34 Brain Questions Flashcards
Identify and discuss the function of the central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
Interprets the info from the sensory neuron using interneuron and sends back motor neurons to muscles or glands
Identify and discuss the functions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Consists of all neurons outside of CNS
Receives motor neuron signals and produces reaction through muscles and glands
Identify and discuss the functions of the Somatic Nervous System
Part of the PNS that controls voluntary movement through skeletal muscles.
After motor neuron signal is received, the somatic nervous system responds to the stimuli through specific muscular contractions.
Identify and discuss the functions of the Sympathetic nervous system
Part of the autonomic nervous system
Controls involuntary movements
Fight-or-flight response
- Activates the response in order to help the individual escape the situation. Heart rate increases, breathing rate increases, digestive processes slow
- Adrenaline (epinephrine) pumps throughout the body
Identify and discuss the functions of the Parasympathetic Nervous System
Part of the autonomic nervous system
Controls involuntary movements
Rest and Digest
-As a result, these processes, such as digestion, salivation, and sexual arousal, involve unconscious thought
Describe the structure of a neuron and explain the path a neural signal takes from a sending neuron to a receiving neuron
Dendrites receive signal from the terminal buttons of the previous neuron
Cell body, soma, includes nucleus
Extends into axon which is wrapped in the myelin sheath
Axon branches into terminal fibers
Terminal buttons on end send neurotransmitters
Synapses are the spaces in between terminal button of one neuron and the dendrite of another
Locate afferent neurons, efferent neurons and interneurons and explain their functions
Afferent Neurons are sensory neurons, they send info to CNS
Interneuron is in CNS and process information and send motor neuron instructions
Efferent Neurons are motor neurons, they send signals back from CNS
Explain how reflex works
Automatic response to sensory stimuli
Afferent → interneuron → efferent→
Explain the role of an agonist and give an example
Mimics a neurotransmitter
Binds to receptors of cell
-Morphine - mimics endorphins to reduce pain
Explain the role of an antagonist and give an example
Binds to receptors of cell
Block neurotransmitters
-Prozac - blocks reuptake site of serotonin to extend period where serotonin stays in synapse
Explain serotonin’s impact on human behavior. How does Prozac type chemicals affect serotonin levels?
Produced in CNS: regulates attention, body temp, and behavior
Serotonin is used in intestines: digestion of food, blood flow, breathing
Prozac is antagonist for serotonin, makes it last longer
Explain how dopamine affects human behavior. Give an example of a problem associated with dopamine levels
Affects movement, cognition, pleasure and motivation
High level: stressed out
Low level: depression, weight gain and loss of motor control, decrease in focus (prefrontal cortex)
Explain the effect of acetylcholine on human behavior. Give an example associated with acetylcholine levels
A neurotransmitter
- Muscle contractions
- Influence memory and learning
High: muscle spasms and inability to control movements
-Black Widow venom makes no movement
Explain the effects of norepinephrine on human behavior
Controls alertness, emotion, dreaming
Triggers “Fight or Flight”
Low: depression, low energy + alertness
Explain the effect of endorphins on human behavior. Give an example of how drugs affect endorphin levels
Lessen the pain, give pleasure
Consumption of alcohol makes endorphins
Locate and explain the function of the brainstem, including the medulla, the pons and the reticular formation
Brainstem: essential for facial movements and innervation
-Location: beneath occipital lobe, connects brain to spinal cord
Medulla: controlling autonomic- heart, breathe, BP
-Location: bellow pons
Pons: breath, sleep, swallow, hear and see
-Location: upper region of brain stem, connects to thalamus
Reticular Formation: sleep cycle, filtering signals
-Location: behind to pons
Locate the cerebral cortex. Explain its structure and function. What role do glial cells play in the cerebral cortex?
Outer layer tissue that surrounds cerebrum (brain)
Sulci (grooves) and gyri (ridges)
Involved in memory, attention, language, thought and consciousness
Glial cells provide nutrients + support the cerebral cortex
-Oligodendrocytes (in CNS) compose myelin sheaths
Locate the parietal lobes and explain their function. Locate the occipital lobes and explain their function
Parietal: located behind frontal lobe and above temporal and occipital
- Sensory- helps send info of temp, touch, taste, etc.
- Sensors pain receptors
Occipital: back of head
-Visual association area- processes visual info received from sensory neuron in eye
Locate the frontal lobes and explain their function. Locate the temporal lobes and explain their function
Frontal: in front of parietal lobes; behind foreheads
-Involved in speaking, muscle movement and judgment
Temporal: Under parietal and frontal lobe
- Helps with visual and auditory info.
- Associated with memory and emotions
Locate and explain the function of cerebellum. How does its function differ from the hippocampus?
Cerebellum: located toward back of brain with pons directly in front
- Fine motor control, balance and coordination
- Muscular learning and precision
Hippocampus: temporal lobe neural center, part of brain’s limbic system
- Has memories of situations only
- If hippocampus is damaged, reading and writing still happen
Locate and explain the function of the brain stem. How does the medulla differ from the hippocampus?
Brainstem: oldest part and central core of brain, beginning where spinal cord enters skull
-Automatic survival function
Medulla: regulates heart rhythm, blood flow, breathing rate, digestion and vomiting
Hippocampus: in charge of other autonomous stuff and does situational memory
Locate and explain the function of the thalamus. Why is it sometimes called “the grand central station of the brain”?
Located at top of brainstem
Directs signals to sensory receiving areas in cortex to cerebellum and medulla
“Grand central station of the brain” because almost all incoming info goes through it on the way to cortex
Locate and explain the function of the limbic system, including the hypothalamus, the amygdala, the hippocampus and the pituitary gland
Limbic system: older areas of brain and cerebral hemispheres
-Emotions and drives
Hypothalamus: maintenance functions (ex. digestion) and governs endocrine system
Amygdala: controls aggression and fear
Hippocampus: processes memory info
Pituitary gland: controls growth and manages endocrine system
Locate the motor cortex and explain its function. Why do the fingers and mouth take up the greatest amount of cortical space?
Located near back of frontal lobes
-Voluntary movements through skeletal muscles
Fingers and mouth have largest amount of cortical space because contain greatest amount of nerves
Locate the sensory cortex and explain its function. Why do the lips take up a greater space than other body parts?
Located front of parietal lobes and behind motor cortex
-Receives all input from 5 senses
Lips because most sensitive part of body
Locate the association areas and explain their function
Located within cerebral cortex
- Do NOT possess motor or sensory function
- connect sensory input and memories
- Higher level thinking and functioning (visual association)
Identify the right and left hemispheres of the brain, explain how they differ and how they communicate
Right
- Art, music, creativity, emotions
- Controls Left side
Left
- Problem solving, logic, reasoning
- Controls Right side
- -Communicate through Corpus Callosum
What is the endocrine system? Identify at least two glands and explain their function?
Ductless glands that secrete hormones into blood
Regulates body processes
Pituitary: master gland, produces growth hormones
Adrenal gland: produces adrenaline
Demonstrate the link between the nervous system and the endocrine system. Explain the difference
Both communication systems
Transmit signals/messages through chemical or electrical messengers
Nervous and neurotransmitters are fast
Endocrine and hormones are slow
Demonstrate how the nervous system and the endocrine system would respond if you found yourself in an emergency situation
Nervous: sympathetic PNS- flight or flight
Endocrine: activate adrenal gland to release epinephrine
Sweat glands would be activated
Identify the four main kinds of brain scans. Which are for showing structure, and which are for showing function?
CT(CAT)- series of different angles combined, looks at bones (structure)
MRI- magnetic fields and radio waves that show different types of brain tissue
(structure)
PET- shows brain activity, represented by color, glucose while brain performs task
-math problem (function)
fMRI- show blood flow, which specific parts of brain are active (function)
Explain what it means to be split-brain. Tell something someone with split brain can do better that someone without and something he/she could do worse?
Lesion in corpus callosum, the connection
Neurological Abnormalities:
- Better: can read two pages of a book at the same time
- Worse: could cause split personality
What is brain plasticity? When does it happen the most and when does it happen the least?
Brain modifies its structure in order to adapt to new changes
-Most: childhood
Where is speech function located in the brain? How does this differ in people that are left handed?
Broca’s Area: left hemisphere/ frontal lobe
Left handed less lateralized than right, less dominant than Right in certain aspects
