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Psychology > 34 Brain Questions > Flashcards

34 Brain Questions Flashcards

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1
Q

Identify and discuss the function of the central nervous system

A

Brain and spinal cord

Interprets the info from the sensory neuron using interneuron and sends back motor neurons to muscles or glands

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2
Q

Identify and discuss the functions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

Consists of all neurons outside of CNS

Receives motor neuron signals and produces reaction through muscles and glands

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3
Q

Identify and discuss the functions of the Somatic Nervous System

A

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.

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4
Q

Identify and discuss the functions of the Sympathetic nervous system

A

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
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5
Q

Identify and discuss the functions of the Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

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

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6
Q

Describe the structure of a neuron and explain the path a neural signal takes from a sending neuron to a receiving neuron

A

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

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7
Q

Locate afferent neurons, efferent neurons and interneurons and explain their functions

A

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

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8
Q

Explain how reflex works

A

Automatic response to sensory stimuli

Afferent → interneuron → efferent→

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9
Q

Explain the role of an agonist and give an example

A

Mimics a neurotransmitter

Binds to receptors of cell
-Morphine - mimics endorphins to reduce pain

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10
Q

Explain the role of an antagonist and give an example

A

Binds to receptors of cell

Block neurotransmitters
-Prozac - blocks reuptake site of serotonin to extend period where serotonin stays in synapse

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11
Q

Explain serotonin’s impact on human behavior. How does Prozac type chemicals affect serotonin levels?

A

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

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12
Q

Explain how dopamine affects human behavior. Give an example of a problem associated with dopamine levels

A

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)

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13
Q

Explain the effect of acetylcholine on human behavior. Give an example associated with acetylcholine levels

A

A neurotransmitter

  • Muscle contractions
  • Influence memory and learning

High: muscle spasms and inability to control movements
-Black Widow venom makes no movement

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14
Q

Explain the effects of norepinephrine on human behavior

A

Controls alertness, emotion, dreaming

Triggers “Fight or Flight”

Low: depression, low energy + alertness

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15
Q

Explain the effect of endorphins on human behavior. Give an example of how drugs affect endorphin levels

A

Lessen the pain, give pleasure

Consumption of alcohol makes endorphins

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16
Q

Locate and explain the function of the brainstem, including the medulla, the pons and the reticular formation

A

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

17
Q

Locate the cerebral cortex. Explain its structure and function. What role do glial cells play in the cerebral cortex?

A

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

18
Q

Locate the parietal lobes and explain their function. Locate the occipital lobes and explain their function

A

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

19
Q

Locate the frontal lobes and explain their function. Locate the temporal lobes and explain their function

A

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
20
Q

Locate and explain the function of cerebellum. How does its function differ from the hippocampus?

A

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
21
Q

Locate and explain the function of the brain stem. How does the medulla differ from the hippocampus?

A

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

22
Q

Locate and explain the function of the thalamus. Why is it sometimes called “the grand central station of the brain”?

A

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

23
Q

Locate and explain the function of the limbic system, including the hypothalamus, the amygdala, the hippocampus and the pituitary gland

A

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

24
Q

Locate the motor cortex and explain its function. Why do the fingers and mouth take up the greatest amount of cortical space?

A

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

25
Q

Locate the sensory cortex and explain its function. Why do the lips take up a greater space than other body parts?

A

Located front of parietal lobes and behind motor cortex
-Receives all input from 5 senses

Lips because most sensitive part of body

26
Q

Locate the association areas and explain their function

A

Located within cerebral cortex

  • Do NOT possess motor or sensory function
  • connect sensory input and memories
  • Higher level thinking and functioning (visual association)
27
Q

Identify the right and left hemispheres of the brain, explain how they differ and how they communicate

A

Right

  • Art, music, creativity, emotions
  • Controls Left side

Left

  • Problem solving, logic, reasoning
  • Controls Right side
  • -Communicate through Corpus Callosum
28
Q

What is the endocrine system? Identify at least two glands and explain their function?

A

Ductless glands that secrete hormones into blood

Regulates body processes

Pituitary: master gland, produces growth hormones

Adrenal gland: produces adrenaline

29
Q

Demonstrate the link between the nervous system and the endocrine system. Explain the difference

A

Both communication systems

Transmit signals/messages through chemical or electrical messengers

Nervous and neurotransmitters are fast

Endocrine and hormones are slow

30
Q

Demonstrate how the nervous system and the endocrine system would respond if you found yourself in an emergency situation

A

Nervous: sympathetic PNS- flight or flight

Endocrine: activate adrenal gland to release epinephrine
Sweat glands would be activated

31
Q

Identify the four main kinds of brain scans. Which are for showing structure, and which are for showing function?

A

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)

32
Q

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?

A

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
33
Q

What is brain plasticity? When does it happen the most and when does it happen the least?

A

Brain modifies its structure in order to adapt to new changes
-Most: childhood

34
Q

Where is speech function located in the brain? How does this differ in people that are left handed?

A

Broca’s Area: left hemisphere/ frontal lobe

Left handed less lateralized than right, less dominant than Right in certain aspects

Psychology (8 decks)

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