Behavioral Sciences Chapter 1: Biology and Behavior Flashcards
What are the two subdivisions of the prosencephalon (forebrain)?
The telencephalon and the diencephalon.
What makes up the telencephalon?
The telencephalon is composed of the cerebral cortex, the limbic system (amygdala and hippocampus), and the basal ganglia.
What makes up the diencephalon?
The diencephalon is made up of the thalamaus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, and pineal gland.
What is the main function of the thalamus?
The thalamus receives all sensory information (except for smell) and then decides which part of the cerebral cortex to send the sensory information for further processing.
What is the main functions of the hypothalamus?
The hypothalamus is mainly involved in regulating homeostasis and regulation of the autonomic system.
For the hypothalamus, remember the 4 F’s:
- Feeding
- Fighting
- Flighting
- Fucking
What is the main function of the basal ganglia?
The main function of the basal ganglia is to coordinate muscle movement and route information to the brain.
- Relays information from our cerebral cortex to the CNS which then transmits the signal to our PNS to control smooth muscle movement as well as steady posture.
What is the main function of the hippocampus?
The hippocampus is involved in memory and learning.
What is the main purpose of the amygdala?
The main functions of the amygdala are emotion (aggressive/fight or defensive/flight) and memory.
What is the main functions of the cerebral cortex?
The cerebral cortex is involved in controlling perception, behavior, and other higher cognitive processes.
What is the main function of the corpus collosum?
The corpus collosum connects the two hemispheres of the brain and allows the two sides to communicate.
Describe laterality and how it relates to the brain.
Laterality describes whether the left or right side of the brain is responsible for controlling which specific function. Most people are left-side dominant. Below is an image describing which hemisphere controls what process.
What are the most common neurotransmitters and in which part of the nervous sytem are they released?
What do the neurotransmitters released from in the CNS do?
- GABA acts as a “brain stabilizer” as it inhibits neurons from firing
- Gylcine also is an inhibitory neurotransmitter
What do the neurotransmitters released in the PNS do?
What neurotransmitter is released from both the CNS and the PNS and what does it do in each system?
What controls the release of pituitary hormones?
The hypothalamus controls the release of pituitary hormones.
What are the differences between the anterior and posterior pituitary?
The posterior pituitary is directly attached to the hypothalamus via the pituitary stalk. That’s why the posterior pituitary releases ADH and oxytocin which is synthesized in the hypothalamus.
The anterior pituitary receives its hormones/signals from the hypothalamus via the hypophyseal portal system (blood stream). The anterior pituitary releases FLAT PEG hormones (FSH, LH, ACTH, TSH, Prolactin, Endorphins, GH).
What is neurulation?
Neurulation is the beginning of the development of the nervous system. Neurulation occurs when the ectoderm overlying the notochords begins to furrow, forming the neural groove surrounded by two neural folds (looks live a valley).
- Eventually the neural folds fuse to form the neural tube which forms the CNS.
- The neural tube begins with three swellings (prosencephalon, mesencephalon, rhombencephalon)
- Then 5 swellings develop as the prosencephalon divides into the telencephalon and the diancephalon, and the rhombencephalon divides into the metencephalon and the mylencephalon.