Chapter 4 Flashcards
(39 cards)
What are the four kinds of neuroscientists?
Cognitive neuroscientists- explore biological foundations of consciousness
Social neuroscientists- focus on attachments and attitudes
Affective neuroscientists- study nervous systems involvement in emotion
Behavioural neuroscientists- biology of basic processes like learning
What is the central nervous system (CNS)?
What two components does it have?
This receives, processes, interprets, and stores incoming sensory information (inform on tastes, sounds, smell, colour etc)
Also sends out messages for muscles and glands
Brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
This handles the central nervous systems input and output
Contains all portions of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord
Sensory nerves carry messages from receptors in the skin, muscles, etc, to the spinal cord
Motor nerves carry orders from central nervous system to the muscles, etc (reverse)
What two parts is the peripheral nervous system divided into?
Somatic nervous system- consists of nerves that are connected to sensory receptors (voluntary)
Autonomic nervous system- regulates the functioning of blood vessels, glands, and internal organs (bladder, heart) (involuntary)
What are the two groups the autonomic nervous system is divided into?
Sympathetic nervous system- mobilizes the body for action, makes you blush, sweat and breath more deeply (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic nervous system- slow things down in order to keep them running smoothly
(Rest and digest)
What are the two types of cells the in the brain?
Neurons (nerve cells)- brains communication specialists, transmits info
Glia (glial cells)- 90% of brains cells that support the neurons (provide nutrients, insulate them, help them grow)
What are the three parts of a neuron?
Dendrite- the branches out of the nucleus at the centre of the neuron, act like antennas receiving messages and transmitting them towards the cell body
Cell body- roughly shaped sphere that includes the cells nucleus and biochemical machinery for keeping the neuron alive
Axon- transmits messages away from the cell body to other neurons (long line that grows away from cell body that the myelin sheath coats)
Look at diagram of neuron on page 109
What is the myelin sheath?
What are synapses?
Later of fatty material that insulates the axon
Contains segments of construction called nodes
Synapses are where the Exon terminal of one cell meets up with the dendrites of another (synapses’ never fully touch, they send neurotransmitters across that space)
Diagram of neuron on page 109
What are the two results binding through synapses can have?
Excitatory- makes the receiving cell more likely to fire
Inhibitory- makes it less likely to fire
What are four other neurotransmitters that travel a particular path through the brain like a bus route?
Serotonin- affects neurons in sleep, appetite, pain suppression and mood
Dopamine- affects neurons involved in voluntary movement, attention, learning, memory
Acetylcholine- affects neurons involved in muscle action, cognitive function, memory and emotion
Norepinephrine- affects neurons involved in increased heart rate and the slowing of intestinal activity, and in sleep
What are hormones?
Produced primarily in endocrine glands and are released directly into the bloodstream
They do lots from promoting boldly growth to regulating metabolism
What are the 4 main hormones that are of particular interest to research psychologists?
- Melatonin- helps regulate daily biological rhythms, promotes sleep (pineal gland)
- Oxytocin- enhances uterine contractions during childbirth and facilitates the ejection of milk during nursing
- Adrenal hormones- involved in emotion and stress, can increase blood sugar levels and boost energy
- Sex hormones- contain androgens (masculinizing), estrogens (feminizing), and progesterone (growth and maintenance of uterine lining)
What are neuromodulators?
Chemicals that modulate neural functions
Ex: serotonin transporter is a protein that acts like a garbage collector picking up serotonin from synaptic cleft
What are endorphins?
Reduce pain and promote pleasure
Play roles in appetite and sexual activity, blood pressure, mood, etc
Some are neurotransmitters, but most primarily act as neuromodulators
What are the two major neurotransmitters that are widely distributed throughout the entire brain?
GABA- major inhibitory neurotransmitter
Glutamate- major excitatory neurotransmitter
What are the three research methods of intervening in the brain and observing behaviour?
Lesion method- removal or disabling of a brain structure (on animals)
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)- stimulating brain cells using a powerful magnetic field by a wire coil placed on patients head (creates virtual lesion)
Transcranial Direct current Stimulation (fDCS)- applies very small electric current to stimulate or suppress activity in parts of the cortex
(Shows functions of a particular area)
What are the 5 research methods of intervening in behaviour and observing the brain?
Electroencephalogram (EEG)- recording of neural activity detected by electrodes
Event-related potentials (ERP)- isolates neural activity associated with a specific stimulus
Positron-emission tomography (PET)- analyzes biochemical activity in the brain as they occur
(Nerve cells convert glucose, blood flow)
Magnetic resonance imagine (MRI)- uses magnetic fields and special radio receivers to study body and brain tissue (takes pictures, computer edits)
Functional MRI (fMRI)- magnetic resonance imaging used to study brain activity
Why is the brain so convoluted?
To increase surface area for more connections
More convoluted=higher cognitive capabilities
What is the longitudinal fissure?
The line down the top of the brain that separates the left hemisphere and right hemisphere
What are the 3 main areas of the brain stem and their function?
Label on diagram on page 121!
Pons- sleep and alertness
Medulla- bodily functions that are not consciously willed (breathing and heart rate)
Reticular Activating System (RAS)- screen incoming info and arouses the higher centres when something happens (reticular formation)
What is the cerebellum?
Point to diagram on page 121!
“Lesser brain”
Sense of balance
Coordinates muscles so movement is smooth and precise
What is the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland?
Point to diagram on page 122!
Thalamus- sensory relay station of the brain, directs messages to areas in charge of vision sound and touch
Hypothalamus- monitors body’s current state and maintains a steady state called homeostasis
Feeding, fighting, fleeing, and sex
Pituitary Gland- sends hormonal messages out to other glands
What is the amygdala and the hippocampus?
Point to on diagram on page 122!!
Amygdala- evaluates sensory information
Contributes to the initial decision to approach or withdraw from a situation
“Fear centre”
Hippocampus- compares sensory information with what the brain has learned in the world
Enables us to form Spatial memories
What is the cerebrum?
What is it separated into?
What connects the two halves?
The largest part of the brain
Higher forms of thinking take place
Separated into two cerebral hemispheres connected by a large band of fibres called the corpus callosum
