Behavioral Sciences Flashcards
(252 cards)
3 types of neurons
Sensory (afferent), motor (efferent), interneurons
Reflex arcs
use the ability of interneurons in the spinal chord to relay information to the source of stimuli while simultaneously routing it to the brain
Central nervous system (CNS)
Brain and spinal chord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Most cranial and spinal nerves; divided into somatic and autonomic
Somatic nervous system
Sensory and motor neurons distributed throughout skin, joints, and muscles; sensory neurons transmit info through afferent fibers; motor impulses travel along efferent fibers
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretions; subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic
Sympathetic nervous system
Fight or flight; activated by stress; increases heart rate, relaxes bronchi, decreases digestion; dilates eyes; redistributes blood to muscles of locomotion; increases blood glucose
Parasympathetic nervous system
Rest and digest; conserve energy; resting and sleeping states, constricts bronchi, slows heart rate, stimulates peristalsis and secretion, constricts pupils
3 subdivisions of the brain
Hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain
Hindbrain
Contains cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and reticular formation; controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, and general arousal processes
Midbrain
Contains inferior and superior colliculi; receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body; involuntary reflex responses
Forebrain
Contains thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic system, and cerebral cortex; associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes; emotion and memory
Thalamus
Relay station for sensory info
Hypothalamus
Maintains homeostasis; integrates w/ endocrine system through portal system that connects it to anterior pituitary
Limbic system
Amygdala, septal nuclei, hippocampus; controls emotion and memory
Frontal lobe
Executive function, impulse control, long-term planning, motor function, speech productiom
Parietal lobe
Sensation of touch, temp, pressure and pain, spacial processing, orientation, and manipulation
Temporal lobe
Sound processing, speech perception, memory, and emotion
Occipital lobe
Visual processing
Acetylcholine
Used by somatic nervous system to move muscles; used by parasympathetic and central nervous system for alertness
Dopamine
Smooth movements and steady posture
Serotonin
Modulates mood, sleep patterns, eating patterns, dreaming
GABA
Plays important role in stabilizing neural activity in brain
Epinephrine/norepinephrine
Control alertness and wakefulness; fight or flight; norepi = acts locally as neurotransmitter; epi = secreted from adrenal medulla - acts systematically as hormone