Physiological Psychology

Question 1

List the three kinds of nerve cells and describe their functions

Answer 1

1. Sensory (afferent) neurons: transmit sensory information from receptors to spinal cord and brain
2. Motor (efferent) neurons: transmit information from the brain and spinal cords to the muscles
3. Interneurons: found between other neurons; most numerous type; linked to reflexive behavior (functionalists like John Dewey uninterested in this distinction)

Question 2

What does a sensory neuron do?

Answer 2

Sensory (afferent) neurons: transmit sensory information from receptors to spinal cord and brain

Question 3

What does a motor neuron do?

Answer 3

Motor (efferent) neurons: transmit information from the brain and spinal cords to the muscles

Question 4

What do interneurons do?

Answer 4

Interneurons: found between other neurons; most numerous type; linked to reflexive behavior

Question 5

What two systems comprise the human nervous system?

Answer 5

1. Central nervous system: brain and spinal cord

2. Peripheral nervous system: Nerve tissues and fibers outside the brain and spinal cord

Question 6

List the component parts of the peripheral nervous system

Answer 6

1. Somatic nervous system (sensory and motor neurons)
2. Autonomic nervous system (heartbeat, digestion, etc.)
   a. Sympathetic (fight or flight)
   b. Parasympathetic (yin yoga)

Question 7

Who studied the autonomic nervous system in depth?

Answer 7

Walter Cannon

Question 8

What was Walter Cannon’s major contribution to psychology?

Answer 8

Autonomic Nervous System

Question 9

What neurotransmitter is most involved in the parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 9

Acetylocholine

Question 10

What is the function of the neurotransmitter “acetylocholine”

Answer 10

Slows you down; parasympathetic nervous system

Question 11

What are the three basic subdivisions of the brain? Describe their functions.

Answer 11

1. Hindbrain: located where the brain meets the spinal cord; responsible for balance; motor-coordination; breathing; digesting; sleeping; walking, etc. (vital functions needed for survival)
2. Mid-brain: Sensorimotor reflexes that also promote survival; together the hindbrain and the mid-brain called the “brain stem”
3. Forebrain: complex human processes

Question 12

What are the component parts of the brainstem?

Answer 12

1. Hindbrain: located where the brain meets the spinal cord; responsible for balance; motor-coordination; breathing; digesting; sleeping; walking, etc. (vital functions needed for survival)
2. Mid-brain: Sensorimotor reflexes that also promote survival

Question 13

What is the hindbrain?

Answer 13

1. Hindbrain: located where the brain meets the spinal cord; responsible for balance; motor-coordination; breathing; digesting; sleeping; walking, etc. (vital functions needed for survival)

Question 14

What is the mid-brain?

Answer 14

2. Mid-brain: Sensorimotor reflexes (involuntary reflex responses triggered by auditory or visual stimuli); promote survival; together the hindbrain and the mid-brain called the “brain stem”

Question 15

What is the study of the evolutionary development of human beings called?

Answer 15

Phelogeny

Question 16

What is phelogeny?

Answer 16

the study of the evolutionary development of human beings

Question 17

What is the medulla oblongata?

Answer 17

In hindbrain; responsible for vital functions like breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure

Question 18

What is the pons?

Answer 18

Above medulla oblongata; contains sensory and motor tracts between the cortex and the medulla

Question 19

What is the cerebellum?

Answer 19

Top of hindbrain; responsible for balance/posture; coordinates body movements (alcohol impairs function of cerebellum)

Question 20

What is the reticular formation?

Answer 20

Extends from hind-brain into mid-brain; regulates arousal and alertness (anesthetics cause unconsciousness by depressing activity of the reticular formation)

Question 21

The forebrain is divided into: _______

Answer 21

Two cerebral hemispheres

Question 22

Name the two cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain and describe their functions.

Answer 22

1. Thalamus: all incoming sensory information except for small; sorts sensory input and then transmits them to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex; like a “way station”
2. Hypothalamus: homeostatic functions (metabolism, temperature, water balance, etc.); key player in emotional experiences during high arousal states; helps to control some endocrine (hormonal) functions and the autonomic nervous system; important in drive behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex); fight or fight responses

Question 23

What is the thalamus?

Answer 23

One of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain.

Thalamus: all incoming sensory information except for small; sorts sensory input and then transmits them to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex; like a “way station”

Question 24

What is the hypothalamus?

Answer 24

One of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain.

Hypothalamus: homeostatic functions (metabolism, temperature, water balance, etc.); key player in emotional experiences during high arousal states; helps to control some endocrine (hormonal) functions and the autonomic nervous system; important in drive behaviors (hunger, thirst, sex); fight or fight responses

Question 25

Name the component pieces of the hypothalamus and describe their functions.

Answer 25

1. Lateral hypothalamus (LH): Hunger center; tells you when to begin eating and drinking; aphagia: LH is damaged; starve to death if not force-fed 2. Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH): Satiety center; tells you when to stop eating (very hungry); brain lesions lead to excessive eating 3. Anterior hypothalamus: sexual behavior; damage leads to asexual behavior.

Question 26

What is the lateral hypothalamus?

Answer 26

Part of the hypothalamus, which is one of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain. Lateral hypothalamus (LH): Hunger center; tells you when to begin eating and drinking; aphagia: LH is damaged; starve to death if not force-fed

Question 27

What is the ventromedial hypothalamus?

Answer 27

Part of the hypothalamus, which is one of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain. Ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH): Satiety center; tells you when to stop eating (very hungry); brain lesions lead to excessive eating

Question 28

What is the anterior hypothalamus?

Answer 28

Part of the hypothalamus, which is one of the cerebral hemispheres that make up the forebrain. Anterior hypothalamus: sexual behavior; damage leads to asexual behavior.

Question 29

What is osmoregulation?

Answer 29

Water regulation - performed by osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus; Walter Cannon developed conceptualization of homeostasis

Question 30

What is the basal ganglia?

Answer 30

It is in the middle of the brain; coordinates muscle movements as it receives information from the cortex and relays this information (via the extrapyramidal motor system) to the brain and spinal cord. Extrapyramidal motor system: gathers information about body position and sends this information to brain and spinal cord. Damage to basal ganglia: Parkinson's; catatonic schizophrenia

Question 31

What is the extrapyramidal motor system?

Answer 31

Part of the basal ganglia. Extrapyramidal motor system: gathers information about body position and sends this information to brain and spinal cord.

Question 32

What is the limbic system?

Answer 32

Interconnected structures looping around central portion of the brain; emotion and memory Septum: Primary pleasure area of the brain; also inhibits aggression; discovered by James Olds and Peter Milner (1950s); if damaged leads to vicious behavior called septal rage

Question 33

What is the septum?

Answer 33

Part of the limbic system. Septum: Primary pleasure area of the brain; also inhibits aggression; discovered by James Olds and Peter Milner (1950s); if damaged leads to vicious behavior called septal rage

Question 34

What did James Olds and Peter Milner study?

Answer 34

Septum: Primary pleasure area of the brain; also inhibits aggression; part of limbic system; if damaged leads to vicious behavior called septal rage.

Question 35

What is the amygdala

Answer 35

Responsible for defensive and aggressive behavior; studied by Heinrick Kluver and Paul Bucy; when damaged, aggression and fear remarkably reduced; Kluver-Bucy syndrome: removal of amygdala

Question 36

What did Heinrick Kluver and Paul Bucy study?

Answer 36

Amygdala Kluver-Bucy syndrome: removal of amygdala

Question 37

What is the hippocampus?

Answer 37

Learning and memory (look up patient HM) HM experienced anterograde amnesia (can't develop new memories when hippocampus damaged/removed); Brenda Milner described HM's memory problems in detail

Question 38

What is anterograde amnesia?

Answer 38

Can't develop new memories (when hippocampus damaged/removed)

Question 39

What is retrograde amnesia

Answer 39

Can't remember prior to brain damage

Question 40

What did Brenda Milner study?

Answer 40

Patient HM HM experienced anterograde amnesia (can't develop new memories when hippocampus damaged/removed);

Question 41

What is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 41

Also called neocortex Outer surface of the brain; number of bumps and folds called convolutions; has two halves called cerebral hemispheres; has four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal