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Psychology 120 > Biological Basis of Psychology > Flashcards

Biological Basis of Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

central nervous system

A

brain and spinal cord

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2
Q

afferent

A

toward the CNS

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3
Q

efferent

A

away from the CNS

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4
Q

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

A

nerves that lie outside the central nervous system

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5
Q

somatic nervous system

A

voluntary muscles and sensory receptors

part of PNS

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6
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

controls automatic, involuntary functions

part of PNS

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7
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

go fight or flight

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8
Q

parasympathetic

A

stop, conserve resources!

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9
Q

HINDBRAIN

A
  • vital functions

medulla, pons, cerebellum

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10
Q

MIDBRAIN

A

sensory functions

dopaminergic projections

reticular activating system
-sleep, arousal, breathing, pain

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11
Q

FOREBRAIN

A

emotion, complex thought

thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, cerebrum, cerebral cortex

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12
Q

CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES

A

two specialized halves connected by the corpus callosum

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13
Q

left hemisphere of the cerebrum

A

verbal processing: language, speech, reading, writing

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14
Q

right hemisphere of the cerebrum

A

nonverbal processing: spatial, musical, visual recognition

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15
Q

FOUR LOBES OF THE CEREBRUM?

A

occipital — vision

parietal — somatosensory

temporal — auditory

frontal — movement, executive control systems

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16
Q

Homonculus

A

the primary motor cortex

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17
Q

broca’s area

A

speech production

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18
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

language comprehension

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19
Q

glia cells

A

structural support, insulation, and communication

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20
Q

neurons

A

communicaiton

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21
Q

soma

A

cell body

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22
Q

dendrites

A

receive chemical signal (impulses) and send these to cell body

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23
Q

axon

Study These Flashcards
A

transmit information away from cell to terminal buds

24
Q

axon hillock

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A

controls the firing of the neuron

25
myelin sheath
fatty covering over axon, insulation to help impulse travel faster
26
terminal button
end of axons secretes neurotransmitters
27
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers
28
synapse
point at which neurons interconnect
29
resting potential of neuron?
-70 millivolts
30
The Neural Impulse: The Action Potential
- stimulation causes cell membrane to open briefly - positively charged sodium ions flow in - shift in electrical charge travels along neuron
31
how NTs are transmitted
- when a neural impulse reaches the axon’s terminal buttons, it triggers the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters - the NT molecules diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron - a specific NT can bing only to receptor sites that its molecular structure will fit into - like a key and a lock!
32
positive voltage shift when a NT binds
excitatory Post-synaptic potential
33
negative voltage shift when a NT binds
inhibitory POst-synaptic potential
34
- “Hebbian learning rule”
- if cell A always activates Cell B, Cell B learns quickly what to do which increases the efficiency of Cell A
35
Synaptic Pruning
- early in life, there are quite a lot of new connections made in the brain as one learns to walk, talk, learn - as one gets older, these synapses are no longer required - they prune or sever the connection - research says that if you constantly learn how to do new things, that’s going to generate more synaptic connections!
36
agonist
mimics neurotransmitter action — like a mimic of the key!
37
antagonist
opposes the action of a neurotransmitter - close enough fit to bind to the receptor site, but not close enough to fool the site!
38
how many NTs known at present?
15-20
39
bad levels of dopamine cause?
DA-low levels cause Parkinson's schizophrenia is caused by too much DA
40
low levels of Norepinephrine cause?
depression
41
what does serotonin control?
sleep and aggression
42
bad levels of serotonin cause?
eating disorders and OCD (low levels)
43
Gamma-aminobutyric acid
produce inhibitory PSP’s
44
Glutamate
- excitatory | - involved in learning and memory
45
endorphins
mimics opiates and induce pleasure
46
acetylcholine (ACh)
activates motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory. some receptors are stimulated by nicotine
47
dopamine (DA)
contributes to the control of voluntary movement and pleasurable emotions. decreased levels associated with Parkinson's disease. overactivity at DA synapses is associated with schizophrenia. cocaine and amphetamines elevate activity at DA synapses
48
Norepinephrine (NE)
contributes to the modulation of mood and arousal. cocaine and amphetamines elevate activity at NE synapses
49
serotonin
involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, aggression. Abnormal levels may contribute to depression and OCD.
50
GABA
serves as a widely distributed inhibitory transmitter. Valium and similar antianxiety drugs work at GABA synapses
51
Endorphins
resemble opiate drugs in structure and effects. contribute to pain relief and perhaps to some pleasurable emotions
52
nodes of ranvier
regularly occuring gaps in myelin sheath
53
Action potential process
- stimulation causes cell membrane to open briefly - positively charged sodium ions flow in - shift in electrical charge travels along neuron
54
occipital lobe
vision O looks like an eye
55
parietal lobe
somatosensory (touch, temperature, body position, pain)
56
temporal lobe
auditory (think of tempo)
57
frontal lobe
movement, executive control systems

Psychology 120 (11 decks)

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