Biological Bases of Behavior

Question 1

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 1

Includes somatic and autonomic NS.
Somatic = sends/receives sensory messages for voluntary motor movement
Autonomic = automatic or involuntary bodily functions (e.g., heart rate, breathing)

Question 2

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 2

Part of the Peripheral NS. Regulates automatic/involuntary bodily functions.
Divides into sympathetic and parasympathetic NS

Question 3

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 3

Peripheral NS -> Autonomic NS -> one of two parts in ANS

The body’s “mobilizing” system or fight/flight system

Question 4

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 4

Peripheral NS -> Autonomic NS -> one of two parts in ANS

The body’s “energy conserving” system

Question 5

Central Nervous System

Answer 5

Consists of spinal cord and the brain with sensory and motor neurons

Question 6

Corpus Callosum

Answer 6

(Subcortical)

Allows for communication between hemispheres.

Question 7

Limbic System

Answer 7

(Subcortical)
Forms the inner border of the cortex; referred to as the “primitive” brain. Includes thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, and septum

Question 8

Thalamus

Answer 8

(Subcortical -> Limbic System).

The major sensory relay center of the brain. Receives and processes sensory information (except smell)

Question 9

Hypothalamus

Answer 9

(Subcortical -> Limbic System).

Serves a major role in homeostasis (e.g., regulating temp., hunger, thirst, sex, circadian clock, etc.)

Question 10

Hippocampus

Answer 10

(Subcortical -> Limbic System).

Memory consolidation; stores new info and events of lasting memories

Question 11

Amygdala

Answer 11

(Subcortical -> Limbic System).

Attaches emotional significance to sensory input (e.g., fear response, aggression, emotional memory)

Question 12

Septum

Answer 12

(Subcortical -> Limbic System).

Moderates or decreases aggression. Damage can result in septal rage syndrome.

Question 13

Basal Ganglia

Answer 13

(Subcortical).
Regulation and coordination of movement and with establishing posture.
An inhibitory function (putting on the brakes on movement)
Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease implicated

Question 14

Pons and Medulla

Answer 14

(Brain stem)

Involved in sleep (REM), respiration, movement, and cardiovascular activity

Question 15

Reticular Formation

Answer 15

(Brain stem)

Important for awareness, attention, and sleep

Question 16

3 Main parts of a Neuron

Answer 16

Dendrites = receive information at receptor sites 
Cell Body (soma) = integrates information 
Axon = transmits information via axon terminals

Question 17

Action Potential

Answer 17

An electrical impulse that creates cell to cell communication.
At rest, outside cell has excess of sodium (Na+), and inside has excess of potassium (K+)
When a stimulus of sufficient charge reaches neuron, sodium (Na+) rushes into cell and creates an electrical impulse. Potassium (K+) moves outside the cell

Question 18

All or Nothing Principle

Answer 18

Concept that cell, once sufficiently stimulated, will fire to its fullest extent.

Question 19

Neurotransmitters

Answer 19

Two types: agonist (enhances effect of NT) and antagonist (inhibits NT effect)

Two classifications: Exitatory (likely to increase likelihood of action potential) and inhibitory (likely to decrease action potential)

Question 20

Acetlycholine (Ach)

Answer 20

Involved in voluntary motor movement (e.g., black widow spider poison effects this NT) and memory/cognition (e.g., AD is thought to effect this NT)

Question 21

Dopamine (DA)

Answer 21

(one of two Catecholamine)
Involved in thought, movement, and emotion; linked to reward system

excess of this NT (schizophrenia) and decrease of this NT (e.g., Parkinson’s disease)

Question 22

Norepinephrine (NE)

Answer 22

(one of two Catecholamine) or noradrenalin
Involved in mood

Decrease of this NT (depression)

Question 23

Serotonin (5-HT)

Answer 23

Involved in mood, sleep, appetite, aggression, sexual activity, and pain perception. Produced by dietary modification of tryptophan.

Decrease of this NT (mood disorders)

Question 24

GABA and Glycine

Answer 24

(An amino acid)
Inhibitory NT in the CNS. Have a calming effect

Decrease of this NT (anxiety, epilepsy)

Question 25

Glutamate

Answer 25

(An amino acid) Involved in mediation of fast excitatory synaptic transmission; Most common NT Abnormal levels may result in schizophrenia, OCD, autism, and depression

Question 26

Delerium

Answer 26

Rapid onset Fluctuating course Impairment in attention and awareness Usually reversible

Question 27

Alzheimer's disease

Answer 27

``` Most common major NCD (80% of all cases) 5.2 to 5.4 million in US have it Prevalence increases with age Women > men progressive course Hallmark feature: memory impairment Drug treatment: Aricept and Cognex ```

Question 28

Major Vascular NCD

Answer 28

Second most common NCD (10-15% of all cases) Ratio 2:1 (Males:Females) Onset is typically abrupt, course stepwise Age of onset typically younger than AD

Question 29

Major NCD with Lewy Bodies

Answer 29

Similar to AD but include visual hallucinations, sleep disturbance, and muscle rigidity or other PD features Abnormal aggregations of protein alpha-synuclein (found in PD)

Question 30

Parkinson's disease

Answer 30

Movement disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and shuffling gait Neurocog Sx present as disease progresses Major NCD due to this is considered subcortical, affecting speed and ExFn

Question 31

Huntington's disease

Answer 31

Sx present around 30 to 50 years of age Early Sx include changes in personality and mood Progressively deteriorating disease to major NCD Choreiform movements (frequent, discrete, brisk jerking movements) 50% chance of passing it along to children

Question 32

Major Frontotemporal NCD

Answer 32

Umbrella NCD term of disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes Sx include: personality, disinhibition, behavioral changes, language deficits

Question 33

Major NCD due to HIV infection

Answer 33

Secondary to specific viral infection | Sx include cognitive (memory, Att/Conc, and language), motor, and Bx/mood changes

Question 34

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Answer 34

Rare, degenerative, fatal brain disorder Average time from onset to death is 4-6 months Results from an infectious misfold of protein (prion) that triggers other proteins throughout the brain to misfold

Question 35

Hydrocephalus

Answer 35

Results from pathological accumulation of CSF Wet, Wobbly, Wild or Urinary incontinence, unsteady gait, and confusion

Question 36

NCD due to TBI

Answer 36

Secondary to head injury insult | may have PTA, LOC, structural changes

Question 37

Substance/Medication induced Major NCD

Answer 37

NCD secondary to a substance | e.g., Korsakoff's syndrome (thiamine deficiency)

Question 38

Pseudodementia

Answer 38

NCD that results from depression Typically in older adults This disorder typically retains insight into Cog Sx while other NCD lose insight

Question 39

Gate Control Theory of pain

Answer 39

Melzak and Wall Refers to theory that sensations of pain are not directly related to activation of pain receptors, but rather they are mediated by neural gates in the spinal cord that allow these signals to the pain. Pressure (like rubbing area) can close the gate

Question 40

Centralization of Pain Theory

Answer 40

Sensitization to pain occurs when the brain is exposed to repeated pain signals or nerve stimulation

Question 41

Two main types of sleep

Answer 41

Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM)

Question 42

Two types of waves when awake

Answer 42

Beta waves = characterize alertness and attention | Alpha waves = relaxation

Question 43

Sleep cycle stages

Answer 43

Stage 1: light sleep (theta waves) Stage 2: Body temp decreases, heart rate slows, sleep spindle activity Stage 3: Transition between light and deep sleep (delta waves) Stage 4: Deep sleep (delta waves) Stage 5/REM: increased respiration rate and brain activity; muscles most relaxed; dreaming occurs

Question 44

Effects of sleep deprivation

Answer 44

impairs memory, concentration, and decision-making disrupts metabolism increases stress hormones

Question 45

Two seizure types

Answer 45

Generalized and partial

Question 46

Generalized seizures

Answer 46

Affect the entire brain and involve LOC | Two types: tonic clonic and absence

Question 47

Tonic Clonic seizures

Answer 47

(Generalized) Also called grand mal LOC and tonic activity (stiffening) followed by clonic (jerking)

Question 48

Absence

Answer 48

(Generalized) Also called petit mal Lasts 1 to 30 seconds and begin with brief LOC followed by blinking, roling of the eyes, blank stare, and slight mouth movements; posture retained

Question 49

Partial seizures

Answer 49

Affects a specific area of one hemisphere | Two types: simple and complex

Question 50

Simple partial seizures

Answer 50

(Partial) | No LOC; retained awareness

Question 51

Complex partial seizures

Answer 51

(Partial) LOC; commonly has automatism Frequently preceded by an aura; commonly resulting from temporal lobe epilepsy

Question 52

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Answer 52

Treatment that involves electric currents passing through areas of the brain to treat mental illness. Used to treat severe depression and treatment-resistant bipolar, acute psychosis, or catatonia May have some amnesia afterwards and possibly permanent

Question 53

General Adaption Syndrome

Answer 53

Hans Selye's model of response to long-term stress Alarm = fight/flight response Resistance = alarm resolves as body adapts Exhaustion = Body becomes exhausted; significant decline in health

Question 54

Health Belief Model

Answer 54

Rosenstock's model posits that in addition to psychosocial factors, there are six constructs that predict health behavior; helps to design interventions for habitual unhealthy behaviors