Biological Bases of Behavior
Terms
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- PET SCAN
- traces consumption of glucose. view brain areas at work
- CAT SCANS
- generate cross-sectional images of the brain thru xray like tech.
- FIGHT/FLIGHT REACTION
- increase in heart rate/respiration. decreased digestion/salivation.
- CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
- brain + spinal cord
- PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
- all other nerves in body
- SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
- system that controls voluntary movement of lg. skeletal muscles
- AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
- controls nonskeletal/smooth muscles (heart/digestive tract) involuntary.
- SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
- system associated w/ processes that burn energy
- EEG SCAN
- amplified read out of brain waves. measures subtle changes in brain electical activity through electrodes places on the head. Electrical pic of brain activity during various tasks
- fMRI SCANS
- blood flow and brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.
- MRI SCAN
- similar to CAT scans, but generates more highly detailed pics of the brain
- PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
- system that calms/conserves energy. Sends blood to stomach 4 digestion, slows heart rate. Returns body to homeostasis
- SENSORY/AFFERENT NEURONS
- send info to brain
- MOTOR/EFFERENT NEURONS
- convey info from the brain
- REFLEXES
- quick/involuntary responses to environmental stimuli. From sensory to motor neurons
- HINDBRAIN
- oldest brain. cerebellum, medulla oblongata, reticular activating syst., pons, thalamus
- CEREBELLUM
- controls muscle tone + balance
- MEDULLA OBLONGATA
- controls involuntary actions (breathing, digestion, heart rate, swallowing and basic life functions
- RETICULAR ACTIVATING SYSTEM
- controls arousal. (wake/alert)
- PONS
- coordinates movement. passes neural info. from one brain region to another
- THALAMUS
- relays sensory info. receives + directs sensory info from visual/auditory systems. conveys info about balance/pain
- MIDBRAIN/LIMBIC SYSTEM
- 2nd oldest brain. helps us assign emotions to our environment.
- HIPPOCAMPUS
- memory formation/learning. Damage - prevents formation of new memories (anterograde amnesia)
- AMYGDALA
- assigns fear/aggression.
- HYPOTHALAMUS
- motivation (hunger/thirst/sex). Homeostasis. Sneds hormones to pituitary gland.
- FOREBRAIN/CEREBRAL CORTEX/OUTER LAYER
- higher cognitive functions. (thinking/planning/language/fine motor control). Receives sensory input, sends out motor info
- LEFT BRAIN
- language processing
- PAUL BROCA
- damage to lft. brain - expressive aphasia (loss of ability to speak)
- CARL WERNICKE
- damage to lft temporal lobe - receptive aphasia (inability to comprehend speech)
- RIGHT BRAIN
- visual/spatial info
- ROGER SPERRY
- lft/right brains can function independently
- FRONTAL LOBE
- higher level thought/reasoning. motor cortex - making plans, forming judgements, performing movements
- PARIETAL LOBE
- sensory info. receives info about temp, pressure, texture, pain
- TEMPORAL LOBE
- auditory input. critical for processing speech/appreciating music
- OCCIPITAL LOBE
- visual input. info crosses optic chiasma
- ASSOCIATION AREAS
- associate info in sensory/motor cortices.
- APRAXIA
- damaged association area. inability to organize movement
- AGNOSIA
- damaged association area. difficulty processing sensory input
- ALEXIA
- damaged association area. inability to read
- NEURON
- makes up nerves. basic unit of nervous system
- SOMA
- nucleated cell body
- DENDRITES
- branch out from soma, receive input from other neurons thru receptors
- AXON
- long/tubelike structure. responds to input from dendrites/soma. transmits neural message down itself to pass to other cells.
- MYELIN SHEATH
- covers the axon of neurons and helps speed neural impulses. fatty coating.
- NODES OF RANVIER
- gaps b/w myelin sheath beads. help speed up neural transmission
- TERMINAL BUTTONS
- knobs on the branched end of axon. release neurotransmitters across synapse
- ACTION POTENTIAL/NERVE IMPULSE
- neuron fires, changes membrane of cell allowing ions to enter. All or none
- ACETYCHOLINE
- excitor. memory function, muscle contractions (heart). alzheimers - when achproducing neurons deteriorate
- SEROTONIN
- excitor. affects mood, hunger, sleep, arousal. depression = not enough serotonin.
- DOPAMINE
- inhibitor. movement, learning, attention, emotion, reward. imbalance = parkinson\'s, schizophrenia
- GABA
- inhibitor. not enough = seizures, tremors, insomia
- NOREPINEPHRINE
- adrenaline. excitor. affects levels of alertness and arousal. depression.
- ENDORPHINS
- inhibitor. body\'s natural painkillers.
- PITUITARY GLAND
- master gland. controlled by hypothalamus. ACTH - stress
- ADRENAL GLAND
- epinephrine, norepinephrine. danger. fight/flight.
- THYROID GLAND
- front of neck. release thyroxine which regulates cellular metabolism
- TRAITS
- distinctive characteristics/behavior patterns determined by genetics
- GENOTYPE
- comprises all possible combos of genes
- PHENOTYPE
- observable result.
- HERITABILITY
- degree of variance among individuals that can be attributed to genetic variations
- DOWN\'S SYNDROME
- genetic disorder of mental retardation caused by break in the 21st chromosomal pair
- HUNTINGTON\'S CHOREA
- genetic disorder/muscle impairment that does not occur until after age 40. degeneration of the structure of the brain (basal ganglia)