Behavior, the Endocrine, and the NS Flashcards
Endocrine functions
fluid regulation, metabolism, blood glucose concentration and calcium levels
What is the endo system?
a network of organs distributed throughout the body that secrete signaling molecule or hormones into the blood stream
What are the jobs of hormones?
Cause change in some physiological function, or trigger other hormones to be released (tropic hormones)
Hypothalamus
converts NS inputs into endo signals
Anterior pituitary gland
receives signals from hypothalamus through hormones that travels down the hypophyseal portal system
Posterior pituitary gland
Receives signals from hypothalamus in form of neuronal instead of hormonal
Thyroid and parathyroid
Affects on metabolism
Adrenal glands
Involved with mediating stress levels with cortisol
Ovaries and teses
Estro and testo
Role of Oxytocin
Best known for promoting contractions during labor (positive feedback). Also have psychological affects like affection, love and mood
Role of Prolactin
Best known for its affects in lactation. Also, modulates stress response, anxiety, and depression (very complicated)
Role of melatonin
Thought to induce sleep. Blue light can suppress melatonin
Hunger is mediated by what hormones?
Lepin, ghrelin, and NPY
Leptin
reduces hunger. released by adipose (fat) cells
Grehlin
promotes hunger. released by GI tract
NPY
Stimulates food intake
Stress hormones
EPI and NOREPI (short term)
Cortisol (long term effect)
Thyroid hormone
Best known for promoting metabolism. Also, very low levels= fatigue and depression. high levels= irritability
Neurotransmitters and their functions
Dopamine- degradation of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain of the brain is associated with the onset of parkinson’s
Endorphins- endogenerous opioids and pain killers
Norepi- raises one’s heart rate, blood pressure
Serotonin- lack of is associated with depression
Which side of the brain deals with language processing and production?
Both broca’s and wernicke’s area are localized to the left hemisphere of the brain
Reflexes
automatic behaviors that occur in response to certain stimuli
The synapse between motor neurons and muscle
NMJ
Reflex arcs
simple neural pathways that control reflexes
EX) patellar reflex
Sensory neurons
AFFERENT
carry info about stimuli to CNS for processing
Motor Neurons
EFFERENT
Carry signals to react from the CNS
How do neurotransmitters be released/trigger and action potential?
they push the membrane potential difference in either direction
Excitatory neurotransmitters
depolarize the target neuron
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
hyperpolarize the target neuron
Acetylcholine
Activates muscle contraction at NMJ.
Communicates signals between CNS and autonomic NS
sends signals from parasympathetic NS to target
Overall job: communication
GABA
Inhibitory neurotransmitter and pushes for hyperpolarization
Glutamate
An excitatory neurotransmitter, pushes towards depolarization
Endorphins
suppress pain and produce a euphoria response (reflect opioids)
NOREPI- involved in acute stress response
EPI- adrenaline (similar effects)
Serotonin
Regulates mood, appetite, and sleep along with intestinal movement
current hypothesis: low levels are associated with depression
Dopamine
Involved in reward pathways, mediates certain motor function
loss of dopamine-secreting neurons in the substantia nigra leads to parkinson’s
Agonist
a compound that activates a receptor to cause a response
Antagonist
Bind a receptor but does not cause a response. prevent agonist from affecting the body
PNS
somatic NS- carrying out voluntary activities (afferent and efferent)
autonomic NS- carrying out unconscious activities (EX: heart rate, urination) and is divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic NS
Sympathetic NS
flight or fight response to acute stress
stimulation:
-EPI is realsed
-airways open for more air to be passed through
-start sweating
Suppression:
-digestion, blood vessels for GI constrict
-peristalsis also slows down
Behavior effects of sympathetic NS
tunnel-vision, shaking, decrease in sexual arousal
Parasympathetic NS
rest and digest
- blood vessels on muscles constrict and expand in GI tract
- pupil smaller
Behavioral effects of parasympathetic NS
promotes digestion, salivation, sexual arousal
Strange third branch of the autonomic NS
Enteric NS
regulates activity of gut
CNS
decides what to do
brain and spinal cord
Brain parts
Hindbrain
Forebrain (most volume)
Midbrain
Hindbrain
Basic functions, evolutionary conserved functions
- cerebellum: coordinated movement
- medulla oblongata: autonomic functions
pons: relay station, signals moved
Forebrain
more advanced functions like reasoning
- diencephalon which gives rise to pituitary gland, hypothalamus: bridge between NS and endo system, thalamus:regulates sleep and awareness, telencephalon (which then gives rise to cerebrum)
- olfactory bulb: odors
- basal ganglia
- hippocamous
Limbic system
basal ganglia, olfactory bulbs, hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus
-involved in emotion, motivation, and memory
Midbrain
somewhere in between like vision and eye movement
- inferior and superior colliculi
- substantia nigra- dopamine
- brain stem which has RAS for alertness
Cerebral cortex
4 lobes: frontal- planning, memory, attention parietal- sensory processing occipital- vision temporal lobe- meaning, visual memories
Wernicke’s area
temporal lobe, involved with language comprehension
left hemi
Broca’s area
part of frontal lobe involved with language production
left hemi
Spinal cord
Afferent for peripheral to CNS, protected by cerebrospinal fluid, meninges and bones.
vertebra
Anterior- stomach (motor)
posterior- faces back (sensory)
EEG
measure brain activity through electrodes placed on scalp
CT
X-rays of 360 degrees
MRI
strong magnetic fields to image structures within the body
- soft structures
- no radiation
- more expensive and time consuming
PET
works with glucose and detects decaying events to detect activity
fMRI
measures on oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin to visualize blood flow
measures both structure and function
