Chapter 2: The Biological Perspective

Question 1

Who is Phineas Gage?

Answer 1

His brain was severely damaged in a accident, he could still walk, talk, and have emotions.

Question 2

What is the soma of a neuron?

Answer 2

The cell body which contains the nucleus.

Question 3

What does the nucleus of the neuron control?

Answer 3

Metabolic function

Question 4

What do dendrites of the neuron do?

Answer 4

Receive information from other neurons

Question 5

What does the axon do?

Answer 5

Information travels down the axon from dendrites

Question 6

What is myelin and what does it do?

Answer 6

A fatty substance that protects/speeds up electrical impulses

Question 7

What are axon terminals?

Answer 7

Branches at the end of the axon

Question 8

What is the synaptic knob?

Answer 8

The rounded area on end of axon terminals

Question 9

What are synaptic vesicles?

Answer 9

Saclike structures that hold neurotransmitters in synaptic knobs.

Question 10

What is the synapse?

Answer 10

The space between the knob of one neuron and dendrites of another, neurotransmitters go across the synapse.

Question 11

What is action potential?

Answer 11

Electrical signal sent down axon, a neuron firing

Question 12

What is the threshold on excitation?

Answer 12

Degree of stimulation which must be reached for the neuron to fire

Question 13

What is the all or none principle?

Answer 13

Threshold is reached and neurons fire at full strength

Question 14

What is a neurotransmitter?

Answer 14

Chemical released from vesicles when action potential arrives, triggering affect of next neuron

Question 15

What do neurotransmitters travel across?

Answer 15

The synapse

Question 16

How do neurotransmitters work?

Answer 16

The molecules bind with receptors on dendrites and cause electrical change

Question 17

What is reuptake?

Answer 17

NT’s are absorbed back into vesicles

Question 18

What is an example of reuptake?

Answer 18

SSRI stops reuptake of serotonin so it cures depression and/or makes the person happy

Question 19

What is a sensory neuron?

Answer 19

Information from senses to spinal cords

Question 20

What is a interneuron?

Answer 20

Transmits info between neurons (middle man)

Question 21

What is a motor neuron?

Answer 21

Transmits info to muscles (motor, movement, big muscles!)

Question 22

What is the sympathetic system?

Answer 22

Activates body into fight or flight

Question 23

What is the parasympathetic system?

Answer 23

Calms body down by allowing it to eat, drink, and rest

Question 24

What is an MRI?

Answer 24

Magnetic field imaging, use of H+ atoms

Question 25

What is a PET scan?

Answer 25

Radioactive glucose (pets have glucose)

Question 26

Function of medulla

Answer 26

Involuntary functions like breathing

Question 27

Function of pons

Answer 27

Controls sleep

Question 28

Function of cerebellum

Answer 28

Balance (ballerina)

Question 29

Function of basal ganglia (bg)

Answer 29

Slow movements like walking (Baby Girl learns to walk)

Question 30

Function of thalamus

Answer 30

Relays sensory information to brain centers (touch, the HUB)

Question 31

Function of hypothalamus

Answer 31

Basic biological functions, being hungry, thirsty, full

Question 32

Function of amygdala

Answer 32

Emotions (Amy is emotional)

Question 33

What does the frontal lobe do?

Answer 33

Controls personality, problem solving

Question 34

What does the temporal lobe do?

Answer 34

Auditory, hearing (think temples by ears)

Question 35

What does the parietal lobe do?

Answer 35

Somatosensory (pain, cold/warm)

Question 36

What does the occipital lobe do?

Answer 36

Visual, the ability to see

Question 37

What is the left hemisphere in control of?

Answer 37

Language

Question 38

What is Broca's area?

Answer 38

Severe impairment to speech

Question 39

What is Wernicke's area?

Answer 39

Inability to produce speech (Getting milk out of fridge)

Question 40

What is the right hemisphere in control of?

Answer 40

Spatial patterns, relationships, seeing faces

Question 41

How would we describe something as a split brain patient?

Answer 41

We describe right side figure always

Question 42

Function of pituitary gland

Answer 42

The master gland, growth hormones

Question 43

Function of pineal gland

Answer 43

Sleep, melatonin

Question 44

Function of thyroid gland

Answer 44

Regulates metabolism and growth (dad's surgery)

Question 45

Function of adrenal gland

Answer 45

Regulates fight or flight/sympathetic system (adrenaline rush)