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Unit 2
Biological Basis of Behavior
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| lesion | tissue destruction. a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue |
| EEG | an amplified recording of the wave of electrical activity sweeping across the brain's surface. these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp |
| MEG | a brain imaging technique that measures magnetic fields from the brain's natural electrical activity |
| CT | a series of X-ray photos taken from different angles an combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain's structure. also called a CAT scan |
| PET | a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task |
| MRI | a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer- generated images of soft tissue. MRI scans show brain anatomy |
| fMRI | a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function as well as structure |
| brainstem | the oldest part of the central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brainstem is responsible for automatic survival functions |
| medulla | the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing |
| thalamus | the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla |
| reticular formation | a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus an plays an important role in controlling arousal |
| cerebellum | the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating movement output and balance, an enabling nonverbal learning and memory |
| limbic system | neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. includes amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus |
| amygdala | 2 lima-bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion |
| hypothalamus | a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward |
| hippocampus | a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process for storage explicit (conscious) memories of facts and events |
| cerebral cortex | the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center |
| frontal lobes | the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgement |
| parietal lobes | the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head towards the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position |
| occipital lobes | the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields |
| temporal lobes | the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear |
| motor cortex | an areas at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements |
| somatosensory cortex | an areas at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations |
| association areas | areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions; rather they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning remembering, thinking, ad speaking. |
| plasticity | the brain;s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience |
| neurogenesis | the formation of new neurons |
| corpus callosum | the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them |
| split brain | a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's 2 hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum fibers connecting them |
| consciousness | our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment |
| cognitive neuroscience | the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language |
| dual processing | the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks |
| blind sight | a condition in which a person can respond to a visual stimulus without consciously experiencing it. |
| sequential processing | processing one aspect of a problem at a time; generally used to process new information or to solve difficult problems |
| parallel processing | processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously; generally used to process well-learned information or to solve easy problems |
| behavior genetics | the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior |
| heredity | the genetic transfer of characteristics from parent to offspring |
| environment | every non-genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us |
| chromosomes | threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes |
| DNA | a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes |
| genes | the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing proteins |
| genome | the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes |
| identical (monozygotic) twins | develop fro a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms |
| fraternal (dizygotic) twins | develop from separate fertilized eggs. they are genetically no closer that ordinary brothers and sisters, but they share a prenatal environment |
| heritability | the proportion of variation among individuals in a group that we can attribute to genes. the heritability of a trait may vary,depending on the range of populations and environments studied |
| interaction | the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (environment) depends on another factor (heredity) |
| molecular genetics | the subfield of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes |
| molecular behavior genetics | the study of how the structure and function of genes interact with our environment to influence behavior |
| epigenetics | "above" "in addition to" genetics; the study of environmental influences on gene expression that occur without a DNA change |
| evolutionary psychology | the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection |
| natural selection | the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations |
| mutation | a random error in gene replication that leads to a change |
| social script | a culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations |
| sleep | a periodic, natural loss of consciousness--as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation. (adapted from Derment 1999) |
| circadian rhythm | our biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle |
| REM sleep | rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed but other body systems are active |
| alpha waves | the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state |
| NREM sleep | non-rapid eye movement sleep; encompasses all sleep stages except fro REM sleep |
| hallucinations | false sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus |
| hypnagogic sensations | bizarre experiences, such as jerking, or a feeling of falling/ floating weightlessly, while transitioning to sleep |
| delta waves | the large, slow brain waves associated with the deep sleep of NREM-3 |
| suprachiasmatic nucleus | a pair of cell clusters in the hypothalamus the controls circadian rhythm. in response to light, the SCN causes the pineal gland to adjust melatonin production, thus modifying our feelings of sleepiness |
| insomnia | recurring problems in falling/staying asleep |
| narcolepsy | a sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. the sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at opportune times |
| sleep apnea | a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations (stop) breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings |
| night terrors | a sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during NREM-3 sleep, within 2-3 hours of falling asleep, and are seldom remembered. |
| dream | a sequence of images, emotions, thoughts passing though a sleeping person's mind |
| manifest content | according to Freud the symbolic, remembered story line of a dream |
| latent content | according to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream |
| REM rebound | the tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation |
| psychoactive drug | a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods |
| substance use disorder | a disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk |
| tolerance | the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take anger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect |
| withdrawal | the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing and addictive drug or behavior |
| depressants | drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) |
| alcohol use disorder | alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use. also known as alcoholism |
| barbiturates | drugs that depress central nervous system activity; reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement. |
| opiates | opium ad its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety |
| stimulants | drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine and ecstasy) that excite neural activity ans speed up body functions |
| nicotine | a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco. |
| cocaine | a powerful and addictive stimulant deprived from the coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and euphoria |
| amphetamines | drugs, such as methamphetamine, that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes |
| methamphetamine | a powerful addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerates body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels |
| ecstasy MDMA | a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term heath risks and long-term harm to serotonin - producing neurons and to mood and cognition |
| hallucinogens | psychedelic (mind- manifesting) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input |
| near-death experience | an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death often similar to drug-induced hallucinations |
| THC | the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations |
| LSD | a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid |
| hypnosis | a social interaction is which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur. |
| posthypnotic suggestion | a suggestion, made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized; used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviors |
| dissociation | a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others |
| Paul Broca | Broca's area, language production in the left frontal lobe. |
| Carl Wernicke | Found another "language center" located in the left hemispheres temporal lobe. Wernicke's Aphasia. Speech comprehension. If damaged people can't make sense when they speak. |
| Roger Sperry | American psychologist who researched the brain and specialized in split-brain patients |
| Michael Gazaniga | Field cognitive neuroscience Studied the neural basis of mind and human split-brain research. Researched how the cerebral hemispheres communicate with one another. |
| Charles Darwin | A British naturalist created the theory of evolution, his principles of natural selection and adaptation left an influence on modern psychology. |
| Sigmund Freud | psychoanalytic/ psychoanalysis theory impacts the unconscious mind, emotions, desires, and feelings, believed humans are driven by selfish "animal" biological impulses, a comprehensive theory of personality. Reality and pleasure principles. |
| William James | Functionalism studied how humans use perception to function in our environment |
| Ernest Hillgard | Studied how that a hypnotic trance includes a "hidden observer" suggesting that there is some subconscious control during hypnosis. |
| sleep debt | loss of sleep (particularly REM) that often results in REM rebound when sleep occurs |
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