behavioral neuroscience - Answers the study of the physiological, evolutionary, and
developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience, emphasizing the relationship between
biology and psychology
biological psychology - Answers also known as biopsychology, psychobiology, or physiological
psychology, this branch of psychology focuses on understanding behavior through physiological,
evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms
consciousness - Answers the state or quality of awareness, subjectivity, and experience,
particularly in the context of the mind-body problem and its relationship to brain activity
evolutionary explanation - Answers the description of the evolutionary history of a structure or
behavior, highlighting modifications from ancestral species and adaptive advantages
functional explanation - Answers the description of why a structure or behavior evolved as it did,
identifying the adaptive benefits conferred by certain traits
ontogenetic explanation - Answers the description of the developmental processes underlying a
behavior or trait, often involving genetic and environmental influences during an organism's
lifespan
physiological explanation - Answers the description of the relationship between a behavior and
the activity of the brain and other bodily organs, focusing on the biological mechanisms
underlying behavior
neuroethics - Answers The study of ethical issues arising from research in neuroscience and
related fields, including concerns about animal research and human experimentation
three R's - Answers reduction, replacement, and refinement; legal standards for animal research
aimed at reducing the number of animals used, finding alternatives to animal models when
possible, and refining procedures to minimize pain and distress
astrocytes - Answers star-shaped glial cells that wrap around dendrites, synchronize closely
related neurons, and regulate blood flow in active brain areas
axon - Answers a thin fiber of constant diameter that conveys impulses from one neuron to
another
dendrites - Answers branching fibers that receive information from other neurons and contain
synaptic receptors
glia - Answers non-neuronal cells that support and protect neurons, including astrocytes,
microglia, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells
mitochondria - Answers organelles responsible for generating energy (ATP) in cells, which is
, crucial for brain function, cognition, and mental health
myelin sheath - Answers insulating material that surrounds and protects certain vertebrate
axons, improving the speed of nerve impulses
neurons - Answers specialized cells responsible for receiving, processing, and transmitting
information in the nervous system
soma - Answers the cell body of a neuron containing the nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria
synapse - Answers junction between two neurons where chemical signals are transmitted from
one neuron to another
action potential - Answers messages sent by axons, characterized by depolarization of the
neuron membrane
all-or-none law - Answers the principle stating that all action potentials, once initiated, are
approximately equal in amplitude and velocity, regardless of the intensity of the stimulus
depolarization - Answers reduction of the difference in electrical charge between the inside and
outside of a neuron, leading to the initiation of an action potential
hyperpolarization - Answers increased polarization of the neuron membrane, resulting in a more
negative charge inside the cell compared to the outside
nodes of Ranvier - Answers short sections along myelinated axons where the myelin sheath is
interrupted, facilitating rapid transmission of action potentials
refractory period - Answers period during which the neuron membrane is resistant to starting
another action potential immediately after an action potential
resting potential - Answers the electrical charge difference between the inside and outside of a
neuron when it is not transmitting signals.
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) - Answers a graded depolarization of a postsynaptic
neuron's membrane, making it more likely to generate an action potential
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) - Answers a graded hyperpolarization of a postsynaptic
neuron's membrane, making it less likely to generate an action potential
reflex arc - Answers the neural pathway that mediates a reflex action
temporal summation - Answers the process by which multiple EPSPs or IPSPs occurring in
rapid succession at the same synapse combine to influence a neuron's membrane potential
synaptic delay - Answers the brief delay between the arrival of an action potential at the
presynaptic terminal and the initiation of a postsynaptic response