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Chapter Three, Weiten
Biological Bases of Behavior
49
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
09/18/2008

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
 
 
 
 
 Absolute refractory period
Definition

 

 

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The minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential cannot begin.

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Term

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Action potential

Definition

 

 

 

 

 

A brief change in a neuron’s electrical charge

Term

 

 

 

 

Adaptation

Definition

 

 

 

 

An inherited characteristic that increased in a population (through natural selection) because it helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction during the time it emerged.

Term

 

 

 

 

 

Adoption studies
Definition

 

 

 

 

Research studies that assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and their adoptive parents

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Afferent nerve fibers

Definition

 

 

 

 

 

Axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body.

 

 

Term

 

 

 

 

 


Antagonist

Definition

 

 

 

 

A chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransmitter.

Term

 

 

 

 

 

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Definition

 

 

 

 

The system of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands.

 

 

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Axon

Definition

 

 

 

 

A long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the neuron cell body to other neurons, or to muscles or glands.

Term

 

 

 

 

Central nervous system (CNS)

Definition

 

 

 

 

Consists of Brain and spinal cord

Term

 

 

 

 

Cerebellum

Definition

 

 

 

 A relatively large and deeply folded structure located adjacent to the back surface of the brainstem.[image]

 

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Cerebral cortex

Definition

 The convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum.[image][image][image][image][image]

Term

 

 

 

Cerebral hemispheres

Definition

The right and left halves of the cerebrum.

 

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Term

 

 

 

 

Chromosomes

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Definition

 

 

 Threadlike strands of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules that carry genetic information.

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Term

 

 

 

 

Corpus callosum

Definition
The structure that connects the Two cerebral hemispheres.[image]
Term

 

 

 

 

Critical period

Definition

 

 

 

 

A limited time span in the development of an organism when it is optimal for certain capacities to emerge because the organism is especially responsive to certain experiences.

Term

 

 

 

 

Dendrites

Definition

 

 

 

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

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Term

 

 

 

Efferent nerve fibers

Definition

 

 

 

Axons that carry information outward from the central nervous system to the periphery of the body.

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)

 

Definition

 

 

 

Sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate (activate) it.

Term

 

 

 

 

Endocrine system

Definition

A group of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning.

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Term

 

 

 

Endorphins

Definition

 

 

The entire family of internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects.

Term

 

 

 

 

Family studies

Definition

 

 

 

Scientific studies in which researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much they resemble each other on a specific trait.

 

Term

 

 

 

 

 

Fitness

 

Definition

 

 

 

 

The reproductive success (number of descendants) of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success of the population.

Term

 

 

 

 

Forebrain

Definition
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 The largest and most complicated region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

Term

 

 

 

Genes

Definition

DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission.

 

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Term

 

 

 

Glia

Definition

 

 

Cells found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons.

Term

 

 

 

Hindbrain

Definition

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The part of the brain that includes the cerebellum and two structures found in the lower part of the brainstem: the medulla and the pons.

Term

 

 

 

 

Hormones

Definition

 

 

 

The chemical substances released by the endocrine glands.

Term

 

 

 

Hypothalamus

 

Definition

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A structure found near the base of the forebrain that is involved in the regulation of basic biological needs.

Term

 

 

 

Lesioning

Definition

 

 

 

Destroying a piece of the brain.

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Limbic system

Definition

 

A densely connected network of structures roughly located along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas.

Term

 

 

 

Midbrain

Definition

 

 

 

The segment of the brain stem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain.

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Term

 

 

 

Myelin sheath

Definition

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Insulating material, derived from glial cells, that encases some axons of neurons.

Term

 

 

 

Natural selection
Definition

 

 

 

Principle stating that inherited characteristics that provide a survival or reproductive advantage are more likely than alternative characteristics to be passed on to subsequent generations and thus come to be “selected” over time.

Term

 

 

 

 

Neurons

Definition

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Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information.
Term

 

 

 

 

Neurotransmitters

Definition

 

 

 

 

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another.

 

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Peripheral nervous system

Definition

 

 

 

 

All those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord.

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Pituitary gland

Definition

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The “master gland” of the endocrine system; it releases a great variety of hormones that fan out through the body, stimulating actions in the other endocrine glands.

Term

 

 

 

Postsynaptic potential (PSP)

Definition

 

 

 

 

 

voltage change at the receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Resting potential

Definition

 

 

The stable, negative charge of a neuron when it is inactiv

Term

 

 

 

 

Reuptake

Definition

 

 

 

A process in which neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane.

Term

 

 

 

 

Soma

Definition

 

 

 

 

The cell body of a neuron; it contains the nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells.

Term

 

 

 

 

Somatic nervous system

Definition

 

 

 

 

The system of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors.

 

Term

 

 

 

 

 

Split-brain surgery

 

Definition

 

 

A procedure in which the bundle of fibers that connects the cerebral hemispheres (the corpus callosum) is cut to reduce the severity of epileptic seizures.

 

 

 

 

Term

 

 

 

 

Synapse

Definition
A junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next.[image]
Term

 

 

 

 

 

Synaptic cleft
Definition

 

 

 

A microscopic gap between the terminal button of a neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron.

Term

 

 

 

 

Terminal buttons

Definition

 

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Small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Term

 

 

 

 

Thalamus

Definition

 

 

A structure in the forebrain through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex.[image]

Term

 

 

 

 

Twin studies

Definition

 

 

 

A research design in which hereditary influence is assessed by comparing the resemblance of identical twins and fraternal twins with respect to a trait.

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