Chapter 2-1 Textbook Flashcards
What is Agenesis?
The failure of brain regions to develop
Why is Agenesis helpful to scientists?
The failure of brain regions to develop offers a unique window on the brains organization and function because a complete structure is absent
What is Ataxia?
The failure of muscular coordination and balance
Which region of the brain contains the most neurons?
The cerebellum, accounting for about 80% of the neurons in humans
What is the brain’s primary function?
To produce movement, this is collectively termed behavior
What do we take in to produce effective behavior?
Sensory information such as vision, audition, olfaction, gestation, and somatosensatiom
What would happen if the brain did take in stimuli?
The brain won’t be able to properly orient the body and direct it to produce appropriate behaviors
What do the nervous systems sensory organs do?
Gather information about the world and convert this information into biological activity that constructs perceptions
What is the reason for subjective differences in brains?
Subjective differences allow different animals to exploit different features of their environments
What is the meaning of ‘the brain is plastic’?
Neural tissue has the capacity to change in response to the world by changing how it is organized
What must happen in the brain for us to learn anything new?
Neural circuits must change to represent and store the knowledge
What is the basis for change in the nervous system?
Neuroplasticity
What is Neuroplasticity?
The nervous systems fundamental potential to physically or chemically modify itself in response to a changing environment and to compensate for age related changes and injury
What is the hallmark of nervous system functioning?
Neuroplasticity
What is Phenotypic Plasticity?
An individuals capacity to develop a range of phenotypes - the characteristics we can see or measure
What does the Enteric nervous system control?
The gut
Which part of the nervous system are the Cranial and Spinal nerves a part of?
The somatic nervous system
What does the Somatic nervous system do?
Transmits sensation and produces movement
What are the 4 parts of the Nervous system?
The Central nervous system
The Somatic nervous system
The Autonomic nervous system
The Enteric nervous system
What does the Central nervous system include and what does it do?
The brain and spinal chord
Mediates behavior
What does the Somatic nervous system include and what does it do?
Includes all the spinal and cranial nerves carrying sensory info to the CNS from the muscle, joints and skin. It also transmits outgoing motor instruction to produce movement
What does the Autonomic nervous system do and how?
Produces the rest and digest response through the parasympathetic (calming) nerves and its opposite, the fight or flight response, or vigorous activity through the sympathetic (arousing) nerves
What does the Enteric nervous system do and how?
It is formed by a mesh of neurons embedded in the lining of the gut, controls the gut
What is Afferent information?
Incoming sensory information going into the CNS
