The Brain and the Mind (Week 8 part 1, part 1)

Question 1

What is Biological psychology? (What are some professions in this branch?)

Answer 1

• branch of neuroscience
  examine the biology of psychological processes, behaviour, and learning

Professions:
- behavioural neuroscientists, neurophsychologist, behavioural geneticists, physiological psychologists, biopsychologists

Question 2

Describe the Nervous system (systems under it)

Answer 2

• electrochemical communication network (info, response to stimuli, coordinate operations)

Comprises of:
Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Brain
- Spinal cord (connect brain and PNS): collection of neurones and supportive tissue from base of brain, protected by spinal column (bones)

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
- rest of NS outside of CNS
- sensory and motor nerves
–> AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS): organs, glands & blood vessels (auto, but may conciously overide)
- Sympathetic (stress)
- parasympathetic (maintain body functions = mode save energy)

–> SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (SNS): Skeletal Muscles, sensory organs
- Sensory input: from sense to CNS
- motor output: from CNS to muscles and glands

Question 3

What are the NS building blocks?

Answer 3

Neurons: transmit info to, from, and within the CNS
Glia cells: hold neurons together, nourish, insulate, and protect them

Question 4

Describe the structure of a neuron (4). What disease arise from degeneration of myelin sheath?
(combined axon terminals)

Answer 4

Dendrites: branch-like, receive info from other neurons. transmit to soma

Soma: cell body, keeps cell alive. determine firing (contribute to gray matter in spinal cord)

Axon: tube extension, transmits messages to other neurons, muscles or gland cells at Axon terminals (contribute to white matter)

Myelin sheath: fatty insulation around axon. speed neural impulses
*if degenerate: multiple sclerosis (communication to muscles slows = loss of muscle control)

Question 5

Where are Nerves normally found and how many are there in the human body?

Answer 5

Bundle of nerve fibres (mainly axon) in PNS (white matter)

Human body have 43 PAIRS of peripheral nerves (12 PAIRS in head)

Question 6

How does neuron communication work?

Answer 6

Start: inside neuron is strong -ve charge
Stimulus = action potential down axon through ions (by ion channels)

Between neurons: chemical neurotransmitters at synapse, alter activity of receiving neuron (uptake by dendrites) = cause action potential

Reuptake: clean excess neurotransmitters by sending neuron

IN dementia, schizophrenia and other brain disorders, may have problem with synapses

Question 7

Name the common neurotransmitters. What are some drugs that affect these neurotransmitters (2)?

Answer 7

• Dopamine
• serotonin
• acetylcholine
• norepinephrine
• gaba-amino butyric (GABA)
• endorphins

Cocaine blocks reuptake of dopamine
Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) block reuptake of serotonin

Question 8

What is dopamine (DA) function (4) and malfunction (over and under supply)?

Answer 8

• movement
• pleasure
• learning
• attention

over: schizophrenia
under: Parkinson’s, and depression

Question 9

What is Serotonin (5-HT) function (4) and malfunction (over and under supply)?

Answer 9

• sleep
• mood
• appetite
• anxiety

over:
under: depression, sleep, and eating disorders

Question 10

What is Acetylcholine (ACh) function (3) and malfunction (over and under supply)?

Answer 10

• muscle action
• memory
• learning

over: convulsion
under: alzheimers

Question 11

What is Norepinephrine (NE) function (2) and malfunction (over and under supply)?

Answer 11

• alertness
• arousal

over: stress, panic disorder
under: depression

Question 12

What is Gaba-amino butyric (GABA) function (2) and malfunction (over and under supply)?

Answer 12

• sleep
• inhibit movement

over: -
under: seizures, tremors, insomnia

Question 13

What is Endorphins function (1) and malfunction (over and under supply)?

Answer 13

• pain relief

over: insensitivity to pain
under: hyper sensitivity to pain, immune probs

Question 14

What is the Endocrine system (ES)?

Answer 14

• long distance messengers (hormones)
• travel in blood stream

ES Takes longer than NS (both produce chemicals that act elsewhere)

Question 15

What are the glands of the endocrine system?

Answer 15

• Pineal gland
• Pituitary gland
• Thyroid gland
• Thymus
• Adrenal glands
• Pancreas
• Gonads (ovaries and testes)

Question 16

Pineal gland

Where is it located, hormone produced and effect of hormone?

Answer 16

Located: near base of cerebrum
Secrete: Melatonin
Effect: biological rhythms and sleep

Question 17

Pituitary Gland

Where is it located, hormone produced and effect of hormone?

Answer 17

Located: in brain
Secrete:
- human growth hormone
- antidiuretic hormone
- gonadotrophins
Effect:
- growth of bone and muscles
- increase reabsorption of water in kidneys
- control dev of ovaries and testes

Question 18

Thyroid gland

Where is it located, hormone produced and effect of hormone?

Answer 18

Located: in neck
Secrete: thyroxin
Effect: growth and metabolism

Question 19

Thymus

Where is it located, hormone produced and effect of hormone?

Answer 19

Located: - in chest
Secrete: thymosin
Effect: pdt and maturation of WBC

Question 20

Adrenal gland

Where is it located, hormone produced and effect of hormone?

Answer 20

Located: top of each kidney
Secrete: over 30 hormones (corticoids/steroids)
Effect: stress reactions (^HR ^BP ^ rate of resp)

Question 21

Pancreas

Where is it located, hormone produced and effect of hormone?

Answer 21

Located: -
Secrete: insulin (use sugar) and glucagon (release sugar)
Effect: control level of sugar in blood

Question 22

Gonads

Where is it located, hormone produced and effect of hormone?

Answer 22

Located: in ovaries and testes
Secrete: oestrogen and progesterone; androgens (testosterone)
Effect: regulate sexual behaviour and reproduction

Question 23

What are the methods for ALTERING brain function (2)?

Answer 23

Lesioning studies (damage brain area/ target neurons with electrode)

Brain stimulation:(disrupt/enhance brain areas)
- Deep Brain Stimulus (DBS): INVASIVE, treat parkinson’s, seizures, chronic pain
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): NON-invasive, treat PTSD and depression (might induce seizures, cause headache)

Question 24

What are the methods for mapping brain STRUCTURE (2)?

Answer 24

Computed tomography (CT):
- x-rays measure brain slices (tumors, stroke damage, metal)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):
- magnetic fields & radio recievers, 3D detailed image

Question 25

What are the methods for mapping brain ACTIVITY? (3)

Answer 25

Electroencephalogram (EEG):
- amplified recording of brainwaves (electrical activity)
- electrodes placed on scalp

Positron Emission Tomography (PET):
- visual display of brain activity
- RADIOACTIVE glucose (tracer) used up in brain
- better signal to noise ratio (vs fMRI)

Functional MRI (fMRI):
- use blood’s magnetic properties
- track blood oxygen levels in brain areas (increased levels = increased functioning)
- More popular now cuz dw radiation exposure