Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Introduction to Psychology > Chapter 3: Biology and Behaviour > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Biology and Behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

What does the nervous system consist of?

A

Central nervous system (CNS)

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the CNS consist of?

A

The spinal cord and the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the PNS consist of?

A

All the other nerve cells in the rest of the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the 2 nervous systems that the PNS has?

A

Somatic nervous systems

Autonomic nervous systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the responsibility of the somatic nervous system?

A

Responsible for voluntary behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the responsibility of the autonomic nervous system

A

Responsible for involuntary behaviour (eg: controlling the heartbeat)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What do neurons do?

A

Receive, integrate and transport information in the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a neural network?

A

Neurons communicate selectively with other neurons

This forms a circuit, which is also called a neural network

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What happens in the receiving phase?

A

Neurons receive and absorb chemical signals from other neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What happens in the integration phase?

A

These signals are evaluated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What happens in the transmission phase?

A

The neurons send out their own chemical signals to there neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What do sensory neurons do?

A

Receive information from the physical world and transit this information to the brain via the spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an example of a sensory neuron?

A

Somatosensory nerves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What do somatosensory nerves do?

A

Receive information from the skin and muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What do motor neurons do?

A

Send signals from the brain to the muscles to contract or relax

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are reflexes

A

Automatic motor responses that occur without thinking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 4 parts of a neuron?

A

Dendrites

Cell body

Axon

Terminal buds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the basic unit of the nervous system?

A

A neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Dendrites

A

Detect chemical signals form surrounding neurons

They are short and branched

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Cell body (soma)

A

The information form the dendrites is collected and integrated here

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Axon

A

After incoming information is processed, electrical impulses are sent from the cell body to the terminal buds via the axon

Axons are long and thin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Terminal buds

A

These are branches at the end of the axon

They send chemical signals to the next neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the synapse?

A

Where chemical communication between neurons takes place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

With what is a neuron covered?

A

A membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is a membrane?

A

A fatty protective layer that is insoluble in water

It is also semi permeable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is an action potential?

A

The electrical signal that passes along the axon

This causes the terminal buds to release chemicals that transmit signals to other neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is the resting potential?

A

When the membrane of the neuron is stable, there are more negatively charged ions on the inside of the cell than on the outside

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What is the charge at the resting potential?

A

-70 millivolts (mV)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Inhibitory signals

A

Hyperpolarise the cell membrane by increasing the negative charge int he cell

This makes it less likely that a neuron will fire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Excitatory signals

A

Depolarise the cell membrane by reducing the negative charge in the cell

Meks it more likely that a neuron will fire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What happens when the toal input of the neuron exceeds the threshold value (-55 mV)?

A

An action potential is generated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What are the first 3 steps when a neuron fires?

A

Sodium channels in the cell membrane open and sodium ions flow into the neuron

Potassium channels in the cell membrane open and potassium ions flow out of the neuron

The neuron is now more positively charged inside than outside

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What are the first 3 steps when a neuron fires?

A
  1. Sodium channels in the cell membrane open and sodium ions flow into the neuron
  2. Potassium channels in the cell membrane open and potassium ions flow out of the neuron
  3. The neuron is now more positively charged inside than outside
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the 4, 5, 6, 7 steps when a neuron fires?

A
  1. The sodium channels close again
  2. The neuron begins to repolarise
  3. Potassium channels close
  4. The neuron eventually regains its original negative resign potential
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is the myelin sheath made of?

A

Glial cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

Accelerates the transmission of electrical signals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Where are Ranvier’s nodes?

A

The myelin sheath is made up of segments and between these are Ranvier’s nodes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is the function of Ranvier’s nodes?

A

It is where the action potential can take place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is the presynaptic neuron?

A

The neuron that sends the signal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is the postsynaptic neuron?

A

The neuron that receives the signal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What does the terminal button contain?

A

Neurotransmitters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What doe neurotransmitters do?

A

Chemicals made in the axon and stored in vesicles

When the action potential has reached the terminal button, the vesicle attaches to the presynaptic membrane and releases neurotransmitters into the synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Autoreceptors

A

Autoreceptors on the presynaptic neuron control the amount of neurotransmitter in the synapse

When there is enough neurotransmitter in the synapse, autoreceptors signal the presynaptic neuron to stop releasing the neurotransmitter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What are agonists?

A

Substances that enhance the action of the neurotransmitter by, for example, mimicking the neurotransmitters and binding to receptors as if they were the real thing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What are 7 important neurotransmitters for thinking, feeling and behaviour?

A

Acetylecholine (ACh)

Noradrenaline

Serotonin

Dopamine

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Glutamate

Endorphins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

Responsible for motor control between nerves and muscles

Botox suppresses ACh release, paralysing the muscles and reducing wrinkles

ACh antagonists cause temporary memory loss

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Noradrenaline

A

Involved in excitement, attention and alertness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Serotonin

A

Involved in various psychological activities, mainly in emotional states, impulse control and dreams

Low levels of serotonin cause sad and anxious moods, hunger and aggressive behaviour

Drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin cause more serotonin to remain in the synapses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Dopamine

A

Helps direct behaviour towards rewards

Low levels of dopamine cause problems with movement (eg: Parkinson’s disease)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)

A

The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter

Low levels of GABA can cause synaptic excitation to go out of control and lead to epileptic seizures

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Glutamate

A

The primary excitatory neurotransmitter

Glutamate is important for learning and memory by strengthening synaptic connections

High levels of glutamate can lead to overmstiumuation of the brain resulting in epileptic seizures an brain damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What is the phrenological system?

A

The function that is most often used would result in an enlarged brain in a certain location related to that functions

It is therefore possible to feel from the outside what kind of personality someone had

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What is psychophysiological assessment?

A

The study of bodily response to certain tasks or events

51
Q

What is the issue with

A
51
Q

What is the device used for electrophysiology?

A

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

52
Q

What is the issue with electroencephalogram (EEG)?

A

There is often a lot of noise with the data

53
Q

How do you avoid the issues with the electroencephalogram (EEG)?

A

Use repeated measurements are often made with one person

Filters the noise

This is called event related potential (ERP)

54
Q

What do brain imaging techniques measure?

A

Changes in the amount and rate of blood flow

55
Q

What are 4 types of brain imaging techniques?

A

Positron emission tomography (PET)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

56
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A

A radioactive substance is injected into the blood

The scan can ‘read’ the radiation from the substance

This makes it possible to see where the most radioactive material is

57
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

Uses the blood flow in the brain to map the working brain

Whereas a PET scan measures blood flow directly, fMRI does so indirectly by measuring differences in oxygen levels

When patients perform tests during the scan, it becomes possible to understand which brain area is important for a particular task

58
Q

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A

A powerful magnetic field interferes with brain activity in a specific brain region

This makes it possible to measure whether certain regions are essential for specific psychological functions

59
Q

From where to where is the spinal column?

A

Runs from the vertebrae to the base of the skull

60
Q

What is the function of the spinal column?

A

To coordinate reflexes, transport sensory information to the brain, and transport motor signals from the brain to other parts of the body

61
Q

What does the spinal column consist of?

A

Grey matter and white matter

62
Q

What is grey matter?

A

The cell bodies of the neuron

63
Q

What is white matter?

A

Axons and fatty myelin sheaths

64
Q

What does grey matter consist of?

A

Mainly of neuron bodies that do not have myelinated axons and only communicate with nearby neruons

65
Q

What does white matter consist of?

A

Mainly of myelinated axons that travel through brain regions

66
Q

What parts does the brainstem consist of?

A

The medulla

The pons

The midbrain

67
Q

What do the nerves in the brainstem control?

A

The basic functions of survival, such as heartbeat and breathing

68
Q

What does damage to the brainstem lead to?

A

Usually death

69
Q

What network does the brainstem contain?

A

A network of neruons called the reticula formation

70
Q

What does the reticular formation do?

A

Relays information to the cerebral cortex and influences general alertness and sleep stages

71
Q

To what is the cerebellum connected to?

A

To the back of the brainstem

72
Q

For what is the cerebellum important for?

A

Important for motor learning and motor memory

73
Q

Where is the forebrain?

A

It is above the cerebellum and brainstem

74
Q

What does the forebrain consist of?

A

Left and right hemisphere

75
Q

What are the 5 subcortical areas?

A

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

Hippocampus

Amygdala

Basal ganglia

76
Q

Thalamus

A

Almost all sensory information (except smell) goes to the thalamus before being sent to the relevant regions fo the cerebral cortex

77
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Necessary for survival as it is responsible for basic needs such as eating, drinking and mating

78
Q

Hippocampus

A

Important for forming new memories

There is also evidence that the hippocampus is important for navigating the environment

79
Q

Amygdala

A

Involved in learning biologically relevant stimuli that are important for survival

The amygdala plays a role in responding to stimuli that evoke fear

It is also involved in evaluating facial expressions, especially fearful facial expressions

In addition, the amygdala is involved in enhancing memory when emotions are strong

80
Q

Basal ganglia

A

Responsible for planning and executing movement

The basal ganglia receive information from the whole cerebral cortex and send it back to the motor planning area of the brain

81
Q

What happens when the basal ganglia is damaged?

A

Tremors

Learning of moment and habits

82
Q

What is also part of the basal ganglia?

A

The nucleus accumbens

83
Q

What is the nucleus accumbens responsible for?

A

Responsible for experiencing rewarding and motivating behaviour

It is where dopamine is released

84
Q

What is the outermost layer of the forebrain?

A

The cerebral cortex (cortex)

85
Q

What are slits?

A

Some folds or wrinkles in the cortex are deep grooves that divide the brain into sections

86
Q

Each hemisphere in the brain has what?

A

4 lobes

87
Q

What are the 4 lobes?

A

Occipital

Parietal

Temporal

Frontal

88
Q

What does the corpus callusum do?

A

Connects the hemispheres and allows information to flow between them

89
Q

Occipital lobe

A

Located at the back of the head and is important for processing visual information

The primary visual cortex organises visual information

The secondary visual cortex processes attributes of the visual image such as colours, shapes and movements

90
Q

Parietal lobe

A

Contains the nerves that receive information form the skin

The left temporal lobe receives sensory information from the right half of the body and the right temporal lobe receives sensory information from the left half of the body

The primary somatosensory cortex is a strip at the front of the lobe that runs from top to bottom in both hemispheres

This is where the sensation of body parts is registered, with more sensitive body parts occupying a larger area fo the brain

91
Q

What can parietal damage cause and what is it?

A

Haemineglections

Patients do not register anything on the left side, even though their eyes are otherwise well intact

92
Q

Temporal lobe

A

Contains the brain areas responsible for hearing

The fusiform face area (FFA) is located where the temporal and occipital lobes meet

This area is active when looking at faces

Damage to this area can lead to limitations in recognising people, but not in recognising objects

93
Q

Frontal lobe

A

Responsible for planning and moving

The neurons in the primary motor cortex project directly on the spinal cord to move the body’s muscles

The rest of the frontal lobe consists of the prefrontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex is reasonable for directing and painting attention, planning, understanding other people and behaving according to cultural norms

94
Q

Who was Phineas Gage?

A

Was an American railway worker who had an accident at work in 1848 while constructing a railway, curing severe damage to his prefrontal cortex

95
Q

What happened to Phineas Gage after the accident?

A

Gage’s personality had changed in a remarkable way

He exhibited inappropriate and antisocial behaviour, where previously he had been a responsible, calm and socially adapted person

96
Q

What does Phineas Gage show?

A

That specific parts of the brain play a role in specific psychological processes

97
Q

Why do we have a split brain?

A

In the past, the corpus callous was split to prevent epileptic seizures.

98
Q

What is the left hemisphere dominant in?

A

Language, because of Broca’s area

99
Q

What happens when a split brain patient sees two images flashing simultaneously on a screen? One in the right and one in the left visual field?

A

The patient only reports the image that was shown on the right

This is because the left hemisphere only sees the image on the right and can therefore only talk about this image

The person is unable to talk about what the right hemisphere saw in the left field of vision, because this hemisphere cannot produce language

100
Q

What does the somatic nervous system do?

A

Transmits sensory signals to the CNS via the nerves

Skin, muscles and joints send signals to the spinal cord and brain

The brain an spinal cord send signals to the muscles, joints and skin

101
Q

What does the autonomic nervous system do?

A

Is responsible for controlling the body’s internal environment by stimulating the glands and maintaining the internal organs

Glands and internal organs send signals to the spinal cord and brain

The brain and spinal cord send signals to the glands and internal organs

102
Q

What are the 2 systems that the autonomic nervous system is divided into?

A

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

103
Q

How is the sympathy part activated?

A

When one is active, for example by increasing the heart rate

104
Q

When is the parasympathetic part activated?

A

It is activated when resting

105
Q

What does the endocrine system influence?

A

Influences thoughts, behaviour and actions

106
Q

What is the difference between the endocrine system and the nervous system?

A

The way ti communicates and its speed

107
Q

How does the nervous system communicate?

A

It is fast

Uses electrochemical signals

108
Q

How does the endocrine system communicate?

A

Slower and uses hormones

109
Q

What are hormones?

A

Are chemical substances released into the bloodstream by the endocrine glands

110
Q

What are examples of endocrine glands?

A

Pancreas

Thyroid

Testes

Ovaries

111
Q

How are the endocrine glands controlled?

A

Controlled by the hypothalamus via signals to the pituitary gland

112
Q

When does the hypothalamus secrete the releasing factor?

A

Neural activation causes the hypothalamus to secrete a particular releasing factor, causing the pituitary gland to release a hormone specific to that factor

The hormone then travels through the bloodstream to endocrine sites throughout the body

113
Q

What do pituitary glands control?

A

Important processes such as development, fertility and breastfeeding

114
Q

What are chromosomes?

A

Structures made of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

115
Q

What are segments of the DNA strands called?

A

Genes

116
Q

How many chromosomes does a human cell usually have?

A

23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell

117
Q

What does each gene contain?

A

Specific instruction for the formation fo a certain polypeptide and one or more of these polypeptides together from of protein

117
Q

What are proteins?

A

The substances that form the structure of cells and control their activities

118
Q

What is the effect of the environment on proteins?

A

Influences which proteins are produced and when

119
Q

What happens with a dominant gene?

A

It is always expressed if ti is present

120
Q

What happens with a recessive gene?

A

Only expressed if it is combined with a similar gene from the other parent

121
Q

What is the genotype?

A

The genetic make up of an organisms and does not change

122
Q

What is the phenotype?

A

Contains all the observable physical characteristics

123
Q

What is polygenic?

A

The characteristic is determined by several genes in interaction with the environment

124
Q

How many combinations of the 23 chromosomes are possible?

A

8 million

125
Q

How are monozygotic twins (identical twins) made?

A

Result of a zygote splitting into two

126
Q

How are dizygotic twins made?

A

Occur when two sparely fertilised eggs develop simultaneously

127
Q

What

A

Introduction to Psychology (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions