Heredity + Environment
What is the term for the debate over whether genetics or experience shapes behavior?
Nature v. Nurture
What two major divisions make up the human nervous system?
Central Nervous System (CNS) + Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
What are the chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synaptic gap between neurons?
Neurotransmitters
Which part of the brain controls basic life functions like heartbeat and breathing?
Medulla (in the brainstem)
What 24-hour biological cycle regulates our patterns of sleep and wakefulness?
Circadian Rhythm
What does the term genetic predisposition refer to?
The increased likelihood of developing a trait or disorder due to inherited genes.
What is the function of the myelin sheath around the axon?
Speeds up neural transmissions.
What neurotransmitter is linked to muscle movement and memory, and whose deficit is associated with Alzheimer’s disease?
Acetylcholine (ACh)
What part of the brain helps coordinate movement and balance?
Cerebellum
During which sleep stage do vivid dreams occur and muscles are paralyzed?
REM Sleep
What is the principle that traits contributing to survival are more likely to be passed on to future generations?
Natural Selection
What are sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) neurons responsible for?
Sensory neurons carry information to the brain; motor neurons carry commands from the brain to muscles.
Which neurotransmitter is associated with mood, hunger, and sleep — and is targeted by SSRIs like Prozac?
Serotonin
Which structure links the brain’s hemispheres and allows them to communicate?
Corpus callosum
What sleep disorder involves sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks?
Narcolepsy
What type of research compares individuals who share 100% of their genes with those who share about 50% to determine the relative impact of heredity and environment?
Twin studies.
What is the minimum level of stimulation required to trigger an action potential called?
Threshold
What hormone is secreted by the pineal gland and helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle?
Melatonin
What is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself after injury or experience called?
Neuroplasticity
What theory of sleep says that sleep helps the body repair and restore itself?
Restoration Theory
What perspective explains human behaviors as the result of evolved adaptations for survival and reproduction?
Evolutionary Perspective
What principle states that a neuron either fires completely or not at all?
All or Nothing Principle.
What neurotransmitter inhibits neural firing and is affected by alcohol and anti-anxiety drugs?
GABA
Which two patients are classic case studies in brain function — one involving frontal lobe injury and one involving memory loss after hippocampal surgery?
Phineas Gage (Frontal Lobe) + H.M. (Hippocampus)
What dream theory proposes that dreams are the brain’s attempt to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep?
Activation-Synthesis Theory