible for growth, healing, and recovery
70
adrenaline
released in response to body's fight or flight
71
insulin
controls sugar metabolism
72
dominant trait
heritable characteristic that is observed
73
recessive
only expressed when two copes are present (homozygous)
74
homozygous
an organism inherits two identical alleles for a particular trait
75
heterozygous
to have different alleles of the same gene
76
genotype
an individuals complete set of genes that determine characteristics
77
phenotype
physical observed trait
78
serotonin is linked to
depression and anxiety
79
dopamine is linked to
Parkinson's disease, schitzophrenia, and drug attention
80
GABA is linked to
anxiety and sleep problems
81
acetylcholine is linked to
alzheimers
82
norepinephrine is linked to
depression
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