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MCAT Psych/Soc > Nervous System Biology > Flashcards

Nervous System Biology Flashcards

1
Q

Dorsal Prefrontal Cortex

A

Associated with attention and cognition

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2
Q

Ventral Prefrontal Cortex

A

Associated with experience of emotion

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3
Q

Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex

A

Decision-making and controlling emotional responses

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4
Q

Kluver-Bucy Syndrome

A

Results from the bilateral destruction of the amygdala; results in hyperorality, hypersexuality, and disinhibited behavior

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5
Q

Central Nervous System

A

The brain and the spinal cord

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6
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

Everything of the nervous system that is not the brain or spinal cord; the 12 cranial nerves and the 31 pairs of spinal nerves

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7
Q

Sensory neurons

A

Also known as afferent neurons; transmit information from receptors to the central nervous system

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8
Q

Motor neurons

A

Also known as efferent neurons; transmit motor information from central nervous system to muscles and glands

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9
Q

Interneurons

A

Neurons of the central nervous system; are important for decision making and for reflexive pathway

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10
Q

Reflex arcs

A

Neural pathways that avoid input from the brain for a rapid response

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11
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

Voluntary movements

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12
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

Involuntary muscle contractions

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13
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

“Rest and digest”; conserve energy in a resting state

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14
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

“Fight or flight”; activated by stress; resources dedicated towards responding to the stressor

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15
Q

Lower Motor Neurons

A

Efferent neurons of the peripheral nervous system; they synapse with skeletal muscles and form a neuromuscular junction

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16
Q

Lower Motor Neuron Signs

A

Result from lower motor neuron abnormalities; include atrophy of skeletal muscle, hyporeflexia, hypotonia, and involuntary twitches

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17
Q

Muscle Stretch Reflex

A

A reflex that causes the muscle to contract after it has been stretched

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18
Q

Gray Matter

A

Most of the neurons soma (outside in the brain)

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19
Q

White Matter

A

Neurons with myelinated axons (outside in the spinal cord)

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20
Q

Upper Motor Neurons

A

Neurons in the brain that synapse onto (and thereby control) lower motor neurons

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21
Q

Corticospinal Tract

A

The tract of when an upper motor neuron synapses onto a lower motor neuron in the spinal cord

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22
Q

Corticobulbar tract

A

The tract of when an upper motor neuron synapses onto a lower motor neuron in the brain stem

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23
Q

Upper Motor Neuron Signs

A

Result from upper motor neuron abnormalities; include hyperreflexia, hypertonia, extensor plantar response (toes extend upward instead of downward), and clonus (activation of antagonist muscle)

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24
Q

Somatosensory Tracts

A

Tracts taken by the spinal cord to deliver information to the brain.

  1. Position, vibration, fine touch
  2. Pain, temperature, gross touch
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25
Q

Meninges

A

Thick sheet of connective tissue covering the brain – composed of dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater.

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26
Q

Cerebrospinal Fluid

A

Aqueous solution in which the brain and spinal cord rest

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27
Q

Ventricles of the brain

A

The internal cavities; cell in these cavities produce the cerebrospinal fluid

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28
Q

Brainstem

A

The hindbrain and midbrain; the most primitive region of the brain. It connects all parts of the brain together including the cranial nerves

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29
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

Most advanced structure of the brain evolutionarily; associated with language processing, problem-solving, impulse control, long-term planning, and other higher-order functions; also called the neocortex

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30
Q

Midbrain

A

Responsible for sensorimotor reflexes

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31
Q

Hindbrain

A

Where the brain meets the spinal cord; controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, other vital functions necessary for life

32
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

Part of the hindbrain that regulates breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure among other vital functions

33
Q

Pons

A

Part of the hindbrain and regulate sensory/motor pathways between cortex and medulla.

34
Q

Cerebellum

A

Part of the hindbrain; maintains posture and balance and coordinated body movements

35
Q

Colliculi

A

A pair of nuclui in the midbrain responsible for receiving sensory input. Superior colliculus receives visual sensory input and inferior colliculus receives auditory sensory input

36
Q

Forebrain

A

Associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes and is therefore the greatest influence on human behavior

37
Q

Neuropsychology

A

The study of functions and behaviors associated with specific regions of the brain

38
Q

Lesion Studies

A

Intentionally shutting down brain tissue (not in humans!) corresponding to certain brain structures to observe changes in behavior.
Tissue removal, radiofrequency, neurochemical, and cortical cooling

39
Q

CT Scan

A

X-rays of the brain taken to map brain structure

40
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

Uses magnetic field to interact with hydrogen and map out hydrogen dense regions; used to map brain structure

41
Q

PET Scan

A

Radioactive sugar in injected into body, and its uptake and dispersion is imaged; used to map both function and structure

42
Q

Functional MRI

A

An MRI that also measures changes associated with blook flow; used to map both function and structure

43
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A

Measures broad patterns of electrical activity in the brain

44
Q

Regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF)

A

Measures changes in blood flow to different parts of the brain

45
Q

Thalamus

A

The switchboard for all of the incoming senses except smell; it receives, sorts, and trasmits sensory information to the appropriate areas

46
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Serves homeostatic function and is important for emotional experiences during high arousal, aggressive behavior, and sexual behavior

47
Q

Lateral hypothalamus

A

Triggers eating and drinking

48
Q

Ventromedial hypothalamus

A

Provides signals to stop eating and drinking when necessary

49
Q

Anterior hypothalamus

A

Controls sexual behavior, sleep, and body temperature

50
Q

Posterior Pituitary

A

An endocrine gland that is comprised of axonal projections from the hypothalamus; it is the site of release of various hypothalamic hormones

51
Q

Pineal gland

A

An endocrine gland that is important for many biological rhythms, most famously the circadian rhythm

52
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

A group of structures in the middle of the brain that coordinate muscle movement and relay information from the motor cortex to the central nervous system

53
Q

Extrapyramidal system

A

A system of the brain that collects information about body position and carries it to the central nervous system (it does not interact with motor neurons)

54
Q

Limbic System

A

A set of brain structures associated with emotions and memory. It includes the hippocampus, the hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus, and septal nuclei

55
Q

Septal nuclei

A

Pleasure centers of the brain; there is an association between septal nuclei stimulation and addictive behaviors

56
Q

Amygdala

A

Plays an important role in defensive and aggressive behaviors

57
Q

Hippocampus

A

Vital role in memory and learning; it consolidates memories into long term memory and can redistribute memories to the cerebral cortex

58
Q

Fornix

A

A projection in the limbic system that allows the hippocampus to communicate with the rest of the limbic system

59
Q

Cerebral hemispheres

A

Halves of the cerebral cortex

60
Q

Frontal lobe

A

The front surface of the cortex; is divided into prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex and contains Broca’s area

61
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

Manages executive functions by supervising the processes associated with perception, memory, emotion, impulse control, and long-term planning

62
Q

Association area

A

A term that refers to any area of the brain that integrates input from diverse brain regions

63
Q

Projection areas

A

A term that refers to any area of the brain that performs simple perceptual and motor tasks (contrasted with association area)

64
Q

Primary Motor Cortex

A

Initiates voluntary movements by sending signals to the spinal cord to muscle cells; contains the motor homunculus (mapping of body parts that can move)

65
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

Located behind the frontal lobe; contains the somatosensory cortex and is responsible for spatial manipulation

66
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

The destination area for all incoming sensory information; contains the somatosensory homunculus (mapping of sensation of body parts)

67
Q

Occitipal Lobe

A

Located at the rear of the brain; contains the visual cortex (so it processes visual stimuli)

68
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Located on each side of the brain beneath the parietal lobe; contain the auditory cortex and Wernicke’s Area. It also functions in memory processing and emotions

69
Q

Auditory cortex

A

Where auditory stimuli are received from the ears and processed

70
Q

Contralateral Communication

A

Each hemisphere communicates with the opposite side of the body

71
Q

Ipsilateral Communication

A

Each hemisphere communicates with the same side of the body

72
Q

Dominant Hemisphere

A

Usually the left; controls language processing, logic, math skills, and analytic functions

73
Q

Nondominant Hemisphere

A

Usually the right; controls intuition, creativity, emotional recognition, music cognition, and visuospatial processing

74
Q

Corpus Callosum

A

A connective tissue between the two hemispheres allowing them to communicate. If severed, “split brain” patient results because the hemispheres can no longer talk to each other

75
Q

Reticular Formation

A

A neural network located in the brainstem that connect various parts of the brain and mediate overall level of consciousness

76
Q

Cranial Nerves

A

12 pairs of nerve connecting to the reticular formation that do a range of tasks

77
Q

Internal Capsule

A

A white matter structure of each cerebral hemisphere that contains the corticospinal tract

MCAT Psych/Soc (31 decks)

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