Master the Exam –
Biological Bases of Behavior
Comprehensive Study Guide with
Practice Questions and Verified
Answers
central nervous system (CNS) -answer✅✅✅✅Division of the nervous system that
consists of the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS) -answer✅✅✅✅the sensory and motor neurons that
connect the CNS to the rest of the body
somatic nervous system -answer✅✅✅✅division of the peripheral nervous system that
control's the body's skeletal muscles.
neuron -answer✅✅✅✅a nerve cell; basic cell of the nervous system
sensory neurons -answer✅✅✅✅neurons that carry information from the receptors to
the spinal cord and brain
motor neurons -answer✅✅✅✅neurons that carry information from the brain and spinal
cord to the muscles
autonomic nervous system (ANS) -answer✅✅✅✅division of the peripheral nervous
system involved in the control of (generally unconscious/automatic) bodily functioning
through organs and glands; its sympathetic division arouses while the parasympathetic
division calms
sympathetic nervous system -answer✅✅✅✅subdivision of the autonomic nervous
system responsible for mobilizing the body in times of stress, and preparing for flight or
fight
parasympathetic nervous system -answer✅✅✅✅subdivision of the autonomic nervous
system responsible for calming the body
,reflex -answer✅✅✅✅automatic behavior in response to a specific stimulus; does not
involve communication with the brain
brainstem -answer✅✅✅✅the oldest part and central core of the brain; responsible for
automatic survival functions and composed of medulla, pons, and reticular formation.
medulla -answer✅✅✅✅base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat & breathing
reticular formation -answer✅✅✅✅band of nerve fibers that run through the center of
the brain stem; important in controlling arousal levels
cerebellum -answer✅✅✅✅structure of the hindbrain that coordinates voluntary
muscular movements
corpus callosum -answer✅✅✅✅wide band of neural fibers that connects the two
hemispheres of the brain
limbic system -answer✅✅✅✅a group of structures located beneath the cerebral cortex
that are involved in regulating emotions and motivated behaviors
thalamus -answer✅✅✅✅subcortical structure that relays incoming sensory
information to the cerebral cortex and other parts of the brain; a.k.a "sensory
switchboard"
electroenchephalogram (EEG) -answer✅✅✅✅device that monitors and records waves
of electric activity within the brain; measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
positron emission tomography (PET scan) -answer✅✅✅✅visual display of brain
activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a
given task
computed tomography (CT scan) -answer✅✅✅✅imaging technique that involves the
production of a large number of X-rays interpreted by a computer
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) -answer✅✅✅✅imaging technique that involves
the use of radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce a signal that can be
interpreted by computer
dendrites -answer✅✅✅✅short, branchlike structures of a neuron that receive
information from receptors and other neurons
fMRI -answer✅✅✅✅technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by
comparing successive MRI scans; capable of showing BOTH structure and function of
the brain
, soma -answer✅✅✅✅cell body of a neuron
axon -answer✅✅✅✅part of a neuron that transmits information to other neurons and
to muscles and glands
myelin sheath -answer✅✅✅✅fatty protein substance that covers some axons,
increasing speed of transmission
neurotransmitters -answer✅✅✅✅chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap
between neurons
synapse -answer✅✅✅✅site where two or more neurons interact but do not touch
reuptake -answer✅✅✅✅method of clearing a neurotransmitter from the synaptic cleft,
in which the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed into the terminal buttons
synaptic vesicles -answer✅✅✅✅small pockets or sacs located in terminal buttons that
contain a neurotransmitter
agonist -answer✅✅✅✅a molecule (e.g., drug) that enhances the operation of a
neurotransmitter
antagonist -answer✅✅✅✅a molecule (e.g., drug) that blocks or inhibits the operation
of a neurotransmitter
endorphins -answer✅✅✅✅"morphine within"; natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters
linked to pain control and to pleasure
resting potential -answer✅✅✅✅electrical charge (negative) of a neuron when it is not
firing
action potential -answer✅✅✅✅brief electrial charge that travels down the axon; a
process also called "depolarization"
threshold -answer✅✅✅✅the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
refractory period -answer✅✅✅✅period, after firing, during which the neuron is unable
to fire because it is repolarizing
aphasia -answer✅✅✅✅loss of ability to speak or understand written or spoken
language
Biological Bases of Behavior
Comprehensive Study Guide with
Practice Questions and Verified
Answers
central nervous system (CNS) -answer✅✅✅✅Division of the nervous system that
consists of the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS) -answer✅✅✅✅the sensory and motor neurons that
connect the CNS to the rest of the body
somatic nervous system -answer✅✅✅✅division of the peripheral nervous system that
control's the body's skeletal muscles.
neuron -answer✅✅✅✅a nerve cell; basic cell of the nervous system
sensory neurons -answer✅✅✅✅neurons that carry information from the receptors to
the spinal cord and brain
motor neurons -answer✅✅✅✅neurons that carry information from the brain and spinal
cord to the muscles
autonomic nervous system (ANS) -answer✅✅✅✅division of the peripheral nervous
system involved in the control of (generally unconscious/automatic) bodily functioning
through organs and glands; its sympathetic division arouses while the parasympathetic
division calms
sympathetic nervous system -answer✅✅✅✅subdivision of the autonomic nervous
system responsible for mobilizing the body in times of stress, and preparing for flight or
fight
parasympathetic nervous system -answer✅✅✅✅subdivision of the autonomic nervous
system responsible for calming the body
,reflex -answer✅✅✅✅automatic behavior in response to a specific stimulus; does not
involve communication with the brain
brainstem -answer✅✅✅✅the oldest part and central core of the brain; responsible for
automatic survival functions and composed of medulla, pons, and reticular formation.
medulla -answer✅✅✅✅base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat & breathing
reticular formation -answer✅✅✅✅band of nerve fibers that run through the center of
the brain stem; important in controlling arousal levels
cerebellum -answer✅✅✅✅structure of the hindbrain that coordinates voluntary
muscular movements
corpus callosum -answer✅✅✅✅wide band of neural fibers that connects the two
hemispheres of the brain
limbic system -answer✅✅✅✅a group of structures located beneath the cerebral cortex
that are involved in regulating emotions and motivated behaviors
thalamus -answer✅✅✅✅subcortical structure that relays incoming sensory
information to the cerebral cortex and other parts of the brain; a.k.a "sensory
switchboard"
electroenchephalogram (EEG) -answer✅✅✅✅device that monitors and records waves
of electric activity within the brain; measured by electrodes placed on the scalp
positron emission tomography (PET scan) -answer✅✅✅✅visual display of brain
activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a
given task
computed tomography (CT scan) -answer✅✅✅✅imaging technique that involves the
production of a large number of X-rays interpreted by a computer
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) -answer✅✅✅✅imaging technique that involves
the use of radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce a signal that can be
interpreted by computer
dendrites -answer✅✅✅✅short, branchlike structures of a neuron that receive
information from receptors and other neurons
fMRI -answer✅✅✅✅technique for revealing bloodflow and, therefore, brain activity by
comparing successive MRI scans; capable of showing BOTH structure and function of
the brain
, soma -answer✅✅✅✅cell body of a neuron
axon -answer✅✅✅✅part of a neuron that transmits information to other neurons and
to muscles and glands
myelin sheath -answer✅✅✅✅fatty protein substance that covers some axons,
increasing speed of transmission
neurotransmitters -answer✅✅✅✅chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap
between neurons
synapse -answer✅✅✅✅site where two or more neurons interact but do not touch
reuptake -answer✅✅✅✅method of clearing a neurotransmitter from the synaptic cleft,
in which the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed into the terminal buttons
synaptic vesicles -answer✅✅✅✅small pockets or sacs located in terminal buttons that
contain a neurotransmitter
agonist -answer✅✅✅✅a molecule (e.g., drug) that enhances the operation of a
neurotransmitter
antagonist -answer✅✅✅✅a molecule (e.g., drug) that blocks or inhibits the operation
of a neurotransmitter
endorphins -answer✅✅✅✅"morphine within"; natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters
linked to pain control and to pleasure
resting potential -answer✅✅✅✅electrical charge (negative) of a neuron when it is not
firing
action potential -answer✅✅✅✅brief electrial charge that travels down the axon; a
process also called "depolarization"
threshold -answer✅✅✅✅the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
refractory period -answer✅✅✅✅period, after firing, during which the neuron is unable
to fire because it is repolarizing
aphasia -answer✅✅✅✅loss of ability to speak or understand written or spoken
language
