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PSYC 302 Biological Pysc > Unit 3 Anatomy and Research > Flashcards

Unit 3 Anatomy and Research Flashcards

(113 cards)

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1
Q

What is neuroanatomy?

A

Anatomy of the nervous system

Neuroanatomy studies the structure and organization of the nervous system.

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2
Q

What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) consist of?

A

The brain and the spinal cord

The CNS is responsible for processing and transmitting information throughout the body.

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3
Q

What is the role of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?

A

Connects the brain and the spinal cord to the rest of the body

The PNS includes sensory and motor neurons.

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4
Q

What are the two divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System?

A
  • Somatic Nervous System
  • Autonomic Nervous System

The somatic system controls voluntary movements, while the autonomic system regulates involuntary functions.

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5
Q

What does the Somatic Nervous System do?

A

Conveys messages from the sense organs to the CNS and from the CNS to the muscles

It is involved in voluntary control of body movements.

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6
Q

What is the function of the Autonomic Nervous System?

A

Controls the heart, intestines, and other organs (involuntary functions)

It operates without conscious control.

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7
Q

Define ‘dorsal’ in the context of neuroanatomy.

A

Toward the back

In animals, the top of the brain is considered dorsal.

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8
Q

Define ‘ventral’ in neuroanatomy.

A

Toward the stomach

In animals, the bottom of the brain is considered ventral.

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9
Q

What is the spinal cord?

A

Part of the CNS within the spinal column, communicates with all sense organs and muscle except those of the head

It plays a critical role in transmitting information between the brain and the rest of the body.

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10
Q

What is the structure of the spinal cord?

A

Segmented structure with sensory (dorsal root) and motor (ventral root) nerves

Each segment corresponds to different body areas.

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11
Q

What are dorsal root ganglia?

A

Clusters of sensory neurons outside the spinal cord

They play a key role in transmitting sensory information to the spinal cord.

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12
Q

What is gray matter?

A

Areas of the nervous system densely packed with cell bodies and dendrites

Gray matter is involved in processing information.

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13
Q

What is the function of white matter?

A

Consists of myelinated axons in the nervous system

It is responsible for transmitting signals over long distances.

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14
Q

What happens if there is damage at a segment of the spinal cord?

A

Loss of sensation & motor control below that segment

This can lead to paralysis or loss of feeling.

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15
Q

What is the autonomic nervous system responsible for?

A

Receives information from and sends commands to the heart, intestines, and other organs

It regulates involuntary bodily functions.

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16
Q

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

A

A network of nerves that prepare the organs for vigorous activity (fight or flight)

It increases heart/breathing rate and decreases digestion.

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17
Q

What neurotransmitter does the sympathetic nervous system primarily use?

A

Norepinephrine

This neurotransmitter is critical for the fight-or-flight response.

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18
Q

What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Facilitates vegetative nonemergency responses (rest and digest)

It promotes relaxation and conservation of energy.

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19
Q

What neurotransmitter does the parasympathetic nervous system primarily use?

A

Acetylcholine

It is involved in promoting relaxation and digestive functions.

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20
Q

What is the hindbrain?

A

Posterior part of the brain

It includes structures crucial for basic life functions.

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21
Q

What are the three major sections of the hindbrain?

A
  • Medulla
  • Pons
  • Cerebellum

Each section has distinct functions critical for survival and coordination.

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22
Q

What is the function of the medulla?

A

Controls vital reflexes via cranial nerves (breathing, heart rate, etc)

It is an enlarged extension of the spinal cord.

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23
Q

What does the pons do?

A

Acts as a bridge for axons crossing from one side of the brain/spinal cord to another

It facilitates communication between hemispheres.

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24
Q

What is the cerebellum important for?

A

Balance and coordination, behaviors depending on accurate timing

It plays a key role in motor control and learning.

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25
What is the midbrain?
Middle of the brain ## Footnote It is involved in sensory processing and movement.
26
What structures are found in the midbrain?
* Tectum * Tegmentum * Substantia nigra ## Footnote These areas are involved in sensory processing and movement regulation.
27
What is the role of the thalamus?
Relay station for sensory info (except smell) ## Footnote It plays a crucial role in directing sensory information to appropriate cortical areas.
28
What does the hypothalamus regulate?
* Homeostasis * Circadian rhythms * Sexual behavior and reproductive functions * Aggression and defensive behavior ## Footnote It is a tiny but powerful structure that influences many vital functions.
29
What are the major areas of the basal ganglia?
* Caudate nucleus * Putamen * Globus pallidus ## Footnote These structures are important for voluntary motor control and learning.
30
What is the function of the hippocampus?
Essential in memory and spatial awareness/navigation ## Footnote It is particularly important for forming new memories.
31
What are the ventricles?
Four fluid-filled cavities within the brain ## Footnote They are involved in the production and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.
32
What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
* Cushions brain * Supports weight (buoyancy) * Transports hormones/nutrients ## Footnote CSF plays a crucial role in protecting the brain and maintaining its environment.
33
What condition is caused by inflammation of the meninges?
Meningitis ## Footnote It can result in severe headaches and other neurological symptoms.
34
What is hydrocephalus?
CSF buildup that increases pressure in the brain ## Footnote It can lead to mental retardation risk in infants.
35
36
What is the cerebral cortex?
Layers of cells on the outer surface of the cerebral hemisphere of the forebrain ## Footnote It is the most prominent part of the mammalian brain.
37
What are the two types of matter in the cerebral cortex?
Gray matter (cell bodies) and white matter (inner axons)
38
What is the function of the corpus callosum?
Connects the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex
39
How does brain size vary across species?
Brain size varies widely, with the largest being 100,000 times bigger than the smallest
40
What is a key difference between primate brains and elephant brains?
Primates have a larger, more folded cerebral cortex and more neurons per volume than elephants
41
What is the cerebellum's volume percentage across species?
Constant across species, representing 10-14% of brain volume
42
What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
* Occipital * Parietal * Temporal * Frontal
43
Where is the occipital lobe located?
At the posterior end of the cortex
44
What is the primary function of the primary visual cortex?
Main area for visual processing
45
What occurs as a result of damage to the occipital lobe?
Cortical blindness
46
What does the postcentral gyrus do?
Receives input from touch, muscle stretch, and joint receptors
47
What is one function of the parietal lobe?
Processes body sensation and spatial awareness
48
Where is the temporal lobe located?
On the lateral sides of the cortex (near temples)
49
What are some main functions of the temporal lobe?
* Primary auditory processing * Language comprehension * Complex vision * Emotional & motivational behaviors
50
What is Klüver-Bucy syndrome?
A disorder caused by temporal lobe damage that reduces fear/anxiety and causes abnormal behaviors
51
What does the precentral gyrus control?
Fine voluntary movements
52
What is the role of the prefrontal cortex?
Involved in complex behaviors, decision-making, and planning
53
What is a prefrontal lobotomy?
Surgical disconnection of the prefrontal cortex from the rest of the brain
54
What were common side effects of prefrontal lobotomies?
* Apathy * Loss of planning/initiative * Memory issues * Poor impulse control * Reduced emotional expression * Social disinhibition
55
What are the three regions of the prefrontal cortex?
* Posterior – Movement control * Middle – Working memory, cognitive control, emotional regulation * Anterior – Decision making and evaluation of actions
56
What is the binding problem?
The question of how various brain areas produce a perception of a single object
57
What is an example of an illusion related to the binding problem?
Ventriloquist Effect
58
What happens during the mirror hand illusion?
Seeing a mirrored right hand while moving both leads to the sensation that the mirror hand is the left hand
59
What phenomenon occurs when two beeps and one flash are perceived?
Perceive one beep if the tone is soft
60
Fill in the blank: The occipital lobe is the main area for _______.
visual processing
61
What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
Frontal lobe, Parietal lobe, Temporal lobe, Occipital lobe
62
What is the primary function of the frontal lobe?
Involved in decision making, problem solving, and planning
63
Where is the parietal lobe located?
Located at the top of the brain, behind the frontal lobe
64
True or False: The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information.
True
65
Fill in the blank: The _____ lobe is primarily responsible for auditory processing.
Temporal
66
What role does the parietal lobe play in sensory perception?
Processes sensory information such as touch, temperature, and pain
67
Which lobe is located at the back of the brain?
Occipital lobe
68
What is a major function of the temporal lobe?
Involved in memory and language comprehension
69
Multiple choice: Which lobe is associated with higher cognitive functions such as reasoning? A) Occipital B) Frontal C) Parietal D) Temporal
B) Frontal
70
True or False: The frontal lobe is located at the back of the brain.
False
71
What is the location of the temporal lobe?
Located beneath the lateral fissure, on the sides of the brain
72
Fill in the blank: The _____ lobe integrates sensory input from different modalities.
Parietal
73
Which lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing?
Occipital lobe
74
What functions are associated with the frontal lobe?
Motor function, executive functions, and emotional regulation
75
True or False: The parietal lobe is involved in language processing.
False
76
What is one of the four categories relating brain structure to function?
Examine the effects of brain damage
77
What historical discovery is linked to Paul Broca?
Damage in left frontal cortex linked to loss of speech ## Footnote This area is now called Broca’s area, shifting belief toward functional localization in the brain.
78
What are some behavioral effects of brain damage?
* Inability to recognize faces * Inability to perceive motion * Attention shifts (e.g., only to right side) * Changes in motivation, emotion * Memory impairments
79
What are the two types of studies used to examine brain damage?
* Human studies * Animal studies
80
What is ablation in the context of studying brain damage?
Surgical removal of brain area
81
What is a lesion in brain studies?
Targeted damage via electric current or chemicals
82
What instrument is used for precise placement of electrodes in the brain?
Stereotaxic instrument
83
What are sham lesions?
Control group gets all procedures except the damaging current
84
What is the purpose of chemical lesions?
Kills or temporarily disables neurons without harming axons
85
What does transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) do?
Applies an intense magnetic field to temporarily inactivate neurons
86
What is one example of the effects of TMS?
Disrupted task of mentally rotating a hand
87
What modern approach uses light to control neurons?
Optogenetics
88
What are the three steps required for optogenetics?
* Light-sensitive proteins from microbes * Viruses to deliver proteins into specific neuron types/parts * Thin optical fibers to deliver light to targeted brain area
89
What is EEG used for?
Records electrical activity of the brain through electrodes attached to the scalp
90
What does MEG measure?
Faint magnetic fields generated by brain activity
91
How does PET scan map brain activity?
By recording the emission of radioactivity from injected chemicals
92
What does fMRI measure?
Changes in blood oxygenation during brain activity
93
What is a challenge of interpreting fMRI results?
Assumption that activity in a specific area always corresponds to a specific psychological process may be misleading
94
What is one example of fMRI contributions to psychological research?
* Placebo effect and pain * Memory types and brain activation * Mind wandering and the default system
95
What historical method attempted to relate skull anatomy to behavior?
Phrenology
96
What does a CT scan do?
Uses X-rays and a dye to create brain images
97
What are some correlations between brain areas and behaviors?
* Amygdala size linked to social contacts * Personality traits correlated with specific cortical areas * Executive function linked to white matter connections in prefrontal cortex * Vocabulary size linked to gray matter in part of parietal lobe
98
What is a caution when correlating brain anatomy with behavior?
Many studies use small/unrepresentative samples
99
What does 'Dorsal' refer to in anatomical terms?
Toward the back, away from the ventral (stomach) side.
100
What is the definition of 'Ventral'?
Toward the stomach, away from the dorsal (back) side.
101
What does 'Anterior' indicate in anatomical orientation?
Toward the front end.
102
Define 'Posterior' in anatomical terms.
Toward the rear end.
103
What does 'Superior' mean in anatomy?
Above another part.
104
What is the meaning of 'Inferior'?
Below another part.
105
What does 'Lateral' refer to?
Toward the side, away from the midline.
106
Define 'Medial'.
Toward the midline, away from the side.
107
What does 'Proximal' mean in anatomical terms?
Located close (approximate) to the point of origin or attachment.
108
What is the definition of 'Distal'?
Located more distant from the point of origin or attachment.
109
What does 'Ipsilateral' mean?
On the same side of the body (e.g., two parts on the left or two on the right).
110
Define 'Contralateral'.
On the opposite side of the body (one on the left and one on the right).
111
What is a 'Coronal plane'?
A plane that shows brain structures as seen from the front.
112
What does the 'Sagittal plane' show?
Brain structures as seen from the side.
113
Define the 'Horizontal plane' (or transverse plane).
A plane that shows brain structures as seen from above.

PSYC 302 Biological Pysc (5 decks)

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