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Psych 202 > Chapter 3: Brain and Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Brain and Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

Neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other to perform information-processing tasks

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2
Q

cell body (soma)

A

the part of the neuron that coordinates the information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive

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3
Q

nucleus

A

houses chromosomes that contain your DNA

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4
Q

cell membrane

A

the porous layer that encloses the cell body

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5
Q

dendrites

A

parts of the neuron that receive information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body

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6
Q

axon

A

the part of the neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands

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7
Q

myelin sheather

A

an insulating layer of fatty material (glial cells)

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8
Q

glial cells

A

support cells found in the nervous system

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9
Q

synapse

A

the junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of cell body of another

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10
Q

What are the major types of neurons?

A

sensory, motor, and interneurons

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11
Q

sensory neurons

A

receive information from the external world and convey this info to the brain via spinal cord

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12
Q

motor neurons

A

carry signals from the spinal cord the the muscles to produce movement

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13
Q

interneurons

A

connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons

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14
Q

resting potential

A

the difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of a neuron’s cell membrane

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15
Q

action potential

A

an electrical signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron’s axon to a synapse

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16
Q

nodes of Ranvier

A

breakpoints between myelin

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17
Q

refractory period

A

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be intiated

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18
Q

terminal buttons

A

knoblike structures at the end of an axon

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19
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neuron’s dendrites

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20
Q

What are the three ways a neurotransmitter can leave the synapse

A
  1. reuptake
  2. broken down by enzymes
  3. diffusion
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21
Q

reuptake

A

when neurotransmitters are absorbed by the terminal buttons or by neighboring glial cells

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22
Q

diffusion

A

when neurotransmitters drift out of the synapse

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23
Q

What are the types of neurotransmitters?

A

Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Glutamate, GABA, Endorphins, Serotonin, Norepinephrine

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24
Q

Acetylcholine

A

involved in voluntary motor control, attention, learning, sleeping, dreaming, and memory
- associated with Alzheimer’s (low)

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25
Dopamine
involved in regulating motor behavior, motivation, and emotional arousal - associated with schizophrenia (high) ad Parkinson's (low)
26
Glutamate
excitatory neurotransmitter enhances the transmission of info between neurons - associated with seizures (high)
27
GABA
inhibitory neurotransmitters, prevents firing of neurons, neuron becomes hyperpolarized - associated with seizures (low)
28
Norepinephrine
involved in state of vigilance or heightened awareness of danger - associated with mood disorders (low)
29
Serotonin
influence mood and arousal - associated with mood disorders (low)
30
Endorphins
help dull the experience of pain and elevate moods
31
Agonists
drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter
32
Antagonists
drugs that diminish the function of a neurotransmitter
33
A drug is able to bind to that neuron's receptor. Is it an agonist or antagonist?
Agonist
34
A drug is able to mimic the neurotransmitter. Is it an agonist or antagonist?
Agonist
35
A drug is able to block the ability of the neurotransmitter to activate the receptor. Is it an agonist or antagonist?
Antagonist
36
A drug is able to block reuptake. Is it an agonist or antagonist?
Agonist
37
Nervous System
an interacting network of neurons that conveys information through the body
38
central nervous system
composed of the brain and spinal cord
39
peripheral nervous system
connects the CNS to the body's organs and muscles
40
somatic nervous system
a set of nerves that conveys information between voluntary muscles and the CNS
41
autonomic nervous system
a set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs. and glands
42
sympathetic nervous system
a set of nerves that prepare the body for action in challenging or threatening situations
43
parasympathetic nervous system
helps the body return to a normal resting state
44
What are the major divisions of the brain?
forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain
45
hindbrain
an area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
46
What structures make up the hindbrain?
Medulla, reticular formation, cerebellum and pons
47
medulla
coordinates heart rate, circulation, respiration
48
reticular formation
regulates sleep, wakefulness, and arousal
49
cerebellum
controls fine motor skills
50
pons
relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
51
what are the structures of the midbrain?
tectum and tegmentum
52
tectum
orients an organism in the environment
53
tegmentum
involved in movement and arousal
54
what are the structures of the forebrain?
cerebral cortex, subcortical structures
55
cerebral cortex
the outermost layer of the brain, visible to the naked eye and divided into two hemispheres
56
subcortical structures
areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the center of the brain
57
What makes up the subcortical structures
thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia
58
Thalamus
relays and filters information from the senses and transmits the information to the cerebral cortex
59
hypothalamus
regulates body temp, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior
60
hippocampus
critical for creating new memories and integrating them into a network of knowledge so that they can be stored indefinitely in other parts of the cerebral cortex
61
amydala
plays a central role in many emotional processes, particularly the formation of emotional memories
62
basal gang
a set of subcortical structures that directs intentional movements
63
What are the structures that make up the cerebral cortex?
frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe
64
corpus callosum
a thick band of nerve fibers that connects large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and hemispheres
65
occipital lobe
back of the cerebral cortex, processes visual information
66
temporal lobe
lower side of each hemisphere, responsible for hearing and language
67
parietal lobel
front of the occipital lobe, carries information about touch
68
frontal lobe
behind forehead, specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
69
plasticity
adapt to changes in sensory inputs
70
gene
major unit of hereditary transmission
71
chromosomes
strands of DNA wound around each other in a double helix configuration
72
epigenetics
the study of environmental influences that determine how and if genes are expressed, without altering the basic DNA sequences that constitute the genes themselves
73
gyri
a ridge or fold between two clefts on the cerebral surface in the brain
74
positron emission tomography (PET)
a harmless radioactive substance is injected into a person’s bloodstream and then the brain is scanned by radiation detectors as the person performs tasks shows us the function of the brain
75
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
uses a strong magnetic field to line up the nuclei of specific molecules in the brain tissue shows us the structure of the brain
76
computerized axial tomography (CT) scan
a scanner rotates a device around a person’s head and takes a series of X-ray photographs from different angles shows us the structure of the brain
77
electroencephalograph (EEG)
a device used to record electrical activity in the brain
78
Dizygotic twins
fraternal twins share about 50% of their genes
79
monozygotic twins
identical twins share 100% of their genes

Psych 202 (14 decks)

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