AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

The biology of behaviour Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
4135159985NeuronsTransmit information around the brain and body. Base units of the nervours system0
4135159986SensoryTransmit information from sensory receptors in the body to the brain ▪aka Afferent neurons ('going to' the brain) ▪Sensory receptors: receive sensory information from the world1
4135159987MotorTransmit information (commands) from the brain to muscles and glands in the body ▪aka Efferent neurons ('going away from' the brain)2
4135159988Inter (Interneurons)Interconnecting neurons ▪Connects neurons with one another ▪Most of the brain and spinal cord is comprised of interneurons3
4135159989DendritesBranch-like extensions of a neuron that receive information (electrical impulses) from other adjacent neurones4
4135159990Cell body-Includes the nucleus which carries the chromosomes (DNA; genes) of the cell -The nucleus determines whether it will fire the impulse it has received from the dendrites to another neurons5
4135159991Axon-A long extension of the cell body that transmits the electrical impulse to the terminal buttons -Extends from the axon hillock to the ends of any collateral branches6
4135159992Myelin sheathA coat of mostly fatty cells ('lipids') that speedens transmission along the axon -Aka 'white matter' (Cf. 'grey matter' = dendrites, cell bodies and unmyelinated axons) -Multiple sclerosis occurs when there is low white matter7
4135159993Node of RanvierSpaces in the myelin sheath that also assist in speedy transmission8
4135159994Terminal buttonsRelease the travelling electrical impulse into the synapse9
4135159995SynapsesThe space between two adjacent neurons10
4135159996NeurotransmittersChemicals that transmit the electrical impulse across the synapse11
4135159997Synaptic vesiclesFound in the terminal buttons, stores chemicals for Neurotransmitters.12
4135159998ReceptorsMolecules on the postsynaptic membrane that Neurotransmitters can bind to ▪Neurotransmitters are like 'keys' and receptors are like 'locks'13
4135159999Nervous systemProvides the biological basis ('substrate') for psychological experience14
4135160000Peripheral (PNS)Carries information to and from the CNS; works with peripheral parts of the body (e.g. limbs)15
4135160001Central (CNS)Directs psychological and basic life processes; responds to stimuli16
4135160002Spinal cordReceives sensory input; sends information to the brain; responds with motor output (e.g. tells limbs to move)17
4135160003BrainDirects psychological activity; processes information sent from the spinal cord; maintains life supports18
4135160004Parts of BrainHindbrain Midbrain Forebrain19
4135160005Somatic (voluntary) NSConveys sensory information to the CNS and sends motor messages to muscles20
4135160006Autonomic (ANS)Serves basic life functions, e.g. heartbeat and response to stress21
4135160007Sympathetic NS Emergency systemReadies the body in response to threat/stress (e.g. 'fight or flight'); activates the organism22
4135160008Parasympathetic NS Maintenance systemMaintains basic life functions, e.g. breathing, heartbeat, digestion, energy ('housekeeping'); calms the body down23
4135160009Hindbrain1. Medulla oblongata: Basic life functions (extension of spine - regulates heart beat, breathing etc) 2. Cerebellum: Movement 3. Reticular formation: conscious arousal 4. Pons: Sleep (links medulla, cerebellum & recticular formation)24
4135160010MidbrainPlays important role in learning to produce behaviours that minimise unpleasant (aversive) consequences and maximise pleasant (rewarding) consequences 1. Tectum: Vision and hearing 2. Tegmentum: Movement and arousal25
4135160011ForebrainHypothalamus, Thalamus,Cerebrum26
4135160012CerebrumResponsible for complex information processing Two parts: A.Subcortical structures ('inner cerebrum') B.Cerebral cortex ('outer cerebrum27
4135160013ThalamusSensory regulation: Receives sensory information and routes it to appropriate parts of the brain for processing •E.g. visual, auditory, taste and touch28
4135160014HypothalamusHomeostasis: Regulates the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems to maintain relative stability •E.g. eating, sleeping, sexual activity and emotional experiences29
4135160015Subcortical cerebrumBasal ganglia and Limbic system30
4135160016Limbic systemMostly involved in emotion and memory31
4135160017Basal GangliaMostly involved in the control of movement32
4135160018Cerebral cortexPrimary areas and Association areas33
4135160019Primary areasResponsible for initial/simple cortical processing of sensory information34
4135160020Association areasInvolved in more complex mental processes/ information processing •E.g. perceptions, ideas, plans35
4135160021Occipital lobe-At the back of the brain -Processes visual information36
4135160022Parietal lobeProcesses touch and spatial orientation -e.g. locating objects and their relationship37
4135160023Frontal lobeResponsible for cognition -Movement, attention, planning, social skills, abstract thinking, memory, personality38
4135160024Temporal lobeResponsible for: -Hearing and language -Concrete and abstract information processing39
4135160025Right hemisphereCreativity: Non-linguistic functions e.g. processing musical sounds40
4135160026Left hemisphereLanguage, logic, analytical thought -Complex motor behaviour -Aspects of consciousness (esp. verbal)41
4135160027Corpus callosumBand of neural fibres that connect/bridge the right and left hemispheres42
4135160028Cerebral lateralisationSpecialisation of cortical functions ▪The hemispheres in males are more lateralised (or 'specialised') than in females ▪That is, left and right hemispheric functions are more integrated in females43
4135160029Split-brain patientsWhen the corpus callosum is cut ▪No integration of left and right hemispheric functions ▪As if there are 'two minds' in the brain44
4135160030Phineas GageFrontal lobe damage and personality45
4135160031Behavioural geneticsThe study of the extent to which human psychology (mental processes and behaviour) is the result of genetic factors ('nature') or environmental factors ('nurture')46
4135160032Monozygotic twinsIdentical ▪Degree of relatedness = 1.0 ('genotypically identical') •Degree of relatedness: the probability (or chance) of sharing the same gene with a relative47
4135160033Dizygotic twinsFraternal ▪Degree of relatedness = 0.5 ('genotypically similar')48
4135160034Twin and adoption studiesHelp tease out their relative roles of influence49
4135160035Phenotypic similarityHow similar people 'appear' on psychological characteristics (e.g. intelligence, extroversion, depression, etc.)50
4135160036HeritabilityThe degree to which variability in a psychological characteristic (e.g. intelligence, personality) is due to genetics51
4135207435Septal areaInvolved in emotionally-significant learning (e.g. how to obtain pleasure or relief from pain)- Limbic system52
4135207436AmygdalaInvolved in emotionally-significant learning and remembering (e.g. recognition of fear in other people)-Limbic system53
4135207437HippocampusInvolved in encoding (or 'storing') experiences and information into memory-Limbic system54

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!