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Biopsychology
Test 1
99
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
09/30/2013

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
Neurons
Definition
Cells of the nervous system that are specialized for the reception, conduction, and transmission of electrochemical signals
Term
Neuroscience
Definition
Scientific study of the nervous system
Term
Evolutionary Perspective
Definition
focuses on the environmental pressures that likely led to the evolution of the characteristics
Term
Biopsychology
Definition
The study of biology of behavior
Term
Comparative Approach
Definition
study of biological processes by comparing different species- usually from the evolutionary perspective
Term
Between-Subjects Design
Definition
Different groups of subjects are tested under each condition
Term
Within-Subjects Design
Definition
Same subjects are tested under each condition
Term
Independent Variable
Definition
difference in experimental conditions that is arranged by the experimenter
Term
Dependent Variable
Definition
variable measured by the experimenter to asses the effects of the IV
Term
Coolidge Effect
Definition
a copulating male who becomes incapable of continuing to copulate with one sex partner can often recommence copulating with a new sex partner
Term
Quasi experimental studies
Definition
study of groups who have been exposed to the desired conditions in the real world, but have potential confound variables
Term
Generalizability
Definition
the degree to which results of a study can be applied to other individuals and situations
Term
Pure research
Definition
research motivated primarily by interest of the researcher and done solely for acquiring knowledge
Term
Applied research
Definition
research that is intended to bring about some direct benefit to humankind
Term
Cerebral cortex
Definition
layer of neural tissue covering the cerebral hemispheres of humans and other mammals
Term
Autonomic Nervous System
Definition
part of the PNS that regulates the body's internal environment
Term
Cognitive neuroscience
Definition
focuses on the use of functional brain imaging to study the neural base of human cognition
Term
Cognition
Definition
higher intellectual processes such as thought, memory, attention, and complex perceptual thought
Term
Ethological Research
Definition
study of animal behavior in its natural environment
Term
Converging Operations
Definition
The use of several research approaches to solve a single problem
Term
Korsakoff Syndrome
Definition
neuropsychological disorder common in alcoholics who primary symptom is severe memory loss
Term
Scientific inference
Definition
logical process by which observable events are used to infer the properties of unobservable events
Term
Morgan's Cannon
Definition
simplest possible interpretation for a behavioral observation should be given presedence
Term
Leucotome
Definition
any of the various surgical devices used for performing lobotomies
Term
Transorbital lobatomy
Definition
prefrontal lobotomy performed with a cutting instrument inserted through the eye socket
Term
Psychosurgery
Definition
any brain surgery performed for the treatment of a psychological problem
Term
Cartesian dualism
Definition
universe is composed of two elements; physical matter and the human mind
Term
ethology
Definition
study of behavior of animals in their natural environments
Term
Asomatognosia
Definition
deficiency in the awareness of parts of ones own body that is typically produced by damage to the parietal lobe
Term
Fitness
Definition
the ability of an organism to survive and contribute its genes to the next generation
Term
Species
Definition
group of organisms that is reproductively isolated from other organisms
Term
Conspecifics
Definition
members of the same species
Term
Hominins
Definition
family of primates that includes Homo sapiens
Term
Spandrels
Definition
nonadaptive characteristics that evolve because they are related to evolutionary changes that are adaptive
Term
Exaptations
Definition
a characteristic that evolved because it performed one function but was later co-opted to perform another
Term
Analogous
Definition
having a similar structure because of convergent evolution
Term
Brain stem
Definition
part of the brain on which the cerebral hemispheres rest, regulates reflex activities that are critical for survival
Term
Cerebrum
Definition
portion of the brain that sits on the brain stem; complex adaptive processing
Term
Convolutions
Definition
folds on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres
Term
Polygyny
Definition
one male bonds with more than one female
Term
Polyandry
Definition
one female bonds with more than one male
Term
Dichotomous Traits
Definition
traits that occur in one form or another, never in combination
Term
True breeding lines
Definition
interbred members always produce offspring with the same trait, generation after generation
Term
Gene
Definition
unit of inheritance
Term
Allele
Definition
the two genes that control the same trait
Term
Chromosomes
Definition
threadlike structures in the cell nucleus that contain the genes
Term
DNA
Definition
double stranded, coiled molecule of genetic material
Term
Nucleotide Bases
Definition
class of chemical substances that includes adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine
Term
Autosomal Chromosomes
Definition
come in matched pairs. In mammals, all chromosomes in mammals except sex chromosomes are these
Term
Proteins
Definition
long chains of amino acids
Term
Amino Acids
Definition
building blocks and breakdown products of proteins
Term
Enhancers
Definition
stretches of DNA that control the rate of expression of target genes
Term
Transcription factors
Definition
proteins that bind to DNA and influence the expression of particular genes
Term
Ribosomes
Definition
structure in the cell's cytoplasm that translates the genetic code from strands of messenger RNA
Term
Codon
Definition
three consecutive nucleotide basis on a DNA or RNA messenger strand
Term
Mitochondira
Definition
energy generating DNA containing structures in each cell's cytoplasm
Term
Epigenetics
Definition
refers to non gentic means by which traits are passed from parents to offspring
Term
MicroRNA
Definition
short strands of RNA found to have effects on gene expression
Term
Alternative Splicing
Definition
a mechanism by which the actions of individual genes can be controlled so that one gene can produce two or more proteins
Term
Monoallelic expressions
Definition
a mechanism of gene expression that inactivates a pair of alleles and allows the other gene of the pair to be expressed
Term
Phenylketonuria
Definition
neurological disorder with symptoms of vomiting, seizures, hyperactivity, hyper-irritability...
Term
Phenylpyruvic acid
Definition
a substance found in abnormally high concentrations in the urine of those suffering from PKU
Term
Sensitive period
Definition
period of development of a particular trait when a particular experience is likely to change the course of that development
Term
sensory phase
Definition
first of two phases of bird song development during which young birds do not sing, they form memories of adult songs they hear
Term
Sensorimotor phase
Definition
the second of two phases of bird song development during which juvenile birds progress from subsongs to adult songs
Term
heritability estimate
Definition
numerical estimate of the proportion of variability that occurred in a particular trait in a particular study
Term
multiplier effect
Definition
behavioral effects of a gene are increased because the gene promotes the choice of experiences that have the same behavioral effects
Term
CNS
Definition
portion of the nervous system in the skull and brain
Term
PNS
Definition
portion of the nervous system outside the skull and brain
Term
SNS
Definition
part on the PNS that interacts with the external environment
Term
Afferent nerves
Definition
nerves that carry sensory signals to the central nervous system; sensory nerves
Term
Efferent nerves
Definition
carry motor signals from the CNS to the skeletal muscles or internal organs
Term
ANS
Definition
part of the PNS that participates in the regulation of the bodies interal environment
Term
Sympathetic nerves
Definition
motor nerves of the ANS that project from the CNS in the lumbar and thorastic areas of the spinal cord
Term
Parasympathetic nerves
Definition
motor nerves of the ANS that project from the CNS or from the sacral part of the spinal cord
Term
cranial nerves
Definition
12 pairs of nerves extending from the brain
Term
meninges
Definition
three protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord
Term
dura matter
Definition
tough outter menix
Term
arachnoid membrane
Definition
menix located between dura and pia matter
Term
subarachnoid space
Definition
beneath the aracnoid membrane; contains large blood vessels and spinal fluid
Term
pia matter
Definition
innermost menix
Term
cerebrospinal fluid
Definition
colorless fluid that fills the subaracnoid space, the central canal, and cerebral ventricles
Term
choronoid plexuses
Definition
network of cappilaries that protrude into the pia matter continuously producing CSF
Term
oligodendrocytes
Definition
glial cells that myelinate axons of the CNS
Term
schwann cells
Definition
glial cells that compose the myelin sheath of PNS axon and promote the regeneration
Term
microganglia
Definition
glial cells that respond to injury or disease by engulfing cellular debris and triggering inflammatory response
Term
superior
Definition
towards the top of the head
Term
inferior
Definition
towards the bottom of the brain
Term
gray matter
Definition
composed of neural cell bodies and unmyelinated interneurons
Term
white matter
Definition
composed of myelinated axons
Term
dorsal horns
Definition
two dorsal horns of the spinal gray matter
Term
ventral horns
Definition
ventral arms of the spinal gray matter
Term
dorsal root ganglia
Definition
composed of cell bodies of dorsal root axons
Term
sensory relay nuclei
Definition
nuclei of the thalamus whose main function is to relay sensory signals to the appropriate areas of the cortex
Term
decussate
Definition
cross over to the other side of the brain
Term
contralateral
Definition
projecting from one side of the body to the other
Term
ipsilateral
Definition
on the same side of the body
Term
sulci
Definition
small furrows in a convoluted cortex
Term
pyramidal cells
Definition
large multipolar cortical neurons with a pyramid shaped cell body, very long axon
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