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Psych > The brain and behaviour > Flashcards

The brain and behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

Describe neurons

A

Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system

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2
Q

Describe dendrites

A

Dendrites are specialised receiving units, like antennae, that collect messages from neighbouring neurons and send them onto the cell body

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3
Q

Describe axons

A

Axons conduct, electrical impulses away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles or glands

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4
Q

Describe glial cells

A

Glial cells do not send or receive nerve impulses. They manufacture, chemicals that provide nutrients neurons, need and absorb toxins and waste materials that can damage neurons.

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5
Q

Describe resting potential

A

Resting potential is the uneven distribution of positive and negative ions that make the interior of the cell negative compared to the outside. This internal difference of around 70 mV is the neurons resting potential

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6
Q

Describe action potential

A

Action potential is an electrical shift within the neuron that lasts a millisecond that creates a nerve impulse

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7
Q

Describe absolute refractory period

A

The membrane is not excitable and cannot discharge another impulse

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8
Q

Define the all or non law

A

Action potentials occur at a uniform and maximum intensity, or they do not occur at all

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9
Q

Define graded potentials

A

Changes in the negative resting potential that do not reach the -50 mV action potential threshold

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10
Q

Describe the Myelin sheath

A

A white fatty insulation layer derived from glial cells during development

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11
Q

Describe synaptic space

A

A tiny gap between the axon terminal and the dendrites, or cell body of the next neuron

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12
Q

Describe neurotransmitters

A

Chemical substances that carry messages across the synaptic space to other neurons, muscles or glands

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13
Q

What are synaptic vesicles?

A

Chambers within the axon terminals used to store synthesised neurotransmitters

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14
Q

Explain receptor sites

A

Large protein molecules embedded in the receiving neurons cell membrane. Each site has a specifically shaped surface that fits a specific transmitter molecule

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15
Q

Explain reuptake

A

Reuptake is, when the transmitter molecules are taken back into the presynaptic, axon terminals

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16
Q

What is acetylcholine?

A

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle activity and memory

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17
Q

Describe the function of a neuro modulator?

A

Neuro modulators have a more widespread and generalised influence on synaptic transmission

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18
Q

Describe the three primary effects of an agonist drug

A

An agonist drug increases the activity of a neurotransmitter by enhancing a neurons ability to synthesise store, or release neurotransmitters; mimic the action of a neurotransmitter, by binding, with and stimulating, postsynaptic receptor sites; or making it more difficult for neurotransmitters to be deactivated, such as by inhibiting reuptake

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19
Q

What are the primary effects of an antagonist drug?

A

Antagonist drugs inhibit, or decrease the action of a neurotransmitter. And antagonist may reduce a neurons ability to synthesise store or release neurotransmitters; or prevent a neurotransmitter from binding with the postsynaptic neuron by fitting into and blocking receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron.

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20
Q

Describe the function of sensory neurons

A

Sensory neurons carry input messages from the sense organs to the spinal-cord and brain.

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21
Q

Describe the function of motor neurons

A

Motor neurons transmit output impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the bodies, muscles and organs

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22
Q

Describe the function of interneurons

A

Interneurons outnumber sensory and motor neurons and perform connective or associative functions within the nervous system

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23
Q

Describe the peripheral nervous system

A

The peripheral nervous system contains all of the neural structures that lie outside of the brain and spinal cord

24
Q

Describe the somatic nervous system

A

The somatic nervous system consists of sensory neurons that are specialised to transmit messages from the eyes, ears and other sensory receptors to the brain and motor neurons that send messages from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles that control voluntary movements

25
Q

Describe the autonomic nervous system

A

The autonomic nervous system senses the bodies internal functions and controls the glands and involuntary muscles that form the heart, the blood vessels in the lining of the stomach and intestines

26
Q

Explain the sympathetic nervous system

A

The sympathetic nervous system has an activation or arousal function and it tends to act as a total unit

27
Q

Explain the parasympathetic nervous system

A

The parasympathetic nervous system is far more specific in its opposing actions, affecting one or a few organs at a time. It slows down body processes and maintains a state of tranquility.

28
Q

Describe the enteric nervous system

A

The enteric nervous system is a unique system that acts exclusively on the gastrointestinal tract

29
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

Homeostasis is a delicately, balanced or constant internal state

30
Q

What is contained in the central nervous system?

A

The central nervous system contains the brain and the spinal cord which connects most parts of the peripheral nervous system with the brain

31
Q

What does an electroencephalograph do?

A

An electroencephalograph measures the activity of large groups of neurons through a series of large electrodes placed on the scalp

32
Q

What does computerised axial tomography scans do?

A

Computerised axial tomography uses x-ray technology to study brain structures

33
Q

How does magnetic resonance imaging work?

A

Magnetic resonance imaging creates images, based on how atoms in living tissue respond to a magnetic pulse delivered by the device

34
Q

What do positron emission tomography scans measure?

A

Positron emission tomography scans, measure brain activity, including metabolism, bloodflow, and neurotransmitter activity

35
Q

What does a functional MRI do?

A

Functional MRIs can produce pictures of bloodflow in the brain taken within seconds of one another and also measures brain activity

36
Q

Describe the endocrine system

A

The endocrine system consists of numerous hormones, secreting glands distributed throughout the body

37
Q

What are hormones?

A

Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted from glands into the bloodstream

38
Q

What does the motor cortex do?

A

The motor cortex controls 600 or more muscles involved in voluntary body movements

39
Q

What does the somatic sensory cortex do?

A

The somatic sensory cortex receives sensory input that contributes to our sensations of heat touch and to our senses of balance in the body movement

40
Q

What does the association cortex do?

A

The association cortex constitutes most of the human cerebral cortex, and is involved in many important, mental functions, including perception, language, and thought

41
Q

Describe the pre-frontal cortex

A

The pre-frontal cortex is located in the forward section of the frontal lobe and is associated with executive functions

42
Q

What does the thalamus do?

A

The Thalumus is like a switchboard that organises inputs from sensory organs and routes them to appropriate areas of the brain

43
Q

What does the hypothalamus do?

A

The hypothalamus plays a major role in many aspects of motivation and emotion, including sexual behaviour, temperature regulation, sleeping appetite and aggression

44
Q

What are the core functions of the limbic system?

A

The limbic system is involved in the processing of emotion, motivation, learning, and memory

45
Q

What is the purpose of the hippocampus?

A

The hippocampus is involved in forming and retrieving memories

46
Q

What is the purpose of the amygdala?

A

The amygdala organises motivational and emotional response patterns, particularly those linked to aggression and fear

47
Q

Describe the reticular formation

A

The reticular formation acts as a sentry, both alerting higher centres of the brain that messages are coming, and then either blocking those messages, or allowing them to proceed to the fore brain

48
Q

What is the Pons responsible for?

A

The Pons lies at the top of the brain stem and carries nerve impulses between higher and lower levels of the nervous system. The pons also helps to regulate vital functions such as respiration and sleep

49
Q

What does the medulla do?

A

The medulla plays an important role, vital body functions, such as heart rate and respiration

50
Q

What does the cerebellum do?

A

The cerebellum is concerned, primarily with muscular movement, coordination and maintaining balance and posture, but also plays a role in learning and memory

51
Q

Describe the corpus callosum

A

The corpus callosum is a broad band of White myelinated nerve fibres that connect the left and right cerebral hemispheres aiding communication between the 2 halves of the brain

52
Q

What does lateralisation refer to?

A

Lateralisation refers to the relatively greater localisation of a function in one hemisphere or the other

53
Q

What is the Wernicke‘s area responsible for?

A

The Wernicke’s area is located in the left temporal lobe and is primarily involved in speech comprehension

54
Q

What is the broca’s area responsible for?

A

The Broca’s area is in the left frontal lobe, and is mainly involved in the production of speech through its connections with the motor cortex region that controls the muscles used in speech

55
Q

What is neural plasticity

A

Neural plasticity refers to the ability of neurons to change in structure and function as a result of exposure and experience to the surrounding environment

56
Q

What is neurogenesis?

A

Neurogenesis is the production of new neurons in the nervous system

57
Q

Describe neural stem cells

A

Neural stem cells are immature, ‘uncommitted’ cells that can mature into any type of neuron or glial cell needed by the brain

Psych (3 decks)

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