Sac 1 - How Does He Brain Function? Flashcards
(41 cards)
Name 7 steps of the scientific method
1: identify the area of research and form a research aim.
2: collect info
3: research question, formate hypothesis
4: design a research method
5: collect and analyse data
6: draw conclusion - accept/reject hypothesis
7: report findings
8: test conclusion
What is IV (independent variable)
Example 1:
Sleep deprivation causes stress.
IV: sleep deprivation
Example 2:
Practising goal-kicking improves accuracy.
IV: practising goal kicking or not
What is the DV (dependent variable)
Example 1:
Sleep deprivation causes stress.
DV: number of stress levels
Example 2:
Practising goal-kicking improves accuracy.
DV: number of accuracy levels
Hypothesis
A prediction of the outcome of research, stated in terms of the influence of the changes in the value of independent variable on the value of dependent variable
Motor neurons
Communicate messages from the CNS to the particular muscles that an organism intends to move at any particular moment.
Sensory neurons
Able to convey sensations such as touching dogs fur - detected by sensory receptors on the skin of our hand - to the brain.
Peripheral nervous system
Has 2 functions, which go off the sensory and motor neurons. The PNS has 2 subdivisions; the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
Central nervous system
Based off the brain and spinal cord, forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.
Neuron
Neurons receive, process and then transmit information to each other. They are usually comprised of 3 sections, dendrites, the soma and the axon.
Dendrites
Dendrites receive information from other neurons or sensory receptors via the synapse and deliver this to the cell body or soma.
Soma
Controls the metabolism and maintenance of the cell.
Axon
Part of a neuron where the electrical nerve-impulse is transmitted
Glial cells
Not a part of the neuron although still very important. Four functions are:
1- to surround neurons and hold hem in place
2- to supply nourishment and oxygen to neurons.
3- to remove dead neurons
4-to insulate one neuron from the other and increase the speed of transmission of never impulse. To do this, glial cells produce myelin.
Myelin
Fatty substance that insulates the axon from surrounding fluid from other neurons. Only axon is covered.
Terminal buttons
Small knobs at the end of an axon that release a chemical called neurotransmitters. The terminal buttons form the presynaptic neuron of the synapse.
Neural pathways
Allow one part of the nervous system communicate with the other.
Synapse
Junction between 2 neurons. The presynaptic neuron releases molecules of neurotransmitters, which then fit into receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron. the charge builds up until a signal is sent down the post synaptic axon.
Reflex actions
Involuntary actions that do not involve the brain when reacting to a stimulus.
Hindbrain
Squishy bit,
Brain stem: regulates reflex survival responses.
Pons: controls movement, breathing, sleeping, dreams and waking.
Cerebellum: perception and cognition, balance and fine muscle control.
Medulla: heartbeat, breathing and other vital bodily functions.
Midbrain
Little middle piece.
Reticular formation: control of arousal, sleep and wake cycle
Forebrain
Top part, upper level structures
The cerebrum: covered by thin layer, cerebral cortex. Divide left and right hemispheres.
The hypothalamus: control of sleep, regulation of body temp, expression of emotions, feeding, fighting, fleeing & fornication.
The thalamus: process sensory info except nose. Regulates overall activity in cortex.
Limbic system
Hippocampus: long term memory and spatial orientation.
Amygdala: aggression fear and emotional memory
Contralateral organisation
Hemispheres controlling each other
Cerebral cortex
Role is receiving info from the environment, controlling responses and process higher order thinking
