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Psych 1010 > Week 3 > Flashcards

Week 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

What does biological psychology study ?

A

Studies the
relationship between
the nervous system
and behaviour

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2
Q

What is phrenology?

A

It is a brain mapping method and was one of the earliest ones.

Thought that skull shape reflected brain size and cognitive function

Discredited by mid 1800s (linked to eugenics)

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3
Q

Which brain techniques involve radiation?

A

CT Scan
PET Scan

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4
Q

Which brain techniques involve magnetic fields

A

MRI
FMRI

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5
Q

Which brain imaging techniques involve electric activity

A

EEG

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6
Q

Explain CT Scan

A

Computerized tomography : Involves x rays and creates an image through x rays passing through varied densities within the brain,, can used to show brain tumors

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7
Q

What is PET Scan

A

Positron Emission Tomography :
Helpful for showing brain activity
Involves injection of mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different brain areas

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8
Q

What is MRI & FMRI

A

Magnetic resonance imaging :
MAgnetic fields used to produce picture of tissue
Functional MRI shows changes in metabolic activity over time

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9
Q

What is EEG

A

Electroencephalography : Recording electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on scalp
EEG research can study precise timing of overall brain activity by tracking amplitude and frequency
Hard to study small areas

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10
Q

What is MEG

A

Magnetoencephalography : Measures tiny magentic fields generated by the brain, used to identify location of epilepsy related seizures

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11
Q

What is DBS

A

Deep brain stimulation : Modify brain function through implanted electrodes, used to treat disorders ( ex; parkinsons, depression etc)

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12
Q

What is TMS

A

Transcranial magnetic stimulation : Applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function

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13
Q

Is brain imaging photo s of the brain in action ?

A

NO

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14
Q

What could brain area activtity on brain scan mean ?

A

That neurons are inhibiting rather than exciting

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15
Q

What are action potentials ?

A

Nerve impulse or electrical signals that travel down an axon

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16
Q

What are glial cells

A

Support, nourish & protect neurons

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17
Q

Where do neurons meet ?

A

Synapses

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18
Q

How do neurons communicate ?

A

Through neurotransmission

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19
Q

What are neurons and what are they specialized in ?

A

They are nerve cells and specialize in communication with each other, they also transmit information in the form of electrical signals

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20
Q

What is the cell body (soma)

A

Centre of neuron, builds new cell componentds

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21
Q

What are axons ?

A

Tails that transmit info

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22
Q

What are synapses (synaptic clef)

A

Space between neurons through which NT travel

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23
Q

What is a dendrite

A

Branchlike extension that receive infromation

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24
Q

What is an axon terminal

A

Knob at the end of the axon containing synaptic vesicles filled with neurotransmitters

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25
What are glial cells
They play a valuable support role, involved in psychological functioning (ex; make mylein) They are bodyguards and feed & protect.
26
What is myelin sheath
Fatty insulation from glial cells surrounding axon
27
What is multiple sclerosis
Loss of myelin causes erratic signals
28
Explain step by step how a neuron fires
The electrical impulse is called the action potential. 1. Resting potential Neuron is polarized (negative inside, positive outside) Selectively permeable-gates dont allow sodium ions to pass through 2. Action potential, brief electrical charge that travels down neuron Transmits neural messages to other neurons, muscles etc.. When stimulated, neuron depolarized All or none law Frequency = intensity 3. Repolarization Potassium flows out, repolarizing the axon (Ka+) 4. Return to resting potential 5. Refractory period Brief period of time where neuron wont fire no matter how much stimulation
29
How does electrochemical communication work ?
When an electrical signal reaches the end of an axon, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse. Neurotransmitters then bind to receptors of receiving neurons, dendrites, transmitting the signal
30
What is an excitatory message ?
Messages that make it more likely a neuron will fire
31
What is inhibitory message ?
Messages that make it less likely that neuron will fire
32
What are neurotransmitters ?
Chemical messengers that help neurons communicate wiht each other
33
What do neurotransmitters influence or do ?
* Influence emotions & mood (serotonin & dopamine) * Control movement (acetylcholine) * Regulate sleep and alertness (GABA & norepinephrine) * Learning & memory (glutamate) * Implicated in mental illness
34
What is release in the context of neurotransmission ?
Release * Action potential triggers neurotransmitter (NT) released from vesicles into the synaptic cleft. * NTs bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron (lock and key
35
What is reuptake in context of neurotransmission ?
Excess NTs are removed by drifting away, being broken down, or reabsorbed. * Reuptake: NTs are taken back into the presynaptic neuron (recycling!) * Some drugs (e.g., cocaine) block reuptake, prolonging NT effects
36
What is an agonist
Mimic or enhance the effect of a neurotransmitter
37
What is an antagonist
Block or impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmitter
38
What is schizophrenia associated with and what medecine is prescribed ?
Schizophrenia associated with excess dopamine —> dopamine antagonists prescribed (antipsychotic medication)
39
What is parkinsons associated with and what is prescribed ?
Parkinson’s associated with low dopamine —> prescribed dopamine agonist
40
Name all neurotransmitters
Glutamate GABA Acetylcholine Dopamine Serotonin Anandamines
41
Glutamate and GABA + explain who is inhibitoy and excitatory
Most common NTS Associated with learning and memory Glutamate is excitatory and increases the chance neurons will communicate Toxic in high doses, may contribute to shizophrenia and other mental disorders GABA is inhibitory , dampening neural activity
42
What is acetylcholine and which condition is it related to
Arousal, selective attention, memory, sleep * Anticholinergic: Benadryl, unison * Increased risk of dementia * Alzheimer’s —> neurons containing acetylcholine are destroyed, leads to memory loss * Aricept -> boosts acetylcholine levels * Insecticide limits breakdown (more acetylcholine
43
What is dopamine and which conditions is it related to ?
Pleasure and reward, voluntary movement * Attention * Parkinson’s à deficit of dopamine * Schizophrenia + symptoms à excess dopamine
44
What is serotonin and which medical condition is it related to
Sleeping, eating, mood, pain, depression * Increase serotonin by: eating foods rich in tryptophan, working out, “runner’s high”, light exposure Depression drugs act on serotonin – increase availability * MDMA causes massive release, empties tank
45
What is Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor for and what does it do ?
Used to treat depression * Blocks reuptake of serotonin
46
What is neural plasticity
The brain is adaptable and can change
47
What is myelination :
makes neurons faster, brain regions more efficient
48
What is pruning
Reorganizing to make bain more efficient! Remove some synaptic connections (e.g., pruning an apple tree)
49
What is hindbrain and what does it do ?
Reptilian/primitive brain * Controls basic functions like eating, sleeping
50
What is medulla
Vital functions like controlling heartbeat, m uscles involced with breathing, vomiting, blood prssure, swallowing etc
51
What is pons
Sleep & arousal
52
What is cerebellum
Motor coordination
53
What is reticular activating system ?
key in arousal (regulating sleep & wakefulness), directing attention, - dysregulated in ADHD brains
54
What is the cerebral cortex / what is it responsible for
Higher mental processes (sense, self, reasoning) * Consists of two cerebral hemispheres (4 lobes) connected by the corpus callosum * Contralateral control
55
What are the lobes
Part of the cerebral cortex Frontal : Planning, decision making Parietal : Sesnation Temporal : auditory Occipital : Vision
56
What is laterilization
Cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other
57
What is the left hemisphere responisble for
Fine tuned language skills : Speech comprehension, prodution, reading, writting etc Actions : Making facial expressions Motion detection
58
What is the right hemisphere responsible for
Coarse language skills : Simple speech, simple writting, tone of voice Visuospatial skills : Perceptual grouping, face perception
59
What is the split brain surgery
Procedure that involves severing the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures
60
What is the frontal lobe responsible for and what are the areas in it ?
Responsible for planning, executive functions, motor .. Broca’s area: language production Motor cortex: responsible for body movement Prefrontal cortex: thinking, planning and language, the “CEO”
61
62
What is the midbrain
Controls movement and transmits information that enables seeing and hearing
63
What does the forebrain do
Manages complex associative functions, cognitive, sensory, and voluntary motor activities.
64
What are the major components of the forebrain
Cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system
65
What is the PFC important for ?
Thoughtful decisions, controlling impulses, regulating emotions
66
Where do people with psychopathic traits have reduced activities ?
Prefrontal cortex
67
What is the somatosensory cortex ?
Part of the pareital lobe and it is sensitive to prpessure, pain and temperature
68
What is the temporal lobe responsible for and what does it contain ?
Hearing, understanding language, storing autobiographical memories. IT also contains the auditory cortex and Wernickes area, responsible for language comprehension
69
What is the occipital lobe responsible for and where is it located
Specialized for vision processing and higher-order visual functions (e.g., recognizing complex shapes) * Located at the back of the brain
70
Damage to which lobe can lead to prosopagnosia (face blindness), visual agnosia
Occipital lobe
71
What is the limbic system and what does it contain
It is the emotional center - also plays a role in smell, motivation, and memory Contains the hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus
72
What is the hypothalamus
Regulates and controls internal bodily states (homeostasis) controls pituitary gland .. Body temperature, hunger, thirst, sexual behavior etc
73
What is a thalamus
relays information from the sense organs to primary sensory cortex
74
Amygdala
Plays key role in fear, agression, excitement and arousal if this area is damaged, it makes it impossible to recognize facial expressions for threat/distress
75
Hippocampus
Responsible for spatial memory, damage causes inability to form new memories
76
What is the primary communication system of the body
Nervous system
77
What is the endocrine system
Second communication system
78
What is a part of the peripheral nervous system ?
Somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
79
What does the somatic nervous system do
Conveys info from CNS to muscles
80
What does the autonomic nervous system do
controls all the involuntary movements of the body
81
Which system are the sympathethic nervous system and parasympathethic nervous system a part of ?
They are a part of the Autonomic nervous system
82
What is sympathethic nervous system responsible for ?
Fight or flight
83
What is parasympathetic responsible for
rest & digest
84
How does a polygraph work ?
It uses physiological measurements linked to ANS
85
What is the endocrine system
Series of glands that produce hormones to regulate normal bodily functions, regulate emotions
86
What does the hypothalamus do in the endocrine system ?
It links the nervous system and endocrine system via the pituitary gland
87
What does the pineal gland do in the endocrine system
Secretes melatonin - can calcify with age or Alzheimer
88
What is the pituary gland
Controlled by the hypothalamus * In turn, controls the other glands in the body * Releases hormones that influence growth, blood pressure, and other functions
89
What is oxytocin
Responsible for numerous reproductive functions, implicated in maternal and romantic love * May be key in trust

Psych 1010 (15 decks)

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