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Neuroscience and Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

Neuroscience and Behavior

A

> many factors create why people function

>a mix of biology and psych

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2
Q

The Brain

A

> source of all thoughts, emotions, anxieties, fears, goals, and attitudes
all conscious experience in 2-3 lbs.
rest of body is life-support
neurons pass info to others
size: 100 billion neurons (connects to hundreds-of-thousands of others)
capacity: 100 trillion to 280 quintillion bits (DNA equals 5 billion bits)

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3
Q

The Nervous System

A

> processes information to make personality
neurons are found in brain, nerves, and senses
nerves: spinal cord, senses: passes info back to brain
some sensor receptors are modified neurons

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4
Q

Neural Network

A

> thousands of connections between each neuron
experiences change brain at neuro-circutry level
no two brains exactly alike

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5
Q

The Neuron

A

> basic brain cell (all shapes/sizes)
make up nerves & sensory cells
info flows as electrical signal (only out/down)

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6
Q

Dendrites

A

> passes info to other neurons (branch-like)

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7
Q

Axons

A

> takes messages away from cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands
Multiple Sclerosis- caused by degeneration of axons

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8
Q

Cell Body

A

> the cell’s life-support center

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9
Q

Neural Impulse

A

> electrical signal traveling down axon

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10
Q

Terminal Branches of Axon

A

> form junctions with other cells

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11
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

> “Schwann Cells”
speeds up/maintains neural impulses’ info
like insulators on wires (covers some neuron’s axon)

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12
Q

Synapse

A

> synapse/synaptic gap- space between one neuron and next (axon tip->dendrite/cell body)

1) vesicles contain neurotransmitters/electrical signals
2) neurotransmitters- allow chemical electrical signals to jump gap
3) receptor sites capture neurotransmitters

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13
Q

Action Potential

A

> when brain reacts and sends electrical signal(s)/nerve impulses
negative ions rush out, positive ions rush in
units: mV is 1/1000 of a volt

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14
Q

Resting Potential

A

> when neuron has no activity (result is negative number)

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15
Q

Refractory Period

A

> recharge stage of neuron after firing

>NEURON WON’T FIRE

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16
Q

Repolarization

A

> neuron restores negative charge with Na-K pump

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17
Q

Action Potential Properties

A

> all-or-none response (either fires or does not)
strong stimulus can change firing rate, but not fire strength or speed
changes pattern/rate/frequency to differ messages
intensity remains same throughout axon (always same size/shape/speed)

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18
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

> transport info across synaptic gap

>types: ACh, Dopamine, Serotonin

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19
Q

Acetylcholine

A

> deals with movement/learning/memory

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20
Q

Cholinesterase

A

> Cholinesterase (enzyme) breaks down ACh
cleans/recycles ACh
enzymes end in “-ase”

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21
Q

Dopamine

A

> deals with movement/learning/attention

>too much/too little causes problems

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22
Q

Serotonin

A

> regulation of mood/hunger/sleep/arousal (awakeness)

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23
Q

Parkinson’s Disease

Neurotransmitters & Diseases

A

> Parkinson’s- lose ability to move (low dopamine)
neuro-mottor condition
signals aren’t generated
treatment 1: artificially create LDope (raw component of dopamine), but does not cure disease
treatment 2: Deep Brain Stimulation- plant electro/battery pack (sends electric signals to stimulate cells)

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24
Q

Schizophrenia

Study These Flashcards
A

> moderate/severe psychological disturbance/random hallucinations (too much dopamine)

25
Alzheimer's
>cells that produce ACh die (lack ACh) | >person becomes forgetful, gets progressively worse
26
Depression
>10% struggle with (low serotonin)
27
Brainstem
>upper level of brain more easily damaged | >braindead- no brain activity, but Medulla works
28
Medulla
>controls heartbeat, blood pressure, blood flow, breathing, and some reflexes (sneeze, cough, swallow) >base of brainstem, attaches to spinal cord >not conscious and doesn't sleep
29
Cerebellum
>controls voluntary coordinated movements/balance >helps motor skills & sequential memory >can get by without cerebellum >striped looking, attached to rear of brainstem
30
Thalamus
>sensory switchboard, directs/transmits info to other parts >helps identify/discern >top of brainstem
31
Hypothalamus
>controls basic functions/drives (urges)/motives | >ex. hunger, thirst, emotions, body temps
32
Simon LeVay
>studied hetero males, hetero females, and homo males >looked at hypothalamus nucleus >found 2x size in hetero males than heater females >realized homo males about same size as hetero females
33
Rats Testosterone Experiment
>exposed unborn rat pups to testosterone >later, females tried to mate w/ females >found females subjects had enlarged hypothalamus
34
The Limbic System
>plays role in emotions (emotion inhibition) >helps with learning/memory >includes hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus >most well developed in mammals, primates, humans
35
Emotion Inhibition
>tries to shut down emotions created by other parts of brain | >allows for flexible emotions
36
Limbic System and Aggression
>lacking -> act mechanically >ex. Put plastic fish w/red bellies in Stickleback fish tank (taking away limbic system -> attack mode)
37
Hippocampus
>connection between short term & long term memory >also referred to as "N.A." >STM- short term memory >LTM- long term memory
38
Hippocampus Damage Examples
>N.A. was stabbed while fencing roommate (unable to form new memories) >British musician got virus, damaged N.A. (wrote in journal "I AM ALIVE") >H.M had same problem (father died, eventually remembered after kept finding note)
39
Cerebral Cortex
>controls higher mental processes >wrinkled outside (adaptation increases amount of cortex) >2/3 of brain's mass/weight >when looking at brain, mostly see cerebral cortex
40
Grey Matter
>cell bodies, dendrites, neurons
41
White Matter
>myelin & axons make lighter color
42
Brain Ventricles
>fluid filled "gaps", adds protection
43
Fissure
>deep division, separates left and right hemisphere
44
Rosenzweig's Experiment
>rats raised in normal vs. enriched environment >"enriched" rats: more cortex, ACh, dendrites/synapse/neurotransmitters (quick learners with lever/maze) >result: brain changes based on experience
45
MIT Role of Environment Study
>Mackey studied 60 eighth-graders through MRI test >found grey matter & cortex thickness significantly greater in high income subjects >cortical thickness could account for 44% of income achievement gap (means low income does worse)
46
Motor & Sensory Cortex
>two motor cortex strips control/indicate movements >proportional to number of neurons allocated >can be changed by experience >ex. MRI before/after piano lessons (change in motor cortex)
47
Visual Cortex
>aids in seeing/recognizing visuals/responding to motion >located at back of brain >damage results in Visual Agnosia >ex. British man recognizes wife by voice instead (some can describe, but not recognize objects)
48
Auditory Cortex
>aids in recognizing objects based on sound/helps with language >active in patients who hallucinate
49
Broca's Area
>controls speech production/turns thoughts into spoken words >Broca's Aphegia- damage causes people to struggle speaking (cognitive, but can't speak) >ex. Military person could remember, but not speak well
50
Wernicke's Area
>processes/understands spoken language | >Wernicke's Aphegia- damage causes people to not understand what others say (not cognitive, but can speak)
51
Language & Aphagia
>most have Broca's and Wernicke's only on left hemisphere (near auditory cortex) >brain doesn't heal well >other areas can sorta pick up functions
52
Association Cortex
>not as specialized, several complex functions (memory, recognition, problem solving, etc.) >combines info from several areas
53
Frontal Association Area/Frontal Cortex
>plans actions & movements, foresight >inhibition, emotional control >personality >STM functions >matures in late teens >incorrect myth: use on 10% of brain (could not multitask in were true)
54
Uses of the Brain (Percentages)
50% -> speech | 40% -> visual
55
Uses of Stimulants
>ADD & ADHD kids given stimulants to "wake up" other parts of brain >creates a balance
56
Left & Right Hemispheres
>largely independent
57
Protective Membrane
>grey outside part of brain
58
Brain Size & Intelligence
>not connected within adult human species | >brain is like crunched up paper, not like intestines folded (flat paper vs. tubes)

Psychology (12 decks)

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