Behavioral Sciences Ch 1: Biology and Behavior Flashcards
Neuropsychology
The study of the connection between the nervous system and behavior, focuses on the function of various brain regions
Neurons of the nervous system
Sensory, motor, and interneurons
Sensory neurons
aka afferent neurons, transmit sensory information from receptors to the spinal cord and brain via afferent fibers
Motor neurons
aka efferent neurons, transmit motor information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands via efferent fibers
Interneurons
Found between other neurons and are the most numerous, located predominantly in the brain and spinal cord and are often linked to reflexive behavior
Reflex arcs
Use interneurons in the spinal cord to relay information to the source of the stimuli while simultaneously routing it to the brain, ex. allows for foot to move after stepping on a nail without brain
Nervous system
Make up of the central and peripheral nervous systems
Central nervous systems
CNS - includes brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
PNS - made up of nerve tissue and fibers outside of brain and spinal cord including most cranial and spinal nerves and olfactory and optic nerves, connects the CNS to the rest of the body, divided into somatic and autonomic divisions
Somatic nervous system
Voluntary, consists of sensory and motor neurons distributed throughout the skin, joints, and muscles
Atomonomic nervous system
Automatic, regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, glandular secretions, and temperature control via involuntary muscles and glands, divided into the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches
Parasympathetic nervous system
Rest and digest, antagonistic of the sympathetic nervous system, goal to conserve energy, functions: constricts pupils, stimulates flow of saliva, constricts bronchi, slows heartbeat, stimulates peristalsis, stimulates bile release, contracts bladder
Sympathetic nervous system
Fight or flight, antagonists of the parasympathetic nervous system, activated by stress, functions: dilates the pupils for maximum light intake, inhibits salivation, relaxes bronchi, accelerates heartbeat, stimulates sweating and piloerection, inhibits peristalsis and secretion, stimulates glucose production and release, releases of epinephrine and norepinephrine, inhibits bladder contraction, stimulates orgasm, redistributes blood to muscles for locomotion
Brain subdivisions
Hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain
Hindbrain
Contains the cerebellum, medulla obligate, and reticular formation, develops from rhombencephalon, controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, and general arousal processes such as sleeping and waking, manages vital functioning for survival
Midbrain
Contains the inferior and superior colliculi, controls sensorimotor reflexes, receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body, develops from the mesencephalon
Forebrain
Developed from the prosencephalon, associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes, contains the thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic system, and cerebral cortex, developed later than the brainstem, associated with emotion and memory
Studying the brain methods
Lesions, electrical stimulation, activity recording (such as EEG), and regional cerebral blood flow
Electroencephalography
EEG - involves placing several electrodes on the scalp and monitoring electrical activity generated by larger groups of neurons
Regional cerebral blood flow
Detects broad patterns of neural activity based on increased blood flow to different parts of the brain, uses radioactive gas (harmless) and brain imaging
Thalamus
Relay station for sensory information, sorts than transmits incoming sensory impulses to appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus
Maintains homeostasis and integrates with the endocrine system through the hypophyseal portal system that connects it to the anterior pituitary, primary regulator of the autonomic nervous system, hunger and thirst, emotional experiences, aggressive and sexual behavior, the four F’s: fighting, fleeing, feeding, and fornication
Hypophyseal portal system
Connects the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland
Anterior pituitary
“Master” part of the gland because it releases hormones that regulate actives of endocrine glands, controlled by the hypothalamus