biological psych chap1-3

given this universe composed of matter and energy, why is there such a thing as consciousness?

what is the relationship between mental experience and brain activity?

the study of physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience

relating a behavior to the activity of the brain and other organs

reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behavior

describes why a structure or behavior evolved as it did

strands of genes

deoxyribonucleic acid

biological catalysts that regulate chemical reactions in the body

genes that are present in both sexes, generally on autosomal chromosomes, but active mainly in one sex

genetic inability to metabolize the amino acid phenylaline

idea that if you exericse your arm mucles, your children will be born with bigger arm muscles, and if you fail to use your little toes, your children's little toes will be smaller than yours

the number of copies of one's genes that endure in later generations

action that benefits someone other than the actor

selection for a gene that benefits the individual's relatives

receive information and trasmit it to other cells

structure that separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment

structure that contains the chromosomes

structure that performs metabolic activities

sites at which the cell synthesizes new protein molecules

network of thin tubes that transport newly synthesized proteins to other locations

has its soma in the spinal cord

specialized at one end to be highly sensitive to a partiular type of stimulation

short outgrowths that increase the surface areal available for synapses

dendritic spines

contains the nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria

point form which the axon releases chemicals that cross through the junction between one neuron and the next

brings info into a structure

carries info away form a structure

a cell's dendrites and axon are entirely contained within a single cell

interneuron/ intrinsic neuron

protein mediated process that expends energy to pump chemicals form the blood into the brain

different electrical charge between the inside and outside of the cell

the difference in voltage in a resting neuron

protein complex that repeatedly transports three sodium ions out of the cell while drawing two potassium ions into it

difference in distribution of ions across the membrane

messages sent by axons

increased polarization

their permeability depends on the voltage difference across the membrane

the amplitude and velocity of an ation potential are independent of the intesnity of the stimulus that initiated it, provided that the stilulus reaches the threshold

immediately after an action potential during which it resists the prodution of further action potentials

membrane cannot produce an action potential, regardless of stimulation

a stronger than usual stimulus is necessary to initiate an action potential

a swelling where the axon exits the soma

the transmission of an action potential down an axon

proagation of the action potential

insulating material composed of fats and proteins

the jumping of action potentials from node to node

when a local neuron receives info from other neurons: a membrane potential that varies in magnitude in proportion to the intensity of the stimulus

specialized gap between neurons 

automatic muscular responses to stimuli

circuit from sensory neuron to muscle response

repeated stimuli within a brief time have a cumulative effect

delivers transmission

receives transmission

results from a flow of sodium ions into the neuron

occurs when synaptic input selectively opens the gates for potassium ions to leave the cell or for chloride ions to enter the cell

periodic production of action potentials even without synaptic input

corresponding to the brief on/off effects that Sherrington and Eccles studied