Biological Bases of Behavior
The basic building blocks of the nervous system
What are neurons?
The body’s rapid communication system
What is the nervous system?
Detecting environmental stimuli
What is sensation?
Organizing and interpreting sensory information
What is perception?
Awareness of ourselves and surroundings
What is consciousness?
The branch of psychology studying links between biology and behavior
What is biological psychology?
Nervous system controlling voluntary movement
What is the somatic nervous system?
Minimum stimulation detected 50% of the time
What is the absolute threshold?
Focusing on one stimulus while ignoring others
What is selective attention?
24-hour biological rhythm
What is the circadian rhythm?
The gap between neurons where neurotransmitters travel
What is the synapse?
Nervous system division that calms the body after stress
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
Retina cells responsible for color vision
What are cones?
Missing visible objects because attention is elsewhere
What is inattentional blindness?
Sleep stage where vivid dreaming occurs
What is REM sleep?
Chemical messengers that cross synapses
What is a neurotransmitter?
Brain structure for balance and coordination
What is the cerebellum?
Theory using red, green, and blue receptors
What is the trichromatic theory?
Expectations influencing interpretation
What is perceptual set?
Disorder involving interrupted breathing during sleep
What is sleep apnea?
Part of the neuron that sends messages
What is the axon?
Frontal lobe area for speech production
What is Broca’s area?
Sense of body position and movement
What is kinesthesia?
Gestalt principle of filling gaps
What is closure?
Theory that dreams process memories and information
What is the information-processing theory?