Behavioral Science: Biology and Behavior Flashcards
What is neuropsychology?
The study of the connection between the nervous system and behavior
What are the three different types of neurons in the nervous system?
Sensory Motor, and Interneurons
What is a reflex arc
Use the ability of interneurons in the spinal chord to relay information to the source of the stimuli while simultaneously routing it to the brain
What are the two main divisions of the nervous system
Central Nervous System (brain and spinal chord)
Peripheral Nervous System (most cranial and spinal nerves)
The PNS is divided into which divisions?
Somatic (voluntary) and the autonomic (involuntary)
Autonomic is divided into the parasympathetic and the sympathetic
What is the difference between the parasympathetic and the sympathetic?
Fight or flight vs. Rest and digest
What are the three subdivisions of the brain?
Hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain
What are the contents of the hindbrain?
cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and the reticular formation
What are the contents of the midbrain?
Inferior and superior colliculi
What are the contents of the forebrain?
Thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic system, and the cerebral cortex
What is the difference between afferent and efferent neurons?
Afferent ascend into the brain (sensory)
Efferent exit the brain to the periphery (motor)
Function, Location of the following:
Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus
Forebrain:
Cerebral cortex: complex perceptual cognitive behavior
Basal Ganglia: movement
Limbic System: amygdala, hippocampus, septal nuclei (emotion and memory)
Thalamus: sensory relay station
Hypothalamus: hunger and thirst, emotion
Function, location of the following:
inferior and superior coliculi
Midbrain, sensorimotor reflex
Function, location of the following:
Cerebellum, medulla oblongata, reticular formation
Hindbrain
Cerebellum: refined motor movements
Medulla oblongata: vital functioning (breathing, digestion)
Reticular formation: arousal/alertness
Methods of studying the brain
lesions, electrical stimulation, activity recording
Function: Thalamus
Part of the forebrain, relay station for sensory information
Function: hypothalamus
Part of the forebrain, maintains homeostasis and integrates with the endocrine system through the hypophyseal portal system that connects to the anterior pituitary
Function: basal ganglion
Part of the forebrain, smoothens movement and helps maintain postural stability
Function: Limbic system
Part of the forebrain, contains septal nuclei, amygdala, hippocampus,
controls emotion and memory
Septal nuclei: pleasure, pleasure seeking
Amygdala: fear and aggression
hippocampus: consolidation of memory
Fornix
communication for the hippocampus to the other parts of the limbic system
Cerebral Cortex Lobes are…
F-POT
Frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobe
Frontal lobe:
executive function, impulse control, long-term planning, motor function, and speech production
Parietal Lobe:
sensations of touch, pressure, temperature, pain, spatial processing, orientation and manipulation
Occipital Lobe
visual processing
Temporal Lobe
sound processing, speech perception, memory, and emotion
Cerebral Hemispheres, which is dominant vs. non-dominant
left and right hemispheres,
Most individuals, left hemisphere is the dominant hemisphere for language
Neurotransmitters
released by neurons to carry a signal
Acetylcholine
used by the somatic nervous system (muscle movement), parasympathetic, and the CNS (alertness)
Dopamine
maintains smooth movements and steady posture
Endorphins and Enkephalins
natural painkillers
Epi/NE
wakefulness, alertness and mediate fight or fligh responses
Epi tends to act as a hormone, and NE tends to act as a NT
GABA/Glycine
brain stabilizers, inhibitory NT
Glutamate
Major CNS excitatory NT
Seretonin
modulates mood, sleep patterns, eating patterns and dreaming
Endocrine system is connected to the nervous system via…
hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary
Glands of the Endocrine System
Hypothalamus, Anterior Pituitary, Adrenal Glands, and Gonads
Anterior Pituitary: FSH, LH, TSH
Adrenal Glands: mineralocorticoids, corticoids, androgens, epinephrine, and noroepinephrine
Nature vs. Nurture
Debate regarding the relative contributions of genetics and environment to an individual’s traits
Family Studies
relative frequency of a trait within a family compared to the general population
Twin Studies
compare concordance rates between monozygotic and dizygotic twins
Adoption Studies
similarities between adopted children and their adoptive parents, relative to similiarities with their biological parents
Neurulation
notochord stimulates overlying ectoderm to fold over, creating the neural tube topped with neural crests cells
Neural tube vs. Neural Crest
Neural crest cells spread out throughout the body, differentiating into many different tissues, while neural tube cells eventually becomes the CNS
primitive reflexes
exists in infants and should disappear with age, and are used as a diagnostic tool for neurological development disorders
Rooting Reflex
infant turns his head towards anything that brushes the cheek (nipple search)
Moro Reflex
infant extends the arms, then slowly retracts them and cries in response to a falling sensation
Babinski Reflex
big toe is extended and the other toe fan in response to the brushing on the sole of the foot
Grasping reflex
infant grabs anything put into his or her hand
Gross and fine motor skills development milestones fashion
head to toe and core to periphery
Social Skill shift in developmental milestone
parent oriented –> self oriented –> other oriented
Language skill shift in development milestone
become increasingly complex
