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Intro to Psychology > 1.3 Neuroscience and Behavior > Flashcards

1.3 Neuroscience and Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

neurons

A
  • cells in the nervous system that communicate with one other to perform information-processing tasks
  • communication occurs within and between neurons
  • channels within a neuron control the amount of potassium that flows in and out of the neuron
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2
Q

cell body (soma)

A
  • the part of a neuron that coordinated information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive
  • contains the nucleus, which houses chromosomes containing your DNA
  • proteins synthesis, energy production, and metabolism take place here
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3
Q

dendrites

A
  • receive information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body
  • tree-like structures
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4
Q

axon

A
  • the part of a neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, or glands
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5
Q

myelin sheath

A
  • insulating layer of fatty material
  • located on the axon of some neurons
  • increases the speed of neuronal transmission
  • comprised of glial cells
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6
Q

glial cells

A
  • support cells found in the nervous system
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7
Q

multiple sclerosis

A
  • myelin sheath degeneration
  • results in poor communication between neurons
  • can lead to loss of feeling in limbs, partial blindness, difficulties coordinating movement
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8
Q

synapse

A
  • the junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another
  • how neurons communicate with one another
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9
Q

sensory neurons

A
  • receive information from the external world
  • convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord
  • ex) sensory neurons in our eyes are sensitive to and receive signals for light
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10
Q

motor neurons

A
  • carry signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement
  • these can range from very short to very long (more than a foot long)
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11
Q

interneurons

A
  • connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons
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12
Q

conduction

A
  • the movement of an electrical signal with neurons, from the dendrites to the cell body and then throughout the axon
  • created by the flow of ions in and out of the cell
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13
Q

transmission

A
  • the movement of electric signals from one neuron to another over the synapse
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14
Q

ion

A
  • an atom or molecule with a new charge
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15
Q

resting potential

A
  • the natural electric charge of a neuron
  • the difference in electric charge between the inside and out of a neuron’s cell membrane
  • the electric charge is determined by the concentration of positively or negatively charged ions
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16
Q

Within a neuron

A
  • K+ (potassium) and A- (protein) ions
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17
Q

outside a neuron

A

Na+ (sodium) and Cl- (chloride) ions

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18
Q

in resting state

A
  • channels allowing the free flow of K+ are open
    channels allowing the flow of Na+ are closed
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19
Q

refractory period

A

the time following an action potential during which a new action potential cannot be initiated

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20
Q

terminal buttons

A

knob-like structures branching out from the axon

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21
Q

presynaptic neuron

A

the sending neuron

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22
Q

post-synaptic neuron

A

the receiving neuron

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23
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemicals that transmit info across the synapse to receiving neuron’s dendrites

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24
Q

dopamine

A

regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal

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25
Q

high levels of ___ are liked to schizophrenia and low levels are linked to parkinsons

A

dopamine

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26
Q

glutamate

A

the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain

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27
Q

acetylcholine (Ach)

A

involved in a number of functions including voluntary motor control
- activates muscles to initiate motor behavior
- contributes to the regulation of attention, learning, sleeping, dreaming, and memory

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28
Q

what disease is associated with a deterioration of Ach-producing neurons

A

Alzheimer’s

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29
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutryic acid)

A

the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain

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30
Q

Norepinephrine

A

involved in states of vigilance, or heightened awareness of dangers in the environment

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31
Q

Serotonin

A

involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, and aggressive behavior

32
Q

Central Nervous System

A
  • receives sensory info for the external world
  • processes and coordinated indo
  • sends commands to the skeletal muscular systems for action
  • comprised of the brain and spinal cord
33
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A
  • connects the CNS to the body’s organs and muscles
34
Q

somatic nervous system

A
  • in the PNS
  • set of nerves that conveys info between voluntary muscles and the CNS
  • humans have conscious control over this system
35
Q

actions that the somatic nervous system is in charge of

A
  • raising your hand
  • walking
  • texting on your phone
  • anything that you can control
36
Q

autonomic nervous system

A
  • in the PNS
  • set of nerves that carries involuntary and automatic commands that control blood, vessels, body organs, and glands
37
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A
  • in PNS in autonomic
  • set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations
  • ex) dilates pupils to let in more light, increases heart rate and respiration to pump more oxygen to muscles
38
Q

actions that the automatic nervous system is in charge of

A
  • heart beat
  • blood flow throughout the body
  • breathing (when its not being controlled)
39
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A
  • in PNS in autonomic
  • set of nerves that helps the body return to a normal resting state
40
Q

what does the hindbrain do

A

coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord

41
Q

what does the hindbrain consist of

A
  • medulla
  • reticular formation
  • cerebellum
  • pons
42
Q

what does the midbrain consist of

A
  • tectum
  • tegmentum
43
Q

what does the forebrain consist of

A
  • cerebral cortex
  • subcortical structures
44
Q

what is the midbrain important for

A

important for orientation and movement

45
Q

what is the forebrain important for

A
  • considered the highest level of the brain
  • critical for complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions
46
Q

medulla

A
  • an extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration
  • apart of the hindbrain
47
Q

reticular formation

A
  • regulates sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal
  • apart of the hindbrain
48
Q

cerebellum

A
  • large structure controlling fine motor skills
  • apart of the hindbrain
49
Q

pons

A
  • relays info from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain
  • apart of the hindbrain
50
Q

tectum

A
  • receives stimulus input from the eyes, ears, and skin
  • orients the organism to the environmental stimulus
  • apart of the midbrain
51
Q

tegmentum

A
  • involved in movement and arousal
  • apart of the midbrain
52
Q

cerebral cortex

A
  • the outermost layer of the brain
  • critical for complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions
  • apart of the forebrain
53
Q

subcortical structures

A
  • areas of the forebrain housed under the cerebral cortex near the very center of the brain
  • thalamus
  • hypothalamus
  • pituitary gland
  • hippocampus
  • amygdala
  • basal ganglia
54
Q

thalamus

A
  • relays and filters info from the senses
  • transmits the info to the cerebral cortex
55
Q

hypothalamus

A
  • regulates body temp, hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior
  • oversees blood sugar levels, metabolism within an optimal range
  • also part of the limbic system
56
Q

pituitary gland

A
  • “master gland”
  • produces and releases hormones that direct the function of many other glands in the body
57
Q

the limbic system

A
  • a group of forebrain structures involved in motivation, emotion, learning, and memory
  • hypothalamus
  • amygdala
  • hippocampus
58
Q

hippocampus

A
  • critical for creating new memories
  • dream box
59
Q

amygdala

A
  • important in the formation of emotional memories
  • much research has focused on the role of the amygdala in fear
60
Q

basal ganglia

A
  • a set of subcortical structures that is important for motor function
  • related in part to movement difficulties in Parkinson’s
61
Q

striatum

A
  • portion of the basal ganglia controlling posture and movement
62
Q

gyrus

A
  • the raised smooth parts of the cerebral cortex
63
Q

sulcus

A
  • the indentations or fissures of the cerebral cortex
64
Q

commissures

A
  • bundles of exons that make communication between the two hemispheres of the cerebral cortex possible
65
Q

corpus callosum

A
  • connects the large areas of the cerebral cortex on each side of the brain and supports communication of information across the hemispheres
66
Q

occipital lobe

A
  • back of the head
  • processes visual info
67
Q

parietal lobe

A
  • located in front of the occipital lobe
  • processes info about touch
  • somatosensory cortex –> section of brain tissue that represents the skin areas on the contralateral surface of the body
68
Q

temporal lobe

A
  • lower sides of the head
  • responsible for hearing and language
  • contains the primary auditory cortex –> receives sensory info from the ears based on the frequencies of sounds
69
Q

frontal lobe

A
  • sits behind the forehead
  • has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
70
Q

frontal lobe

A
  • sits behind the forehead
  • has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgment
71
Q

electroencephalograph (EEG)

A
  • records electrical activity in the brain
  • can also be used to measure behavior while awake (perception, learning, memory)
72
Q

structural brain imaging

A
  • provides info and the basic structure of the brain
  • shows brain structure abnormalities
73
Q

functional brain imaging

A
  • provides info about the activity of the brain when people perform various kinds of cognitive or motor tasks
74
Q

CT scan

A
  • x-ray photos that show tissue density
  • lesions and tumors are usually less dense
75
Q

MRI

A
  • uses a strong magnetic field to line up the nuclei of specific molecules
  • useful for measuring structure not function
76
Q

pet scan

A
  • harmless radioactive substance is injected into the blood stream
  • substance is traced as specific tasks require increased localized blood flood
77
Q

fMRI

A
  • detects differences between oxygenated hemoglobin (required in localized areas of functioning in the brain) and deoxygenated hemoglobin

Intro to Psychology (6 decks)

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