Chapter 3 - Biology and Behavior
Endocrine System
made up of a series of glands located throughout the body.
Cerebral Cortex
outer layer of the brain.
Cerebellum
part of the brain that regulates balance and coordination.
Medulla
part of the brain that regulates heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and other vital functions.
Peripheral Nervous System
transmits messages from the central nervous system to the rest of the body.
Thalamus
transmits sensory information to the areas of the brain that interpret and respond to the information.
Somatic Nervous System
transmits sensory messages
Pituitary Glands
"master gland", secretes hormones that affect various aspects of behavior.
Progesterone
Created from the ovaries, female.
Testes
For men, produces testosterone
Ovaries
Glands in women that produce estrogen and progesterone.
Anabolic
Lab-made and fake, for example: steroids.
Central Nervous System
Made up by the brain and spinal cord
Neurons
Nerve cells
Neurotransmitters
Neurons that send messages across synapses.
Axon
Part of a neuron that transmits messages away from the cell body.
Myelin
a white fatty substance that insulates and protects axons and speeds the transmission of messages sent by neurons.
Limbic System
area of the brain that forms a border around the brain stem and is involved in learning, memory, hunger, and aggression.
Mutation
an alteration or change in the phase of metabolism in which substances are synthesized into living tissue.
Supporters of the nature theory of personality development
believe that a person's traits are determined mainly by his or her biological makeup.
Spinal Cord
column of nerves that extends from the brain down the back and transmits messages to the muscles and glands in the body.
Corpus Callosum
connects the two hemispheres of the brain.
Identitcal twins
exactly the same genetic makeup.
Cerebrum
largest part of the brain that makes complex learning and abstract thinking possible.
Adrenal Glands
produce adrenaline and noradrenaline.
Thyroid Gland
produces a hormone that affects the body's metabolism. Produces thyroxin.
Cell Body
produces energy that fuels a neuron's activity
Reticular Activating System
regulates alertness and arousal; found in the midbrain
Atomic nervous system
regulates vital functions, like breathing
Brain's Association areas
shape information into meaning information
Hormones
substances that stimulate growth and many kinds of reactions, such as changes in activity levels and physical moods.
Genes
the basic building blocks of heredity
Synapse
the junction between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another.
Estrogen
the primary female sex hormone.
Testosterone
the primary male sex hormone.
Heredity
the transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring.
Dendrites
thin fibers that receive information and pass messages through cell bodies.
Chromosomes
threadline structures that carry genes.
Hypothalamus
tiny part of the brain that regulates body temperature, nutrient storage, and various aspects of motivation and emotion.
