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Details Title: psych vocab 2 Description: biopsych vocab Total Flash Cards: 67 Created: 01/20/2005 20:30:31	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term Absolute refractory period Definition The minimum length of time after an action potential during which another action potential to cannot began Term action potential Definition a brief change in a neuron's electrical charge Term Adaptation Definition An inherited characteristic that increased in population (through natural selection) because it helped solve a problem of survival or the reproduction during the time it emerged Term afferent nerve fibers Definition Axons that carry information inward to the central nervous system from the periphery of the body Term Agonist Definition The chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter Term Alzheimer's disease Definition And this quarter that usually begins after people reach age 50 and is always fatal; it results from widespread damage to the brain, including the hippocampus, and produces deterioration in personality, emotions, cognitive processes, and memory. Term Antagonist Definition a chemical that opposes the action of a neurotransimtter Term Autonomic nervous system 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 awawy from the neuron cell body to other neurons, or to muscle or glands Term Behavioral genetics Definition an interdisciplinary field that studies the influence of genetic factors on behavioral traits. Term Central nervous system Definition the brain and the spinal cord Term cerebral cortex Definition the convoluted outer layer of the cerebrum Term cerebral hemispheres Definition the right and left halves of the cerebrum Term cerebrospinal fluid Definition a solution that fills the hollow cavities of the brain and circulates around the brain and spinal cord Term Chromosomes Definition threadlike strands of DNA molecules that carry genetic information Term Corpus callosum Definition the structure that connects the two cerebral hemispheres 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 Term Dominant gene Definition a gene that is expressed when paired genes are heterozygous Term Efferent nerve fibers Definition axons that carry information outward from the CNS to the periphery of the body Term EEG Definition a device that moniters the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp Term endocrine system Definition a group of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily fuctioning Term Endorphins Definition the eintire family of internally produced chemicals that resemble opiates in structure and effects Term Excitatory PSP Definition an electic potential that increases the likelihood that a postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials Term forebrain Definition the largest and most complicated region of the brain, encompassing a variety of structures including the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum Term fraternal twins Definition twins that result when two eggs are fertilized by different sperm cells, forming two separate zygotes. Term Genes Definition DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmissions Term Genetic mapping Definition the process of determining the location and chemical sequence of specific genes of specific chromosomes Term Genotype Definition a person's genetic makeup Term Glial cell Definition cells in the nervous system that have atleast three functions: they provide scaffolding to guide the growth of developing neurons and support mature neurons; they wrap themselves around neurons and form a kind of insulation to prevent interference from other electical signals; and they release chemicals that influence a neuron's growth and function Term Heterozygous condition Definition The situation that occurs when two genes ina specific pair are different Term hindbrain Definition 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 Homozygous conditions Definition the situation that occurs when two genesin a specific pair are the same Term Hormones Definition chemical substances released by the endocrine glands Term Hypothalamus Definition a structure found near the base of the forebrain that is involved in the regulation of basic biological needs Term identical twins Definition twins that emerge from one zygone that split for unknown reasons. Term inhibitory PSP Definition an electic potential that decreses the likelihood that a postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials Term Interneuron Definition a relatively short neuron whose primary task is to make connections between other neurons 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 cerebal cortex and deeper subcortial areas Term midbrain Definition the segment of the brain stem that lies between the hindbrain and the forebrain Term Monogamy Definition a mating system in which one male and one female mate exclusively or almost exclusively, with each other Term Mutation Definition a spontaneous, heritable change in a piece of DNA that occurs in the individual organism Term myelin sheath Definition insulating material, derived from glial cells, that encases some axons of neurons Term Natural selection Definition ...you know what natrual selection is Term Nerves Definition bundles of neuron fibers that are routed together in the peripheral nervous system Term neurons Definition individual cells in the nervous system that recieve, integrate and transmit information Term neurotransmitters Definition chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another Term Parasympathetic division Definition the branch of the autonomic nervous system that generally conserves bodily resources Term perceptual asymmetries Definition left-right imbalances between the cerebral hemispheres in the speed of visual or auditory processing Term Peripheral nervous system Definition all those nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord Term Phenotype Definition the ways in which a person's genotype is manifested in observable characteristics Term Pituitary gland Definition 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 Polyandry Definition a mating system in which each female seeks to mate with multiple males, while each male mates with only one female Term Polygenic traits Definition charateristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes Term polygymy Definition a mating system in which each male seeks to mate with multiple females, while each female mates with only one male Term postsynaptic potential Definition a voltage change at the receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane Term recessive gene Definition a gene whose influence is masked when paired genes are different 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 sympathetic division Definition the branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body's resources for emergencies Term synapse Definition a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next Term synaptic cleft Definition a microscopic gap between the terminal button of a neuron and the cell membrane and another neuron Term terminal buttons Definition 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 must pass to get to the cerebral cortex Term zygote Definition a one celled organism formed by the union of a sperm and an egg