Biological Psychology Flashcards
(98 cards)
1
Q
Neurons
A
Cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform information-processing tasks
2
Q
Parts of a neuron
A
- cell body
- dendrite
- axon
- myelin sheath
- glial cells
3
Q
Cell body
A
Coordinates info-processing tasks and keeps cell alive (aka soma)
4
Q
Dendrite
A
Receives info from other neurons as relays it to the cell body
5
Q
Axon
A
Transmits info to other neurons, muscles or glands
6
Q
Myelin sheath
A
- facilitates transmission of electrical impulses down axon; more efficient
- insulating and protecting
7
Q
Glial cells
A
- some Make up myelin sheath
- support cells
- digest parts of dead neurons, provide physical and nutritional support, form myelin
8
Q
Demyelinating diseases
A
- ie MS
- myelin sheath deteriorates
- slows transmission of signal
- leads to loss of feeling in limbs, partial blindness, difficulties in coordinated mvt and cognition
9
Q
Synapse
A
Junction or region between axon of one neuron and dendrite or cell body of another one
10
Q
Types of neurons
A
1) sensory neurons
2) motor neurons
3) interneurons
11
Q
Sensory neurons
A
Receive information from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal chord
12
Q
Motor neurons
A
- Carry signals from spinal chord to produce movement
- long axons
13
Q
Interneurons
A
Connect sensory neurons, motor neurons or other interneurons
14
Q
Mirror neurons
A
- found in frontal lobe and parietal lobe
- active when an animal reaches for or manipulates an object OR when an animal observes another animal doing something; active in both
- suggest a possible inborn neural basis for empathy
15
Q
Saltatory conduction
A
Action potential jumping across nodes of ranvier
16
Q
Nodes of ranvier
A
Space between 2 myelin sheaths where depolarization occurs (action potential)
17
Q
Neurons are specialized by location
A
Purkinje cells-interneuron that carries info from cerebellum to brain and spinal chord; bush-like dendrites
Pyramidal cells-cerebral cortex cells;triangular cell body
Bipolar cells-type of sensory neuron found in eye retinas; one axon, one dendrite
18
Q
Communication between and within neurons-2 stages; what is this called?
A
- Conduction-electrical signal within neurons
- Transmission-over synapse
Called ELECTROCHEMICAL ACTION
19
Q
Resting potential
A
Difference in electric charge between inside and outside of neurons cell membrane; arises from diff concentrations of ions inside and outside
20
Q
Resting State inside the cell
A
- high potassium and anions
- potassium can move in and out during resting state
- resting potential is -70 mV
21
Q
Resting state outside cell
A
- sodium ions and chlorine ions
- sodium can’t move freely out of cell
22
Q
Action potential
A
- Electric signal that is conducted along a neurons axon to a synapse
- signals sodium channels to open and na rush occurs, increasing positive charge within the cell
23
Q
Why is action potential all or nothing?
A
- electric stimulation must occur at or above the threshold
- max potential is +40 mV
24
Q
Refractory period
A
- time during an action potential when a new action potential can’t be initiated
- during ion imbalance; k passively flows out to return to resting potential
- activates chemical pump to pump k in and na out to restore
25
Hyperpolarization
Call to inaction; neuron less likely to fire; channels less likely to let sodium in
26
Chemical signaling-synapse transmission
1) action potential reaches terminal button
2) neurotransmitter release stimulated from vesicles
3) neurotransmitters released into synapse
4) bind to receptor sites on dendrite of post synaptic neuron
5) initiate a new action potential
6) neurotransmitters reuptake into terminal button, get broken down by enzymes (enZyme deactivation) or bind to auto receptors on sending neuron
27
Auto receptors
On presynaptic neuron
Detect how much of neurotransmitter has been released into synapse an signal neuron to stop releasing neurotransmitter if in excess
28
Acetylcholine (ach)
- voluntary motor control; learning; memory
- brain, heart, muscles, organs
- shortage: alzheimers
- excess: spasms
- agonist: scopolamine
- antagonist: physostigmine
29
Dopamine (monoamine)
- regulates motor behavior, motivations, emotional arousal
- shortage: Parkinson's
- excess: schizophrenia
30
Glutamate
- excites
- helps with learning/memory
- makes synaptic connections faster
- excess: seizures
31
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
- inhibits; regulates excitement
- shortage: anxiety, epilepsy, huntington's disease
- excess: lack of motivation
- sedatives, alcohol, Valium: mimic effects of GABA
32
Norepinephrine
- mood and arousal; mania
- shortage: depression
- tricyclic antidepressants are NE antagonists; inhibit reuptake
33
Endorphins
- natural pain relievers
- bind to same sites as heroine ad morphine
- help us keep moving when we feel pain
- placebo effect-endorphins released
- runners high
- shortage: chronic pain, difficulty with self soothing
34
Substance P
- ie. Bengay or tiger balm
| - depletes neurotransmitters and allows muscles to relax an stops pain signal
35
Parkinson's disease
- tracts of Dopamine degenerate in basal ganglia
- can temp fix with L dopa but brain cells can't take it after a certain point
- electrode brain method can help win muscle function
36
Serotonin (monoamine)
- regulates sleep, wakefulness eating and aggressive behavior
- shortage: depression
- SSRIs: inhibit reuptake (ie Prozac) - 5 HT antagonist
- also mono amine oxidase but use diff mech
37
Amphetamines/cocaine
- increase NE and dopamine
- block reuptake and increase release
- activate sympathetic nervous system
38
Nicotine
- acts at same sites as Ach (learning and memory)
| - bind to post synaptic receptors and activate them
39
Bezodiazepines (Valium)
Increase GABA (relaxes)
40
Opiates (morphine, heroine, codeine)
Activates receptors that usually respond to endorphins
- inc dopamine by binding to opiate receptors
- highly addictive
41
Hallucinogenics (LSD)
Activate serotonin receptors
42
Marijuana
- THC produces relaxed mental state, uplifted mood and perceptual distortions
- concentration of cannabinoid receptors in hippocampus (memory impairment)
43
Nervous system
- NS-->peripheral and central
- Peripheral--> autonomic and somatic
- Autonomic-->afferent and efferent
- Efferent-->parasympathetic and sympathetic
44
Sympathetic
- fight or flight
| - pupils dilate, lungs relax, inc heart beat, inc BP, stop stomach, contract vessels
45
Parasympathetic
-rest and digest
-pupils contract, lungs contract,
Dec heart beat, blood and stomach work, relax vessels
46
Agonists
Increase action of neurotransmitter
47
Antagonist
Block function of neurotransmitter
48
Propanalol
- beta blocker
- obstruct receptor site for NE in heart
- reduce agitation and fast heart beat
49
CNS
-brain and spinal chord
50
PNS (peripheral nervous system)
-connects CNS to organs and muscles
51
Somatic nervous system
- convey info in and out of CNS
| - controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles
52
Autonomic nervous system
- carries involuntary commands
| - controls self-regulated action of internal organs
53
Spinal relflexes
Pathways that generate muscle contractions
-ie. sensory neuron sends message to spinal chord interneuron that something is hot, signal from spinal chord goes to motor neurons in hand to signal removal from heat
54
Hindbrain
- medulla, reticular formation, cerebellum, pons
- coordinates info coming in and out of spinal chord
- controls basic functions
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Medulla
- extension of spinal chord
| - coordinates heart rate, circulation and respiration
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Reticular formation
- inside medulla
- regulates sleep, wakefulness and levels of arousal
- balances awakefullness and unconsciousness
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Cerebellum
- behind medulla
- controls fine motor skills
- empathy
- some fine motor skills can be forgotten if there is damage
58
Pons
-relays info from cerebellum to rest of brain
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Midbrain
- tectum
| - tegmentum
60
Tectum
- orients organism in the environment
| - senses stimuli and orients an organism in that direction
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Tegmentum
- movement and arousal
| - also orients organism
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Forebrain
- highest level of brain
- critical for cognitive, sensory, motor function
- cortex, subcortical structures
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Cerebral cortex
- outermost layer of brain
| - divided into 2 hemispheres with different lobes
64
Subcortical structures
- areas housed under cortex
| - thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, amygdala and hippocampus
65
Thalamus
- located in center of brain
- filers info from senses and transmits info to cerebral cortex
- kind of like a xomputer
66
Hypothalamus
-regulated body temp, hunger, thirst, sexual behavior,metabolism
-
67
Pituitary gland
- master gland of hormone production
- releases hormones to other glands of body
- gets signals from hypothalamus
- regulates stress, digestive activities and reproductive processes
68
Limbic system
- involved in motivation, emotion, hungers earning, memory
- hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus
- part of the forebrain structure
69
Hippocampus
-creating new memories and integrating them into knowledge to be stored indefinitely in cerebral cortex
70
Amygdala
- forming emotional memories
| - attaches significance to events associated with fear, punishment or reward
71
Basal ganglia
- set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements
- Inputs from cortex and outputs to motor sensors
72
Gyri
-smooth raised surfaces on cerebral cortex
73
Sulci
-indents/fissures in brain
74
Contralateral control
-each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body
75
Corpus callosum
-largest commissure in the brain, connects the 2 hemispheres to allow communication
76
Lobes
- what each hemisphere is divided into
| - occipital, parietal, temporal, frontal (back t front)
77
Occipital lobe
Process visual information; back of cerebral cortex
| -see-->thalamus-->occipital lobe
78
Parietal lobe
Processes info about touch
| -somatosensory cortex and motor cortex
79
Somatosensory Cortex
- runs on top of brain
| - more sensitive body part, larger part of somatosensory cortex devoted to it
80
Motor cortex
- In front of somatosensory cortex
- voluntary mvts
- sends messages to basal ganglia, cerebellum and spinal chord
81
Temporal lobe
- hearing and language
- primary auditory cortex
- other areas process speech and words
82
Primary auditory cortex
-receives sensory info from the ears based on frequencies and sounds
83
Frontal lobe
-specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, judgement
84
Association areas
Composed of neurons that help provide sense and meaning to information registered in the cortex
85
Brain plasticity
The idea that sensory corticals are not fixed and are ever changing
86
Phantom limb syndrome
After amputation, ppl feel sensations where missing limb would be
-stimulating certain areas can activate sensations insisting limb due to compensation of cortical area in somatosensory cortex
87
Mirror box
Used to teach amputees voluntary control of phantom limbs
88
Neural tube
- tail end develops into the spinal chord
| - composed of fused ridges from spherical embryo
89
Ontogeny
How brain develops in an individual (quick)
90
Phylogeny
How brain developed in a particular species (slow)
91
Flatworms
- first nervous system
| - has collection of neurons in head connected by commissures
92
Hemineglect
Damage to right parietal cortex
93
Split brain research
Split corpus callosum and see what happens
- right hemisphere-Facial recognition, spacial
- left hemisphere-language recognition, talking
94
Split brain test
- flash picture
- right side can recognize it and draw it (see with left eye)
- left side can say what it is (see with right eye)
95
How does brain change?
- interplay of genes and environment
- brain rewires itself throughout life
- brain can recover from injury
96
Interplay of genes and environment
- chemical signals-guide growing connections; environment fine tunes these connections
- ie. rat study in complex and simple environments (complex-more dendrites and capillaries; simple- less dendrites an capillaries)
97
Brain can rewire
- change in strength of connections underlies learning
| - changes in use distort cortical maps
98
Recover from injury
- remapping after injury
| - promise of transplanting stem cells
