Psychology Chapter 3

Darwin's theory that favorable adaptations to features of the environment allow some members of a species to reproduce more successfully than others.

The genetic structure of an organism inherits from its parents.

The observable characteristics of an organism, resulting from the interaction between the organisms's genotype and its environment.

The biological transmission of traits from parents to offspring.

The study of the inheritance of physical and psychological traits from ancestors.

The physical basis for the transmission of genetic information.

The biological unit of heredity; discrete section of a chromosome responsible for transmission of traits.

chromosome that contains the genes that code for the development of male or female characteristics.

Characteristic that is influenced by more than one gene.

The genetic information for an organism, stored in the DNA of its chromosomes.

The area of study that evaluates the genetic component of individual differences in behaviors and traits.

The relative influence of genetics--versus environment--in determining patterns of behavior.

A field of research that focuses on evolutionary explanations for the social behavior and social systems of humans and other animal species.

The study of behavior and mind using the principles of evolutionary theory.

The scientific study of the brain and of the links between brain activity and behavior.

A cell in the nervous system specialized to receive, process, and or transmit information to other cells.

One of the branched fibers of neurons that receive incoming signals.

The cell body of a neuron, containing the nucleus and cytoplasm.

The extended fiber of a neuron through which nerve impulses travel from the soma to the terminal buttons.

A bulb like structure at the branched ending of an axon that contains vesicles filled with neurotransmitters.

Neuron that carries messages form sense receptors toward the central nervous system.

Neuron that carries messages away from the central nervous system toward the muscles and glands.

Brain neuron that relays messages from sensory neurons to other inter-neuron or to motor neurons.

The cells that hold neurons together and facilitate neural transmission, remove damaged and dead neurons, and prevent poisonous substances in the blood from reaching the brain.

Insulating material that surrounds axons and increases the speed of neural transmission.

Information entering a neuron that signals it to fire.

Information entering a neuron that signals it not to fire.

The nerve impulse activated in a neuron that travels down the axon and causes neurotransmitters to be released into a synapse.

The polarization of cellular fluid within a neuron, which provides the capability to produce an action potential.

A portion of neurons cell membranes that selectively permits certain ions to flow in and out.

The rule that the size of the action potential is unaffected by increases in the intensity of stimulation beyond the threshold level.

The period of rest during which a new nerve impulse cannot be activated in a segment of an axon.

The gap between one neuron and another.

The relaying information from one neuron to another across the synaptic gap.

Chemical messenger released from a neuron that crosses the synapse from one neuron to another, stimulating the post synaptic neuron.

Any substance that modifies or modulates the activities of the post synaptic neuron.

The region of the brain that translates thoughts into speech or signs.

Injury to or destruction of brain tissue.

A technique for producing temporary inactivation of brain areas using repeated pulses of magnetic stimulation.

A recording of the electrical activity of the brain.

A technique that uses narrow beams of X-rays passed through the brain at several angles to assemble complete brain brain images.

Brain image produced by a device that obtains detailed pictures of activity in the living brain by recording the radioactivity emitted by cells during different cognitive or behavioral activities.

A technique for brain imaging that scans the brain using magnetic fields and radio waves.

A brain-imaging technique that combines benefits of both MRI and PET scans by detecting magnetic changes in the flow of blood to cells in the brain.

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

The part of the nervous system composed of the spinal and cranial nerves that connect the body's sensory receptors to the CNS and the CNS to the muscles and glands.

The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles and skin.

the subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's involuntary motor responses by connecting the sensory receptors to the central nervous system (CNS) and the CNS to the smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands.

The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that deals with emergency response and the mobilization of energy.

The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that monitors the routine operation of the body's internal functions and conserves and restores body energy.

The brain structure that regulates the body's basic life processes.

The region of the brain stem that regulates breathing, waking, and heartbeat.

The region of the brain stem that connects the spinal cord with the brain and links parts of the brain to one another.

The region of the brain stem that alerts the cerebral cortex to incoming sensory signals and is responsible for maintaining consciousness and awakening from sleep.

The brain structure that relays sensory impulses to the cerebral cortex.

The region of the brain attached to the brain stem that controls motor coordination, posture, and balance as well as the ability to learn control of body movements.

The region of the brain that regulates emotional behavior, basic motivational urges, and memory, as well as major physiological functions.

The part of the limbic system that is involved in the acquisition of explicit memory.

The part of the limbic system that controls emotion, aggression, and the formation of emotional memory.

The brain structure that regulates motivated behavior (such as eating and drinking) and homeostasis.

Constancy or equilibrium of the internal conditions of the body.

The region of the brain that regulates higher cognitive and emotional functions.

The outer surface of the cerebrum.

The two halves of the cerebrum, connected by the corpus callosum.

The mass of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the cerebrum.

Region of the brain located above the lateral fissure and in front of the central sulcus; involved in motor control and cognitive activities.

Region of the brain behind the frontal lobe and above the lateral fissure; contains somatosensory cortex.

Rearmost region of the brain; contains primary visual cortex.

Region of the brain found below the lateral fissure; contains auditory cortex.

A region of the brain that allows fluent speech production and comprehension.

The region of the cerebral cortex that controls the action of the body's voluntary muscles.

The region of the parietal lobes that processes sensory input from various body areas.

The area of the temporal lobes that receives and processes auditory information.

The region of the occipital lobes in which visual information is processed.

The parts of the cerebral cortex in which many high-level brain processes occur.

The network of glands that manufacture and secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

One of the chemical messengers, manufactured and secreted by the endocrine glands, that regulates metabolism and influence body growth, mood, and sexual characteristics.

Located in the brain, the gland that secretes growth hormone and influences the secretion of hormones by other endocrine glands.

The male sex hormone, secreted by the testes, that stimulates production of sperm and is also responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics.

The female sex hormone, produced by the ovaries, that is responsible for the release of eggs from the ovaries as well as for the development and maintenance of female reproductive structures and secondary sex characteristics.

Changes in the performance of the brain; may involve the creation of new synapses or changes in the function of existing synapses.