1 - Introduction Flashcards
Define Levels of Analysis
Can be studied at at various levels of analysis
-can be studied from the tiniest level of structure, the molecule, to the largest level of structure, the whole person in the environment.
Ex. Russian Matryoshka doll
(segmental vs. suprasegmental?)
Define Emergent Properties
New kinds of behavior emerge from the unified actions of many cells in many centers.
Ex. Consciousness cannot be explained simply by the physiology of the nervous system so it is an emergent property.
Define Distributed Control
At any one time, the nervous system coordinates many different activities. The system must control voluntary motor activities, such as walking or reaching, cognition and movement, as well as homeostatic regulation which can all happen simultaneously. Coordinate planning initiating, fine-tuning movement.
Ex. chatting with colleague over while drinking cup of coffee.
Define Redundant Representations
Information may be represented in the nervous system in several forms at the same time. Data come in along different routes and processed along parallel pathways.
Ex. know an orange because it looks, feels, smells, and tastes like and orange. To identify it, only one of those sensory modalities bits of information is necessary, yet all might not be available.
Define Serial Processing
Some information travels linearly up (ascending information) or down through the levels of the system.
Ex. stepping in a puddle: sense in foot, nerve, spinal cord, brain, processed, spinal cord nerves in leg, move foot
Define Parallel Processing.
Different attributes are processed by different sensory systems, but messages about them may be received by the brain simultaneously along different parallel pathways. (multiple levels of analysis)
Ex. Orange is defined as edible object with particular shape, texture, range of tastes, and colors. Experience these attributes simultaneously.
Define Feedback
Feedback mechanisms keep brain informed. Command center keeps copy of command and sends to other part of the brain to keep them informed. When even occurs, feedback is sent back to the command center confirming it did occur.
(positive or negative)
Define Integration
The nervous system does not merely take in information and generate automatic responses. Instead, information is processed and reprocessed and reprocessed repeatedly. (parallel processing)
Ex. At centers deep in the brain that receive information about vision, other information about touch or sound may affect how those nerve cells response and signal to other cells.
Define Adaptation
Nervous system ability to learn or to change behavior at most levels of the system. Adapt responses to environmental demands and those demands change.
Ex. (Learning, re-learning -developmental processes, plasticitiy)
Define Localization of function
(anatomical differences; cellular, connectional)
Different parts of the nervous system have different functions that are supported by different structure. A defined area of the brain has unique functions, and unique structural properties in that area that underlie its unique functions.
Ex. Visual Cortex in the occipital lobe processes information from retina, also appears striated due to large number of cells in one layer.
Define Topographic Organiztion
(somatotopic, visuotopic, tonotopic – somite formation)
Information to and from various places maintains some spatial distinctiveness.
Ex. Centers receiving information about things touching the skin have presentation of the body surface so that areas can be distinguished from each other.
Define Hemispheric Specialization
(left vs. right)
The phylogenetically newer sections of the brain have some spatial division of labor.
Ex. Area concerned with language are larger on one side of the brain and areas concerned with spatial perception are larger on the other side of the brain.
Define Columnar Organization
(developmental aspect of motor vs. sensory)
Many parts of the nervous system are organized in vertical columns, particularly older areas.
Ex. groups of cells involved in taste form a long column in the base of the brain.
groups of cells that control eye movements are located one above the other in a broken column.
Define Convergence - Divergence
(used in integration, refinement of stimuli)
Information enters the nervous system from thousands of individual neurons and converges on centers where it may be processed for control of lower level motor behavior, it may be transmitted to other centers, or it may be combined with other information and then sent on to a variety of other centers.
Ex. natural disaster information with government
What is a sagittal plane?
divides the CNS into right and left sides
What is a midsagittal plane?
only one midsagittal section
What is a parasagittal plane?
sagittal sections parallel to the midsagittal plane
What is a transverse plane?
perpendicular to the long axis of the CNS (the longitudinal axis of the CNS exists in different cardinal planes, therefore transverse can be described as being in different cardinal planes)
What is a transverse coronal plane?
transverse to the long axis through the cerebrum and diencephalon
What is a transverse horizontal plane?
transverse to the long axis through the spinal cord
What is a transverse oblique plane?
transverse through the brainstem
The horizontal plane makes right angles to what two coronal sections?
sagittal and coronal sections
In which direction is Rostral?
towards head
In which direction is Caudal?
towards tail
Anterior - Posterior in terms of spinal cord?
same as ventral and dorsal
Anterior - Posterior in terms of cerebrum and the diencephalon brain?
same as rostral and caudal
What directions are at right angles to Anterior and Posterior?
Superior and Inferior
Define Afferent
Designates incoming connections.
Ex. axons/nerve impulses conducted/directed toward the next neuron
Synonymous with term sensory for organization of peripheral nerve.
Define Efferent
designates outgoing connections
Ex. axons/nerve impulses conducted/directed away from a neuron.
Synonymous with term motor for organization of peripheral nerve.
Define Ipsilateral and contralteral in terms of the nervous system
Same Side vs Opposite Side - this indicates that at some point there has to have been a crossing of pathways to get neuronal information from one side to the other.
Define Bilateral in terms of the nervous system
unique situation where information is traveling/being integrated on both sides of the CNS.
What does the neural tube develop into?
Brain and Spinal Cord (Central Nervous System - CNS)
Neural crest cells that were “left behind” eventually form what?
majority of Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
- dorsal root ganglia cells that are cell bodies for all the sensory side
- Schwann cells (mylenating cells of the PNS both sesnory and motor)
- Ganglia of the autonomic nervous system (sensory and post ganglionic motor cells)
- Melanocytes in stratum Basale of epidermis
The developing neural tube is divides into what four plates?
- Roof
- Floor
- Alar
- Basal
Where is the alar plated located?
dorsal to sulcus limitans
What does the alar plate form?
forms the sensory and association part of developing neural tube.
Where is the basal plate located?
anterior to sulcus limitans
What does the alar plate form?
forms the motor part of the developing neural tube, including both alpha and gamma motor neuros.
What do the roof and floor plates generate?
no neuronal components to speak of?
The alar and basal plates are separates by what?
sulcus limitans
What is sulcus limitans?
groove (oriented in the coronal plane) in the wall of the neural tube that separates the alar and basal plates.
Where is the sulcus limitants present?
in the developing cord and into the brainstem only as far as the developing midbrain.
Where does the neural tube expand?
rostral end
What does the neural tube expand into?
three primary vesicles
What are the three primary vesicles?
- Prosencephalon
- Mesencephalon
- Rhombencephalon
Which of the primary vesicles undergo further expansion into secondary vesicles?
- Prosencephalon
2. Rhombencephalon
What secondary vesicles does the primary vesicle Rhombencephalon expand into?
- Metencephalon
2. Myelencephalon
What secondary vesicles does the primary vesicle Prosencephalon expand into?
- Telencephalon
2. Diencephalon
What secondary vesicles does the primary vesicle Mesencephalon expand into?
It doesn’t expand into secondary vesicles.
The vesicle myelencephalon results in the formation of which brain region?
medulla (oblongata)
The vesicle metenephalon results in the formation of which brain region?
pons and cerebellum
The vesicle mesencephalon results in the formation of which brain region?
midbrain
The vesicle diencephalon results in the formation of which brain region?
thalamus and hypothalamus
The vesicle telencephalon results in the formation of which brain region?
cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia
The development and expansion of the secondary brain vesicles result in formation of the ___ and ___. The remainder of the neural tube forms the _____.
The development and expansion of the secondary brain vesicles result in formation of the BRAIN and BRAINSTEM. The remainder of the neural tube forms the SPINAL CORD.
The lumen of the neural tube expands with the developing vesicles and forms the ___.
ventricular system
The ventricular system is continuous with the ___, a remnant of the neural tube.
spinal cord
How many ventricles are there?
4
Where are the two lateral ventricles located?
in the telecephalon (cerebral hemispheres lateral to each other
Where is the third ventricle located?
midline in the diencephalon