Module 9 - Biological Psychology and Neurotransmission Flashcards
(108 cards)
1
Q
What German physician proposed phrenology could reveal mental abilities/character traits?
A
Franz Gall
2
Q
What is phrenology?
A
Studying bumps on the skull
3
Q
Multiple sclerosis is a result of degeneration in the…
A
Myelin sheath
4
Q
When there is a negative charge inside an axon and a positive charge outside it, the neuron is _
A
Resting potential
5
Q
Neurotransmitters cross the _ to carry
information to the next neuron.
A
Synaptic gap
6
Q
What does phrenology focus on?
A
Brain function localization
7
Q
What is brain function localization?
A
Specific brain systems serve specific functions
8
Q
Biological psychology
A
scientific study of links between biological (genetic, hormonal & psychological processes
9
Q
Neuron
A
Nerve cell; basic building block of nervous system
10
Q
Dendrites
A
Neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages & conduct impulses toward the cell body
Receive info & conduct it toward the cell body
short
11
Q
Axon
A
neuron extension that passes messages through branches to other neurons or muscles/glands
long
12
Q
Myelin sheath
A
Fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one sausage-like node to the next
13
Q
Action potential
A
neural impulse; a brief electoral charge that travels down an axon
14
Q
ions
A
electrically charged atoms
15
Q
What is the range of the speed of travel of neurons?
A
2-180mph
16
Q
Resting potential
A
pos. outside, neg. inside state
17
Q
Selectively permeable
A
(axon) selective about what it allows in gates
18
Q
refractory period
A
period of inactivity after the neuron has fired
19
Q
Threshold
A
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
20
Q
all-or-none response
A
neuron’s reaction of firing (with full strength) or not firing at all
21
Q
synapse
A
the junction between the axon tip of sending neuron & dendrite/cell body of receiving neuron; gap @ junction: synaptic gap
22
Q
When action potential reaches knob-like terminals at the axon’s end, what happens?
A
It triggers the release of neurotransmitters
23
Q
Neurotransmitters
A
chemical messengers; influences whether that neuron will generate neural impulse
24
Q
Reuptake
A
The process where the sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitter molecules in the synaptic gap
25
Acetylcholine (ACH)
Enables muscle action, learning & memory
ex: Alzheimer's disease: ACH-producing neurons deteriorate
26
Dopamine
Influences movement, learning, attention & emotion
ex: oversupply -> Schizophrenia
undersupply -> tremors & decreased mobility in Parkinson's disease
27
Serotonin
Affects mood, hunger, sleep & arousal
ex: undersupply -> depression
Some antidepressants ^^ serotonin levels
28
Norepinephrine
Helps control alertness & arousal
ex: undersupply -> depress mood
29
GABA
major inhibitory neurotransmitter
ex: undersupply -> seizures, tremors, insomnia
30
Glutamate
Major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory
ex: oversupply -> overstimulate brain producing migraines & seizures
31
Morphine
an opiate drug that elevates mood, eases pain, and bound to receptors in areas linked to mood & pain sensations
32
Endorphins
Natural opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control & pleasure
33
Agonist
a molecule that stimulates response by binding to a receptor site
34
Antagonist
binds to receptors & blocks neurotransmitter functioning
Similar to neurotransmitters to occupy receptors cite
35
What is the system for neurons?
(Axon, dendrites, synaptic gap, cell body, next neuron, terminal knobs)
Dendrites, cell body, axon, terminal knobs, synaptic gap, next neuron
36
Nervous system
body's communication network, consisting of all nerve cells of the peripheral/central nervous systems
37
Central Nervous system (CNS)
brain & spinal cord
38
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
sensory & motor neurons that connect CNS to body
39
Nerves
bundled axons that form neural "cables" connecting CNS -> muscles, glands, sense organs
40
Sensory (afferent) neurons
neurons that carry incoming info from sensory receptors -> brain/spinal cord
41
Motor (efferent) neurons
neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain/spinal cord -> muscles & glands
42
interneurons
neurons within brain/spinal cord that communicate internally & intervene between sensory inputs/motor outputs
43
Somatic nervous system
enables voluntary control of skeletal muscles
44
Autonomic nervous system
controls glands & muscles of internal organs, influencing glandular, heartbeat & digestion
45
Sympathetic NS
accelerates heartbeat in emergencies
46
Parasympathetic NS
decreases heartbeat and calms the body down
parasympathetic/sympathetic NS work together to keep body at a steady state
47
Neural Networks
cluster of neurons
48
Spinal cord
2-way info highway connecting peripheral NS & brain
49
Reflex
automatic responses to stimuli
50
Endocrine system
Interconnected w/ nervous system; slow chemical communication systems; set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstream
51
Hormones
Chemical messengers manufactured by endocrine glands travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues
52
What is included in the Endocrine system
Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, parathyroids, ovary, adrenal gland
53
Some hormones are chemically identical to _
neurotransmitter
54
adrenal glands
Pair of endocrine glands that sit above kidneys & secrete hormones (epinephrine/norepinephrine)
55
pituitary glands
endocrine systems master gland (own master is hypothalamus)
located in the core of the brain
releases hormones
56
What is the feedback system? (hormones, brain, other glands, pituitary glands, body & brain)
brain, pituitary, other glands, hormones, body & brain
57
Damage to one side of the brain will lead to?
paralysis of the opposite side
58
Lesion
tissue destruction
59
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
amplified readout of waves of electrical activity on the brain's surface
60
CT (computed tomography) scan
examines the brain by taking x-ray photos that can reveal brain damage
61
PET (position emission tomography) scan
depicts brain activity by showing each brain area's consumption of sugar glucose
can track gamma rays released by "food for thought" as a person performs a given task after someone receives temporarily radioactive glucose
62
Prefrontal cortex
the forward part of the FL
enables judgment, planning, and processing of new memories
63
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan
a technique that uses magnetic fields & radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue; shows brain anatomy
64
ventrides
fluid-filled brain areas that keep the brain buoyant and cushioned
65
fMRI (functional MRI)
technique for revealing blood flow & brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans; can show brain function & structure
66
Brainstem
Oldest/innermost region of the brain; beginning where the spinal cord SWELLS as entering the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions
67
Medulla
controls breathing and heart rate; slight swelling of spinal cord; base of brainstem
68
Pons
sits above the medulla; helps coordinate movement
69
Thalamus
receives sensory info for all senses except smell
70
Reticular formation
a bundle of nerve fibers that help regulate consciousness and to filter out incoming stimuli
71
Cerebellum
"little brain"; enables nonverbal learning & memory ; coordinates w/ voluntary muscle movements w/ help from pons); helps judge time, modulate emotion, & discriminate sound/texture
72
Limbic system
neural system located below cerebral hemispheres; associated w/ emotions & drive
73
What does the limbic system contain?
Hippocampus; amygdala, hypothalamus
74
Hippocampus
processes conscious memories
75
Amygdala
linked to emotions (aggression & fear)
76
Hypothalamus
below thalamus; directs several maintenance activities/drives (eating, drinking, body temp., sex)
77
Brain influences _, which influences _.
endocrine system; brain
78
Hypothalamus tunes into __ and any incoming orders from other _ parts.
blood chemistry; brain
79
cerebrum
the hemisphere that contributes to 85% of brain weight
neural networks within it form specialized work teams that enable our perceiving, thinking, and speaking
80
cerebral cortex
covers hemispheres, a thin surface layer of interconnected neural cells
includes motor cortex, Broca's area, & prefrontal cortex
81
Cerebral hemispheres come as a _.
pair
82
L & R hemispheres of brain are filled with mainly _ connecting cortex --> brain's other regions`
axons
83
Glial cells
cells in NS that support, nourish, & protect neurons; may also play role in learning & thinking
84
Neurons = Queen Bees; cant feed themselves
Glial cells = worker bees; provide nutrients & insulating myelin, guide neural connections and mop up ions & neurotransmitters
.........
85
Frontal lobe
behind forehead; involved in speaking, muscle movements, making plans, and judgement
86
parietal lobe
@ top & to the rear; receives sensory input for touch & body position
87
occipital lobe
@ back of head; involved in vision
88
temporal lobes
a portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving information primarily from the opposite ear.
89
motor cortex
@ rear of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movement
90
somatosensory cortex
area @ frontal lobe that registers & processes body, touch, & movement sensation
91
association areas
Areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in motor or sensory functions; involved in higher mental functions (learning, thinking, remembering, speaking)
92
plasticity
ability to modify itself after being damaged
93
neurogenesis
formation of new neurons
94
corpus callosum
2 hemispheres of the brain communicate through a bundle of nerve fibers connecting each half
95
sensory cortex
responsible for receiving info for touch, pain & temperature
96
olfactory bulb
Receives sensory info for smell
97
aphasia
language impairment
98
auditory cortex
responsible for our sense of hearing
99
What does the right side of the brain control?
creativity - spatial reasoning, art, music, imagination
100
What does the left side of the brain control?
academics - math, language, science, logic
101
habituation
an organism’s decreasing response to a stimulus
with repeated exposure to it.
102
Who is Clive Wearing?
Had his hippocampus destroyed by viral infection and cant make new long term memories
103
Homonculus
"little person" uses as a map to show the areas of cortical space dedicated to certain motor and somatosensation functions
104
Who is Phineas Gage?
Had his prefrontal cortex destroyed by a railroad spike that accidentally exploded through his skill and his behavior changed drastically
105
Broca's area
responsible for speech articulation
106
Wernicke's area
enables us to comprehend language and speak in comprehensive sentences
107
excitatory
promotes the generation of an electrical signal called an action potential in the receiving neuron
108
inhibitory
prevents the generation of an electrical signal
