AP Psych Unit 2 Part 1 Review

pituitary gland

"THE MASTER GLAND" the endocrine system's most influential glandunder the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

(deoxyribonucleic acid) a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes

sensory cortex

(parietal cortex) receives information from skin surface and sense organs.

agonist

A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter.

split brain

A conditioning resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers connecting them.

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory; Oversupply can overstimulate the brain, producing migraines or seizures (which is why some people avoid MSG, monosodium glutamate, in food).

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter; Undersupply linked to seizures, tremors, and insomnia.

Action potential

A neural impulse. A brief electrical charge that travels down an axon and is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane.

limbic system

A system of neural structures at the border of brainstem. Associated with emotions like fear, agression, and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the Hippocampus, Amygdala and hypothalamus.

fMRI (functional MRI)

A technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. fMRI scans show brain function.

(PET) Positron emission tomography scan

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

serotonin

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal; Undersupply linked to depression. Some drugs that raise serotonin levels are used to treat depression.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

nervous system

Bodies "speedy" electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

gilial cells

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

Antagonists

Chemical substances that block or reduce a cell's response to the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Enables muscle action, learning, and memory;With Alzheimer's disease, ACh-producing neurons deteriorate.

Pons

Help coordinate movement Just above the medulla

norepinephrine

Helps control alertness and arousal; Undersupply can depress mood.

dopamine

Influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion; Oversupply linked to schizophrenia. Undersupply linked to tremors and decreased mobility in Parkinson's disease.

corpus callosum

Large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

endorphins

Neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain or pleasure; Oversupply with opiate drugs can suppress the body's natural endorphin supply.

Hippocampus

Processes new conscious memories. Loading dock for new memories

reticular formation

Reticular formation is a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.

cerebellum

The "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem. It helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance.

medulla

The base of the brainstem. Controls heartbeat and breathing.

plasticity

The brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.

brainstem

The brainstem is the oldest part of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells and enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions

cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex is the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres. It is the body's ultimate control and information processing center.

cognitive neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition. (including perception, thinking, memory and language.)

parietal lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; includes the sensory cortex. Receives sensory input for touch and body position.

temporal lobe

The portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory info primarily from the opposite end.

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The sensory and motor neuron that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

Epigenetics

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.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Use of magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of soft tissue to show brain anatomy, more detail than CT

myelin sheath

a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

neuron

a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

all-or-nothing response

a neuron's reaction of either firing or not firing.

reuptake

a neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.

adrenal gland

a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress; releases adrenaline and steroids (cortisone)

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired.

dual processing

a phenomenon can occur in two different ways, or as a result of two different processes, The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

mutation

a random error in gene replication that leads to a change

CT (computed tomography) scan

a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representaion of a slice through the body. Also called a CAT scan

A human sperm cell contains a. 23 chromosomes. b. 23 genes. c. 46 chromosomes. d. 46 genes. e. 92 DNA strands.

a. 23 chromosomes

Sleep researchers who are interested in brain wave activity are likely to use which kind of brain scan? a. EEG b. CT c. fMRI d. PET e. MRI

a. EEG

Psychologist Michael Gazzaniga asked split-brain patients to stare at a dot as he flashed HE·ART on a screen. HE appeared in the left visual field, ART in the right. When asked to point to the word with their left hand, patients pointed to a. HE. b. ART. c. HEART. d. EA. e. nothing. They were unable to complete the task.

a. HE

Which neural center in the limbic system plays a central role in emotions such as aggression and fear? a. amygdala b. thalamus c. cerebellum d. medulla e. dendrite

a. amygdala

Schizophrenia is most closely linked with excess receptor activity for the neurotransmitter a. dopamine. b. epinephrine. c. acetylcholine. d. serotonin. e. GABA.

a. dopamine

Which cognitive neuroscience term reflects the idea that "much of our everyday thinking, feeling, and acting operates outside our conscious awareness"? a. dual processing b. cerebral cortex c. reticular formation d. interneurons e. limbic system

a. dual processing

To identify which specific brain areas are most active during a particular mental task, researchers would be most likely to make use of a(n) a. fMRI. b. hemispherectomy. c. ACh agonist. d. brain lesion. e. MRI.

a. fMRI.

In a recent car accident, Tamiko sustained damage to his right cerebral hemisphere. This injury is most likely to reduce Tamiko's ability to a. facially express emotions. b. solve arithmetic problems. c. understand simple verbal requests. d. process information in an orderly sequence. e. control his aggression.

a. facially express emotions

Twin studies suggest that a strong influence on emotional instability comes from a. genetic predispositions. b. the Y chromosome. c. natural selection. d. the X chromosome. e. mutation.

a. genetic predispositions.

An all-or-none response pattern is characteristic of the a. initiation of neural impulses. b. release of endorphins into the central nervous system. c. release of hormones into the bloodstream. d. activation of either the sympathetic or the parasympathetic system. e. excitation of the antagonistic hormonal system.

a. initiation of neural impulses.

Information travels from the spinal cord to the brain via a. interneurons. b. the circulatory system. c. sensory neurons. d. the sympathetic nervous system. e. the endocrine system.

a. interneurons.

The function of dendrites is to a. receive incoming signals from other neurons. b. release neurotransmitters into the spatial junctions between neurons. c. coordinate the activation of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. d. control pain through the release of opiate-like chemicals into the brain. e. transmit signals to other neurons.

a. receive incoming signals from other neurons.

Which brain structure relays information from the eyes to the visual cortex? a. thalamus b. amygdala c. medulla d. hippocampus e. cerebellum

a. thalamus

A picture of a dog is briefly flashed in the left visual field of a split-brain patient. At the same time a picture of a boy is flashed in the right visual field. In identifying what she saw, the patient would be most likely to a. use her left hand to point to a picture of a dog. b. verbally report that she saw a dog. c. use her left hand to point to a picture of a boy. d. verbally report that she saw a boy. e. communicate that she saw a picture of a boy with a dog.

a. use her left hand to point to a picture of a dog. OR d. verbally report that she saw a boy.

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, and speaking

An undersupply of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter known as ________ is linked to seizures. a. glutamate b. GABA c. serotonin d. ACh e. dopamine

b. GABA

Depending on environmental conditions, specific genes can be either a. nature or nurture. b. active or inactive. c. identical or fraternal. d. chromosomes or genomes. e. sperm or eggs.

b. active or inactive

Research suggests that young men prefer older women, mid-twenties men prefer women their own age, and older men prefer younger women. Based on this finding, evolutionary psychologists suggest that men a. view sex as being more relational. b. are attracted to women with peak fertility. c. prefer mates who are interested in long-term relationships. d. have a higher threshold for perceiving warm responses as sexual. e. are less concerned with sending their genes into the future.

b. are attracted to women with peak fertility.

The longest part of a neuron is likely to be the a. dendrite. b. axon. c. cell body. d. synapse. e. neurotransmitter

b. axon

The medulla is to the control of ________ as the cerebellum is to the control of ________. a. eating, sleeping b. breathing, walking c. emotion, motivation d. memory, attention e. hearing, seeing

b. breathing, walking

The ovaries in females and the testes in males are part of the a. peripheral system. b. endocrine system. c. sympathetic nervous system. d. somatic system. e. central nervous system.

b. endocrine system.

According to evolutionary psychologists, behaviors that promote reproductive success are likely to be a. socially prohibited. b. genetically predisposed. c. ecologically disruptive. d. disease-producing. e. learned by association.

b. genetically predisposed.

The secretions of the pituitary gland are most directly regulated by the a. reticular formation. b. hypothalamus. c. amygdala. d. cerebellum. e. thalamus.

b. hypothalamus

If primed with the flashed word foot, the ________ will be especially quick to recognize the word heel. If primed with foot, cry, and glass, the ________ will be especially quick to recognize the word cut. a. right hemisphere, left hemisphere b. left hemisphere, right hemisphere c. cerebellum, brainstem d. left hemisphere, left hemisphere e. sensory cortex, speech cortex

b. left hemisphere, right hemisphere

The speed at which a neural impulse travels is increased when the axon is encased by a(n) a. sympathetic nerve. b. myelin sheath. c. endocrine gland. d. pituitary gland. e. synaptic vesicle.

b. myelin sheath.

Physical exercise and exposure to stimulating environments are most likely to promote a. phrenology. b. neurogenesis. c. hemispherectomy. d. reward deficiency syndrome. e. plasticity.

b. neurogenesis

The knee-jerk reflex is controlled by interneurons in the a. action potential. b. spinal cord. c. resting potential. d. endocrine system. e. neurotransmitters.

b. spinal cord

nerves

bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

Who believed that bumps on the skull reveal mental abilities and character traits? a. Sir Charles Sherrington b. Stephen Kasslyn c. Franz Gall d. Candace Pert e. Solomon Snyder

c. Franz Gall

Increasing excitatory signals above the threshold for neural activation will not affect the intensity of an action potential. This indicates that a neuron's reaction is a. inhibited by the myelin sheath. b. delayed by the refractory period. c. an all-or-none response. d. dependent on neurotransmitter molecules. e. primarily electrical rather than chemical.

c. an all-or-none response.

The personalities of adopted children a. are very similar to the personalities of the other children in their adoptive families. b. are very similar to the personalities of their biologically related siblings. c. are not very similar to the personalities of their adoptive parents. d. are more similar to the personalities of their caregiving adoptive parents than to the personalities of their biological parents. e. are usually not related to their temperaments.

c. are not very similar to the personalities of their adoptive parents.

Which type of psychologist most directly investigates the links between biological activity and our thinking and behaviors? a. behaviorist b. psychotherapist c. biological psychologist d. cognitive psychologist e. psychometrician

c. biological psychologist

While mapping the motor cortex, researchers Foerster and Penfield found that a. although the mind's subsystems are localized in specific brain regions, the brain acts like a unified whole. b. damage to a specific area in the left frontal lobe disrupted speech ability. c. body areas requiring the greatest control occupied the greatest amount of cortical space. d. if one part of the brain is damaged, the brain will compensate by putting other areas to work. e. our brain processes most information

c. body areas requiring the greatest control occupied the greatest amount of cortical space.

Split-brain patients have had their ________ surgically cut. a. hippocampus b. limbic system c. corpus callosum d. sensory cortex e. reticular formation

c. corpus callosum

Animal research has revealed a general reward system that triggers the release of the neurotransmitter a. ACh. b. GABA. c. dopamine. d. epinephrine. e. serotonin.

c. dopamine

Hormones are the chemical messengers of the a. action potential. b. autonomic nervous system. c. endocrine system. d. peripheral nervous system. e. central nervous system.

c. endocrine system.

Which of the following is the component of the limbic system that plays an essential role in the processing of new memories? a. hypothalamus b. thalamus c. hippocampus d. medulla e. cerebellum

c. hippocampus

The unique personalities of children evoke predictable responses from their caregivers. This best illustrates the ________ of nature and nurture. a. mutation b. evolution c. interaction d. heritability e. independence

c. interaction

The peripheral nervous system is to sensory neurons as the central nervous system is to a. motor neurons. b. neurotransmitters. c. interneurons. d. the sympathetic nervous system. e. the parasympathetic nervous system.

c. interneurons.

For you to be able to run, ________ must relay messages from your central nervous system to your leg muscles. a. interneurons b. agonists c. motor neurons d. sensory neurons e. the autonomic nervous system

c. motor neurons

The reproductive advantage enjoyed by organisms best suited to a specific environment is known as a. heritability. b. behavior genetics. c. natural selection. d. genome. e. cloning.

c. natural selection

A football quarterback can simultaneously make calculations of receiver distances, player movements, and gravitational forces. This best illustrates the activity of multiple a. endocrine glands. b. endorphin agonists. c. neural networks. d. endorphin antagonists. e. thresholds.

c. neural networks.

Recent brain research contradicts previously held beliefs, indicating that new neurons are actually formed in the brain. What is this process called? a. plasticity b. reuptake c. neurogenesis d. reticular formation e. myelin cells

c. neurogenesis

Dendrites are branching extensions of a. neurotransmitters. b. endorphins. c. neurons. d. myelin. e. endocrine glands.

c. neurons

Which region of the brain will a fMRI show as active when a person is looking at a photo? a. temporal lobes b. parietal lobes c. occipital lobes d. frontal lobes e. association areas

c. occipital lobes

Migraine headaches are most closely linked with an a. oversupply of GABA. b. undersupply of serotonin. c. oversupply of glutamate. d. undersupply of acetylcholine. e. oversupply of norepinepherine.

c. oversupply of glutamate

Identical twins separated at birth would be most likely to have similar a. political ideas. b. religious beliefs. c. personality. d. norms. e. food preferences.

c. personality

The master gland of the endocrine system is the a. thyroid gland. b. adrenal gland. c. pituitary gland. d. pancreas. e. hypothalamus.

c. pituitary gland.

The axon of a resting neuron has gates that do not allow positive sodium ions to pass through the cell membrane. What is this characteristic called? a. myelin sheath b. threshold c. selective permeability d. action potential e. parasympathetic nervous system

c. selective permeability

The spatial junctions where impulses are chemically transmitted from one neuron to another are called a. neurotransmitters. b. neural networks. c. synapses. d. axons. e. thresholds.

c. synapses.

The auditory hallucinations experienced by people with schizophrenia are most closely linked with the activation of areas in which brain area? a. motor cortex b. amygdala c. temporal lobes d. hypothalamus e. sensory cortex

c. temporal lobes

hormones

chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, they travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

amygdala

consists of two almond shaped bean-sized neural clusters linked to the emotions of fear and anger.

Isles of Langerhans

controls storage of sugar in the liver and blood level of sugar, releases insulin and glucagon, in the pancreas

social script

culturally provided mental instructions for how to act in various situations

What is the main difference between an MRI scan and an fMRI scan? a. MRI scans are able to show internal structures of the brain, fMRI scans can also show external structures. b. MRI scans use X-rays, fMRI scans use gamma rays. c. MRI scans measure glucose levels in the brain, fMRI scans measure oxygen levels. d. MRI scans show structural details of the brain, fMRI scans show structure and activity levels. e. MRI scans measure brain wave activity, fMRI scans use a series of X-ray images to show

d. MRI scans show structural details of the brain, fMRI scans show structure and activity levels.

The concentration of glucose in active regions of the brain underlies the usefulness of a(n) a. MRI. b. brain lesion. c. EEG. d. PET scan. e. hemispherectomy.

d. PET scan.

After he suffered a stroke, Mr. Santore's physical coordination skills and responsiveness to sensory stimulation quickly returned to normal. Unfortunately, however, he began to experience unusual difficulty figuring out how to find his way to various locations in his neighborhood. It is most likely that Mr. Santore suffered damage to his a. cerebellum. b. thalamus. c. hypothalamus. d. association areas. e. autonomic nervous system.

d. association areas

The cortical regions that are not directly involved in sensory or motor functions are known as a. interneurons. b. Broca's area. c. frontal lobes. d. association areas. e. parietal lobes.

d. association areas

The thin surface layer of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebrum is called the a. cerebellum. b. corpus callosum. c. reticular formation. d. cerebral cortex. e. sensory cortex.

d. cerebral cortex

.An undersupply of serotonin is most closely linked to a. Alzheimer's disease. b. schizophrenia. c. Parkinson's disease. d. depression. e. euphoria.

d. depression

José has just played a long, bruising football game but feels little fatigue or discomfort. His lack of pain is most likely caused by the release of a. glutamate. b. dopamine. c. acetylcholine. d. endorphins. e. insulin.

d. endorphins

If a professor accused you of cheating on a test, your adrenal glands would probably release ________ into your bloodstream. a. endorphins b. acetylcholine c. seratonin d. epinephrine e. insulin

d. epinephrine

In creating more effective treatments for pain, researchers would use which of the following techniques for identifying regions of the brain that handle pain? a. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) b. computed tomography (CT ) c. electroencephalogram (EEG) d. functional MRI (fMRI) e. lesion

d. functional MRI (fMRI)

Brittla frequents only the most expensive clubs in an effort to attract a desirable mate. According to evolutionary psychologists, Brittla's behavior is a product of a. mutation. b. behaviorism. c. her upbringing. d. genetic predispositions. e. social pressure.

d. genetic predispositions.

The brain structure that provides a major link between the nervous system and the endocrine system is the a. cerebellum. b. amygdala. c. reticular formation. d. hypothalamus. e. medulla.

d. hypothalamus

If Professor Freeborn lesions the amygdala of a laboratory rat, the rat will most likely become a. hungry. b. sexually aroused. c. physically uncoordinated. d. less aggressive e. aphasic.

d. less aggressive

Compared with identical twins, fraternal twins are a. less likely to be the same sex and more likely to be similar in extraversion. b. more likely to be the same sex and more likely to be similar in extraversion. c. more likely to be the same sex and less likely to be similar in extraversion. d. less likely to be the same sex and less likely to be similar in extraversion. e. less likely to be the same sex and equally likely to be similar in extraversion.

d. less likely to be the same sex and less likely to be similar in extraversion.

Women are most likely to be sexually attracted to men who seem a. shy and reserved. b. emotionally reactive and intense. c. interested in recreational sex. d. mature and affluent. e. extraverted and dependent.

d. mature and affluent.

Olds and Milner located reward centers in the brain structure known as the a. sensory cortex. b. hypothalamus. c. cerebellum. d. medulla. e. amygdala.

d. medulla

People can simultaneously process many aspects of sensory information such as color, shape, and size. This best illustrates the functioning of multiple a. ACh agonists. b. dendrites. c. endorphins. d. neural networks. e. ACh antagonists.

d. neural networks.

Addictive drug cravings are likely to be associated with reward centers in the a. thalamus. b. cerebellum. c. reticular formation. d. nucleus accumbens. e. angular gyrus.

d. nucleus accumbens

A PET scan of a patient looking at a photograph of a painting would most likely indicate high levels of activity in which brain structure? a. sensory cortex b. Broca's area c. corpus callosum d. occipital lobes e. frontal lobes

d. occipital lobes

While relaxing in a lawn chair enjoying a cool drink, which of the following triggers the "rest-and-digest" response, as your heart rate slows and digestion begins? a. sympathetic nervous system b. limbic system c. somatic nervous system d. parasympathetic nervous system e. motor cortex

d. parasympathetic nervous system

A behavior geneticist would be most interested in studying hereditary influences on a. skin color. b. sexual anatomy. c. physical attractiveness. d. personality traits. e. emotional stability.

d. personality traits

At the age of 22, Mrs. Tamimi was less than 4 feet tall. Her short stature was probably influenced by the lack of a growth hormone produced by the a. pancreas. b. thyroid. c. adrenal gland. d. pituitary gland. e. myelin.

d. pituitary gland.

After Terry lost a finger in an industrial accident, the area of his sensory cortex devoted to receiving input from that finger gradually became very responsive to sensory input from his adjacent fingers. This best illustrates a. phrenology. b. lateralization. c. hemispherectomy. d. plasticity. e. tomography.

d. plasticity

Reuptake refers to the a. movement of neurotransmitter molecules across a synaptic gap. b. release of hormones into the bloodstream. c. inflow of positively charged ions through an axon membrane. d. reabsorption of excess neurotransmitter molecules by a sending neuron. e. the ending of the refractory period.

d. reabsorption of excess neurotransmitter molecules by a sending neuron.

Someone trying to figure out an optical illusion is probably experiencing increased brain waves and blood flow to which brain structure? a. left hemisphere b. thalamus c. reticular formation d. right hemisphere e. medulla

d. right hemisphere

An accelerated heartbeat is to a slowed heartbeat as the ________ nervous system is to the ________ nervous system. a. somatic, autonomic b. autonomic, somatic c. central, peripheral d. sympathetic, parasympathetic e. parasympathetic, sympathetic

d. sympathetic, parasympathetic

Which brain structure receives information from all the senses except smell? a. hippocampus b. amygdala c. pons d. thalamus e. medulla.

d. thalamus

Evolutionary psychologists would be most likely to predict that men will marry women who are ________ than they are. a. less wealthy b. less physically attractive c. more sexually experienced d. younger e. more aggressive toward sexual rivals

d. younger

hypothalamus

directs several maintenance activities like eating, drinking, body temperature, sex drive and control of emotions. It helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

The most extensive regions of the cerebral cortex, which enable learning and memory, are called the a. reticular formation. b. medulla. c. sensory areas. d. cerebellum. e. association areas.

e. association areas

Ellen volunteers during her AP psychology class to try to balance a yardstick on her two fingers. While her eyes are open, she finds the task quite easy. However, when she closes her eyes, she finds the same task almost impossible. Which brain region relies on visual information in coordinating our voluntary movements? a. hypothalamus b. reticular formation c. thalamus d. amygdala e. cerebellum

e. cerebellum

The association areas are located in the a. spinal cord. b. brainstem. c. thalamus. d. limbic system. e. cerebral cortex.

e. cerebral cortex

Your conscious awareness of your own name and self-identity depends primarily on the normal functioning of your a. cerebellum. b. amygdala. c. hypothalamus. d. sympathetic nervous system. e. cerebral cortex.

e. cerebral cortex

Chromosomes are composed of a. hormones. b. synapses. c. nuclei. d. neurotransmitters. e. deoxyribonucleic acid.

e. deoxyribonucleic acid.

Thinking about sex (in your brain's cerebralcortex) can stimulate a region of the limbic system to secrete hormones. These hormones trigger the pituitary gland to influence hormones released by other glands in the body. Which brain region influences the endocrine system? a. hippocampus b. amygdala c. thalamus d. reticular formation e. hypothalamus

e. hypothalamus

Your life would be most immediately threatened if you suffered destruction of the a. amygdala. b. hippocampus. c. angular gyrus. d. corpus callosum. e. medulla.

e. medulla

Stimulated digestion is to inhibited digestion as the ________ nervous system is to the ________ nervous system. a. somatic, autonomic b. autonomic, somatic c. central, peripheral d. sympathetic, parasympathetic e. parasympathetic, sympathetic

e. parasympathetic, sympathetic

When Melea was a child, a brain disease required the surgical removal of her left cerebral hemisphere. Melea is now a successful high school student who lives a normal life. Her success best illustrates the importance of a. reuptake. b. reuptake. c. phrenology. d. tomography. e. plasticity.

e. plasticity

Natural selection acts on a. proteins. b. cells. c. individuals. d. siblings. e. populations.

e. populations

Which brain structure might be most active when answering the question "What do the following words have in common: plane, butter, insect?" a. amygdala b. reticular formation c. brainstem d. left hemisphere e. right hemisphere

e. right hemisphere

For you to experience the pain of a sprained ankle, ________ must first relay messages from your ankle to your central nervous system. a. endocrines b. interneurons c. glands d. motor neurons e. sensory neurons

e. sensory neurons

Epigenetics refers to the a. influences that affect our mating decisions. b. factors that trigger us to behave aggressively towards others. c. the study of how men and women respond to sex hormones. d. the way that genes solely create our personalities. e. the study of how the environment triggers genetic expression.

e. the study of how the environment triggers genetic expression.

environment

every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us, Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us.

ovaries (female gonad)

female secondary sex characteristics, menstrual cycle; releases estrogen and progesterone

testes (male gonad)

male secondary sex characteristics; releases testosterone

sensory (afferent) neurons

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

motor (efferant) neurons

neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

consciousness

our awareness of ourselves and our environment.

parathyroid gland

regulates calcium metabolism; releases parahormones

thyroid gland

regulates metabolism; releases thyroxin (iodine-containing hormones)

reflexes

simple, automatic responses to sensory stimuli, such as the knee-jerk response

somatosensory cortex

the area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensation

motor cortex

the area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements.

genes

the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; segments of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein

endocrine system

the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Central Nervous System (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

Thalamus

the brains 'sensory switch board' Located at top of brainstem; directs messages to the sensory areas and transmits them to cerebellum and medulla.

dendrites

the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

genome

the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations. (If you get scared)

Parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy (Your PARents come home and calm you down)

Somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles (skeletal nervous system)

interaction

the interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity)

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or synaptic cleft.

threshold

the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse (excitatory and inhibitory)

axon

the neuron extension that passes and electrical messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs. It's sympathetic system arouses and parasympathetic calms.

occipital lobe

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual info from the opposite visual feild.

frontal lobe

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.

natural selection

the principle that, among range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

heritability

the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes; this may vary depending on population range and the environment being studied

biological psychologists

the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes.

behavior genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Chromosomes

threadlike structure made of DNA molecules that contain the genes

Lesion

tissue destruction. It can occur naturally or experimentally by the caused distruction/remove of brain tissues

identical twins (monozygotic)

twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms

fraternal twins (dizygotic)

twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs; no genetically closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment