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Uni year 1 > Brain and Behaviour Part 1 > Flashcards

Brain and Behaviour Part 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

How do simple organisms behave?

A

They generate a response to a stimulus

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2
Q

How do complex organisms behave?

A

They have a variety of appropriate responses to depending on the wide variety of stimuli

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3
Q

What is the purpose of the nervous system in humans?

A

To allow us to interact flexibly with the environment and to select appropriate responses to stimuli

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4
Q

What is the nervous system?

A

A network of electro chemically active cells or neurons which are specialised to communicate with each other

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5
Q

What are the simplest and most complex forms of NS?

A

Uncentralised is the simplest, where there is no nerve centre

Centralised is the most complex form, where neurons are clustered near the head (brain like structure) and the scattered neurons around the body are connected to the ‘brain’

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6
Q

what are the subdivisions of the PNS?

A

Somatic - interprets input of sensory organs
Autonomic - no external input and operates internal organs
Sympathetic - fight or flight response
Parasympathetic - rest and digest/maintenance

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7
Q

What is grey matter?

A

Highly condensed cell bodies which appear grey under a microscope

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8
Q

What happens in the NS?

A

sensory signals are detected

signal is interpreted (without the brain)

motor signals are sent

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9
Q

What is the monosynaptic reflex arc?

A

A one direct connection network between sensory and motor neurons e.g. knee jerk reactions

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10
Q

Describe the process of the monosynaptic reflex:

A

Remember
Reflexes Are Accurate Signals Allowing Contraction
1) There are receptors inside each muscle fibre
2) These activate sensory neurons
3) Axons enter the spinal cord which connect to a motor neuron
4) Axons split via the ventral root
5) This activates the muscle from which the signal originated
6) Finally causes the muscle to contract

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11
Q

What type of reflex do monosynaptic reflexes produce?

A

They produce smooth stable movements rather than quick stretching of skeletal muscles

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12
Q

What is the difference with the polysynaptic reflex arc?

A

It is more complex as interneurons are involved

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13
Q

What is the process of a polysynaptic reflex?

A

1) Sensory and motor neurons are connected via interneuron(s)
2) Neurons have multiple synapses between them but they contribute to the same signal and function as one big synapse
3) Receptor and effector are in different locations e.g. step on something sharp and lift up the leg

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14
Q

What is the function of the Medulla and pons?

A

The hindbrain where the spinal cord becomes the brain

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15
Q

What is the function of the midbrain?

A

Associated with combining information from different senses and directs our attention

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16
Q

What is the function of the forebrain?

A

Responsible for higher level functions

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17
Q

What is the function of the Thalamus (diencephalon)?

A

The large structure on top of the midbrain which is the ‘relay station’ for incoming sensory signals

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18
Q

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

A

A small structure in front of and below the thalamus. It connects directly to the pituitary gland (the master gland of the endocrine system). Known as the hypothalamic-pituitary connection

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19
Q

What is the function of the cerebrum (telencephalon)?

A

Receives incoming signals from the thalamus

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20
Q

What is the function of the cerebral cortex?

A

Layers of neurons which cover the whole of both hemispheres, with cell bodies which send axons to the contralateral hemisphere. Contains clusters of sub cortical nuclei

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21
Q

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

A

A bundle of nerve fibres which connect the 2 hemispheres, allowing them to communicate

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22
Q

What is the basal ganglia?

A

A group of nuclei surrounding the thalamus. Closely connected to the amygdala, and associated with motor control

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23
Q

What is the role of the limbic system?

A

It is crucial in memory and emotion. Includes the amygdala, hippocampus, and fornix. Connects to the hypothalamus and olfactory system

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24
Q

Describe contralateralisation of the hemispheres:

A

The right side of the body is processed in the left hemisphere and vice versa. The right half of each eye sends signals to the left hemisphere and vice versa.

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25
What is the role of the endocrine system?
Controls the slow and overall coordination of cell activities and secretes hormones into the bloodstream
26
What signal transmission takes place in the nervous system?
Cells generate electrical impulses which are transmitted with high speed and precision. communication is rapid and constant, which controls/adjusts cell activity
27
Give some properties of the neuron:
Generate and transmit electricity which travels at high speeds over distances to reach target cells. They need constant oxygen and glucose supply and without they stop working and die in minutes. Neurogenesis completes within 5 months of conception and most neurons cannot be replaced after this.
28
What is the function of the neuron?
To provide a structured communication network for the nervous system
29
What are glia cells?
They provide a protected environment for neurons to survive. They develop like neurons from neural stem cells, and there are as many glia as there are neurons in the brain.
30
What are astrocytes?
They are star shaped cells which provide physical and nutritional support for neurons, such as transporting nutrients from blood vessels to neurons and taking away waste products and holding neurons in place
31
What are microglia?
Small and mobile glial cells which are constantly moving to defend and aid repair of damaged neurons. They also digest dead neurons
32
What are oligodendroglia?
Provide myelin (fatty insulation) for axons
33
What is the role of dendrites?
The input area of the neuron
34
What is the role of the axon hillock?
The start of the axon
35
What is the role of the axon terminals?
The end of the axon
36
What is the role of calcium ion channels?
Located on the presynaptic neuron and open in response to an action potential
37
Excitatory synapse
More positive ions enter the synapse causing depolarisation (neuron becomes more positive). This increases the likelihood that an action potential being triggered at the axon hillock and the signal being passed on.
38
Inhibitory synapse
More negative ions enter the synapse causing hyperpolarisation (neuron becomes more negative). This decreases the likelihood of an action potential being triggered at the axon hillock and the signal being passed on.
39
Action potential
A sudden change in membrane voltage of the neuron. An AP is triggered when the neuron depolarises beyond - 50 mV. Occurs during the rising phase.
40
Membrane potential
The difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of the neuron.
41
What does a neuron at rest look like?
Sodium and chloride ions are more prevalent outside of the cell, and potassium ions are more prevalent inside of the cell. At rest the inside is more negatively charged than the outside.
42
What is the sodium potassium pump?
A transport protein which is always pumping 3 potassium ions out of the cell and 2 sodium ions into the cell. This keeps the membrane potential negative as there are more positive ions being pumped out than in.
43
Threshold membrane potential
When the threshold is reached, around - 55 mV, lots of sodium ion channels open allowing positively charged sodium ions into the cell. Membrane potential reaches 0 and then becomes positive causing massive depolarisation (neuron becomes more positive) known as the rising phase
44
Peak depolarisiaion
Depolarisation reaches the limit causing sodium channels to close and potassium channels to open, allowing repolarisation (the falling phase)
45
Return to resting membrane potential
After repolarisation where more potassium ions are entering the cell, the neuron returns to resting potential but actually overshoots causing hyperpolarisation (becomes more negative). It is difficult for the neuron to fire when this is happening so the cell returns to resting potential, so potassium channels close and the neuron is ready to be fired again.
46
Summation
Changes in the post synaptic neuron caused by one action potential isn't enough for it to fire, so the total input of hundreds of post synaptic neurons must be combined. **Temporal summation** = post synaptic potentials received in quick succession **Spatial summation** = post synaptic potentials are combined from different synapses in different locations
47
How are neurotransmitters removed?
Degradation = inactive neurotransmitters change their shape, and are broken down by enzymes in the synaptic cleft in order to be partially recycled into new NTs Reuptake = moleclues at the pre synaptic axon terminal take neurotransmitters and return them to the pre synaptic neuron
48
How were antipsychotics discovered as a treatment for schizophrenia?
When parkinsons patients were given medication which increased dopamine activity (L-dopa), they developed symptoms similar to that of schizophrenia.
49
Name 3 types of neurotransmitters.
Amines (amino group) = e.g. dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, acetylcholine Amino acids (amino and carboxylic group) = e.g. GABA, glutamate Peptides (chain of amino acids) = e.g. nitric oxide, carbon monoxide
50
What is the role of neuromodulators?
They modulate ongoing neuro transmissions as they are slow to be removed. Include dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, and acetylcholine.
51
What is neurotransmitter synthesis?
As neurotransmitters cannot be stored in large quantities, they need to be constantly be synthesised by neurons. Neurons produce neurotransmitters to facilitate coomunication across synapses.
52
What effect to psychoactive drugs have on the body?
They affect the CNS and alertness, congitions and perceptions by interfering with the brain's neurotransmitter systems.
53
What is the process of neurotransmitter synthesis?
1) Produce tyrosine in the liver 2) Transport tyrosine into the bloodstream and then to the brain 3) Convert tyrosine into L-dopa 4) Convert L-dopa into dopamine 5) Store dopmaine in vesicles or convert it into noradenaline 6) Store noreadrenaline in vesicles
54
Name the 4 types of psychoactive drugs
stimulants - Increase neural activity Depressants - decrease neural activity Analgesics - relieve pain Hallucinogens - induce hallucinations
55
How do drugs interfere with the brain's reward system?
If somethings positively effects the brain, it will try to get more of that effect. Drugs mess up the process and mimic a good effect.
56
Describe the process of Producing neurons
1) Neural plate folds in on itself into a groove which becomes the neural tube 2) Neural tube develops in the CNS 3) CNS divisions are clearly distinct in development 4) Procencephalon (forebrain), mesencephalon (midbrain, and rhombencephalon (hindbrain) 5) Form ventricles and brain areas
57
What is meant by cell proliferation?
The process whereby cells grow and divide
58
What is Rostral?
Towards the head
59
What is Caudal?
Tail end
60
What is Dorsal?
Towards the back
61
What is Ventral?
Towards the belly
62
What happens in a vertical cell split?
* Undifferentiated stem cells grow an extension to the surface * Cell nucleus duplicates its DNA * Nucleus moves down * Cell retracts the extension and divides into 2 **Both daughter cells complete this process**
63
What happens in a horizontal cell split?
* Undifferentiated stem cells grow an extension to the surface * Cell nucleus duplicates its DNA * Nucleus moves down * Cell retracts the extension and divides into 2 **One daughter cell completes this process whilst the other moves away and doesn't divide again**
64
What is cell migration?
Development and maintenece of cells
65

Uni year 1 (2 decks)

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