6C: Behavior Flashcards
Brain Anatomy: Internal capsule
White matter structure that transmits motor signals through the corticospinal pathway
Brain Anatomy: Corpus Callosum
White matter structure that connects the two hemispheres
Hemispheric lateralization: right hemisphere
visuospatial, emotion, artistic/musical processing
Left hemisphere
linguistic and analytical processing
Stretch reflex
Muscle contacts to being stretched while the antagonist muscle relax, to regulate muscle strength
Lower motor neuron signs
Abnormalities–> fasciculations, decrease muscle tones, and decreased reflexes
Upper motor neuron signs
Abnormalities–> clonus, extensor plantar response, increase muscle tones and increase reflexes
Clonus
Rhythmic contractions of antagonistic muscles
the ankle dorsiflexes and plantarflexes involuntarily back and forth in quick succession
Hypertonia ( muscle tension vs muscle strength)
Increase tone of skeletal muscle= increase muscle tension but decrease muscle strength
Extensor plantar response
Hard object scraped on bottom of foot results in extension and abduction of toes=babinski reflex
Endocrine anatomy: Hypothalamus
Links the central nervous system and the endocrine system via the pituitary gland
Endocrine anatomy: Anterior Pituitary gland
Anterior produces FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH, prolactin, Endorphins, GH
Post Pituitary gland
ADH, oxytocin
Thyroid gland
regulate body metabolism
produce T3 and T4
Parathyroid glands
Four glands–> produce parathyroid hormones–> regulate Calcium
Adrenal glands: Cortex: responsible for
producing aldosterone, cortisol, and androgens
Adrenal glands: Medulla: responsible for
Producing epinephrine and norepinephrine
Gonalds
Female: the ovaries, and in males, the testes
Stimulated by FSH/LH to release sex hormones
Pancreas
Regulate blood sugar
3 major areas of the frontal lobe
1) motor cortex ( body movement)
2) prefrontal cortex ( executive function)
3) Broca’s area ( speech production)
2 functions of Parietal lobe
1) Somatosensory cortex ( touch/pressure/pain)
2) spatial manipulation ( 3D orientation)
Occipital lobe
responsible for visual input
3 functions of temporal lobe
1) sound
2) Wernicke’s area ( language comprehension)
3) memory/emotion
Primary and secondary visual cortex
The primary visual cortex, located in the occiptal lobe, processes direct visual input from the retinas.
The secondary visual cortex then further processes information from the primary cortex.
Prefrontal cortex
Develops during adolescence
Regulates high level executive functions like planning, decision making, considering the future
Anterior portion of the frontal lobe
Cerebellum
Located under the cerebrum
Primary functions: coordinates movement and regulates sense of position
Abnormalities in the cerebellum will cause loss of balance
Brainstem
3 parts of the brain stem and overall function
midbrain/pon/medulla
regulate arousal/alterness
Pons
regulate waking/relaxing
Medulla
Regulates autonomic activity of the heart and lungs
CT scan
Series of X-rays to that are combined into a composite image to create three dimensional image
Compared to MRI: Lower resolution than MRI, not as good for soft tissue detail, but much faster and better for bony structures
MRI
Radiowaves with magnetic fields to disrupt orientation of atoms. Realignment results in signals used to create MRI three dimensional imaging
Slower than CT scan, but higher resolution and better for soft tissue
EEG
non-invasive
Used to measure brain electrical activity
Can give information about seizures or sleep stages
Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)
Measures brain electrical activity like EEG
Compared to EEG: higher resolution, but requires large machine and special room
fMRI
Form of MRI that allows for visualization of which regions of brain are active
Measures relative amounts of oxygenated versus deoxygenated blood in the brain, thus allowing us to determine what brain areas are being used for a given task
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Combined with CT or MRI, allow for visualization of cellular activity
Provide radioactive drug (tracer) and see where the tracer is located after certain period of time
Location of upper motor neurons
Located in the brain and the spinal cord
Lower motor neurons
synapse between the PNS and skeletal muscle, forming a neuromuscular junction
Neurotransmitter: Glutamate
The reticular activating system has diffuse projections of glutamate to the cerebral cortex
Associated with increased cortical arousal
GABA and Glycine
Most common inhibitory neurotransmitters
GABA is found in the brain while glycine is found in the spinal cord
Acetylcholine
High concentration in nucleus basalis and septal nuclei of the frontal lobe
Released in the neuromuscular junction of lower motor neurons
Histamine
High concentration in hypothalamus with projections to the cerebral cortex
Norepinephrine
High concentration in the brainstem in the pons, specifically the locus coeruleus
Also located in the autonomic nervous system, but at lower concentrations compared to acetylcholine
Serotonin
High concentration in the brainstem at the raphe nuclei
Dopamine
High concentration in ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra
Low concentration of dopamine in the striatum leads to Parkinson’s disease
Associated with experience of pleasure, and contributes to maintenance of addictive behaviors
Amino acid neurotransmitters
Amino acid neurotransmitters
Excitatory neurotransmitters: glutamate
Inhibitory neurotransmitters: GABA (in the CNS) and glycine (in the PNS)
Monoamine neurotransmitters
Include catecholamines, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine
Contain one amino group connected to an aromatic ring by a two-carbon chain
Peptide neurotransmitters
Opioids (such as endorphins), which are involved in the perception of pain
