Neurons & Communication
This part of the neuron receives incoming messages from other neurons.
What are dendrites?
The two major divisions of the nervous system.
What are the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
The three main parts of the brain.
What are the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain?
Segments of DNA that code for specific traits.
What are genes?
The term used for environmental influences on behavior.
What is nurture?
The insulating covering that speeds up neural transmission.
What is the myelin sheath?
This part of the nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.
What is the central nervous system?
While walking in the hallway, a student suddenly hears their name and quickly turns their head toward the sound.
What is the midbrain? (Responsible for reflexive responses involving vision and hearing.)
Humans have this many pairs of chromosomes.
What is 23 pairs?
Twins that come from one fertilized egg and share 100% of their genes.
What are monozygotic (identical) twins?
The small space between neurons where neurotransmitters travel.
What is the synaptic gap (synapse)?
The system responsible for voluntary muscle movement.
What is the somatic nervous system?
A student suddenly feels extremely hungry during class and starts thinking about food even though lunch is an hour away.
What is the hypothalamus? (Controls hunger, thirst, body temperature, and hormones.)
A gene that is expressed even when only one copy is present.
What is a dominant gene?
Maria’s parents are both talented musicians. They pass down genes related to musical ability and also fill their home with instruments and music lessons. Maria grows up playing piano and becomes very skilled.
What is passive gene–environment correlation?
Explain neural transmission and describe how a message moves within a neuron.
Neural transmission is the movement of an electrical signal (action potential) through a single neuron. The message travels from the dendrites → through the cell body → down the axon to the axon terminals.
This system prepares the body for “fight or flight.”
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
During basketball practice, a player successfully coordinates their movements to dribble, run, and shoot accurately.
What is the cerebellum?
(Controls coordination, balance, and movement.)
Traits influenced by many different genes working together.
What are polygenic traits?
Jason has a natural talent for sports. Because he enjoys physical activity, he joins multiple teams, practices often, and spends most of his free time playing sports.
What is active gene–environment correlation?
Explain synaptic transmission and describe how a message moves from one neuron to another.
Synaptic transmission occurs when neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal into the synaptic gap and bind to receptors on the next neuron, allowing the message to pass from one neuron to another.
This system slows body functions and promotes relaxation.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
After a frightening experience, a student begins to feel intense fear whenever they hear a similar sound and remembers the event clearly.
What is the limbic system (amygdala + hippocampus)?
This chromosomal condition occurs when a person has an extra chromosome 21.
What is Down syndrome?
Explain a study done to support the role of nature.
Selective breading studies (pea plant, mice studies (aggression, intelligence) monkey (emotions)