Biological Bases of Behavior Flashcards
dendrite
part of a neuron
receives messages from other neurons
branch like projections
soma
cell body of a neuron
surrounded by cytoplasm
held together by membrane
axon and myelin sheath
tail along which electrical signals are conducted
myelin sheath protects axon and increases speed of action potential
dysfunction in myelin sheath leads to MS
terminal button and vesicles
where neurotransmitters are released into the synapse
Vesicles contain the neurotransmitters
Synapse
gap between terminal buttons of presynaptic sending neuron and dendrites of the postsynaptic receiving neuron
afferent (sensory) neuron
carry messages to interneurons in the brain and spinal cord
a for appraoch
efferent (motor) neuron
transmit message to muscles and glands
e for exits
sends it to effector cells
interneurons
transmit impulses between other neurons
the middle man
mirror neurons
begin firing in specific parts of brain when another as it you were also doing those things
ex. see someone srying –> neurons will fire in your brain in an area associated with crying even though you are not crying
Glial cells
support cells that hold together message-sending neurons and support their functioning
some have message sending capacity
Glue
Presynaptic neuron
sens message
postsynaptic neuron
receives message
Message transition
resting state —> firing threshold —-> action potential using all or none principle —> refractory period
Reuptake
after the axon releases neurotransmitter across a synapse, it reabsorbs any neurotransmitter that was released but not picked up by the posy-synaptic neuron’s dendrite
sodium-potassium pump
cell excitation begins process of depolarization, positive sodium ions rush into cell and potassium ions flow out, leaving cell more positive charged in the inside than outside
when there is enough positive change, neurons fire
Lock and key analogy
the neurotransmitter is like a key and the receptor site is like the keyhole or lock
agonists
enhance or amplify action of certain neurotransmitter
cocaine
antagonists
antagonists inhibit action of neurotransmitter
GABA
inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain
low levels lead to anxiety and seizures
Glutamate
primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
too much leads to seizures, bipolar disorders
excited when glued to your mate
Substance P
sends pain message; linked to fibromyalgia, linked to other pain disorders
Endorphins
alleviate pain; chronic pain and fibromyalgia due to reduced endorphin activity
neuron
basic building block of the nervous system
ACh
voluntary muscle movements; memory; low levels linked to Alzheimer’s disease
ACh and Alzheimer’s both start with A
Dopamine
learning, pleasure, muscle control, and attention
linked to Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s
serotonin
appetite, sleep, mood; low levels linked with depression and anxiety
tonin—> tone—> toned down—-> when toned down, puede ser very bad
norepinephrine
alertness, arousal
low levels correlated with depression
central nervous system
spinal cord [spinal cord –> spine —> fine —> automatic response to questions —> automatic response —> reflex] and reflexes + brain
Limbic system
amygdala
hippocampus
hypothalamus
amygdala
part of limbic system
aggression, fear, formation of emotional memories [a for anger and aggression]
hippocampus
formation of memories
part of limbic system
hippo on campus trying to remember where to go
Hypothalamus
part of limbic system four Fs (Flight/fear, fight, food, fornication); homeostasis; regulates hormones along with endocrine system [hypothalamus ---> mus ---> must ----> MUST maintain homeostasis]
Cerebral Cortex
(F.P.O.T) “the location of intellect”
frontal lobe
part of cerebral cortex
“executive” brain in charge of planning and decisions (think Olive) includes Broca’s area
and houses motor cortex at the back of the lobe
Where are lobotomies done?
motor cortex
Broca’s area
responsible for the physical ability to speak
BRO, CA(o)me on, can’t you understand me?
left hemisphere, frontal lobe
parietal lobe
awareness of body movement and location
houses somatosensory cortex
[parietal —> par –> golf —> sport —> movement —> awareness]
parietal —> bridal –> lift over threshold –> movement
part of cerebral cortex
temporal lobe
hearing, speaking, and some sight; contains Wernicke’s area
houses auditory cortex
[temporal —> tempor —> temper —-> steam coming out of your ears —> ears —> hearing]
part of cerebral cortex
Wernicke’s area
responsible for language comprehension
in temporal lobe
Occipital lobe
sight
houses visual cortex in the back of the lobe [occipital —> occ –> occlumency —> see into other people’s minds —> see]
part of cerebral cortex
Medulla
part of hindbrain
primary functions include breathing, heartbeat, and circulation and secondary features include swallowing and digestion [medulla —-> medusa —-> ancient Greece —-> ancient —-> really really really really old —> primitive—–> medulla part of primitive brain
Cerebellum
part of hindbrain balance and coordination (aka reptilian or little brain) [cerebellum ---> antebellum ----> sectional BALANCE ---> balance and movement] also, classical conditioning
reticular formation/RAS
hind and mid brain
alertness and consciousness
[Reticular Formation —-> RF —-> ref —-> get your head in the game —> be alert —> RF controls alertness]
Thalamus
the switchboard of the brain
links the brainstem and relats sensory info to cerebral cortex
ex. hear —> thalamus —-> temporal lobes [auditory cortex]
Corpus callosum
bridges two hemispheres and allows for communication between the hemispheres
split brain patients
like a phone wire
Peripheral Nervous System
neural tissue outside of the brain and spinal cord. Carries info from the sensory organs to the CNS to the muscles, glands, and internal organs (acts like Hermione in Book 4 when she has to carry messages from Ron to Harry and back again)
Somatic System/Skeletal Nervous System
part of the peripheral nervous system
voluntary movement in skeletal muscles, sensory and motor nerves
soma = body
autonomic nervous system
internal systems
involuntary movement
autonomous country- acts all by itself (except happier about it than the ALLL BY MYSELFFFF song) (except it doesn’t have feelings)
part of Peripheral Nervous System
Sympathetic division
part of autonomic nervous system troubleshooter Johnny Thompson story- arms got cut off. ran into his house and called his aunt with a spinny phone and like a pencil in his mouth. Then went and sat in bath so he wouldn't get blood on the floor activates body in times of danger fight/flight response
Fight/response
part of sympathetic nervous system increases: heart rate breathing adrenaline norepinephrine sweat decreases: digestion
Parasympathetic division
part of autonomic nervous system
housekeeping [HOUSEKEEPING]
the trick to remember this is that it is responsible for housekeeping and calms you down, like Ban who said housekeeping
parachute- brings you down
calms body
gets that digestion to increase [banno—-> WJB —> three letter acronym things —> BLT —-> food —-> digestion]
Opponent-process systems
antagonistic systems that work to maintain homeostasis by performing opposite functions and keeping each other in balance
ex. somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system
What is the important thing to remember about the Peripheral Nervous System?
It is made up of antagonistic systems
Endocrine system
sends message using hormones in the blood
slower acting but longer lasting
hormones
type of chemical messenger
part of endocrine system
glands
secrete hormones
part of endocrine system
pituitary gland
directs other glands of the endocrine system released oxytocin (not oxycontin) and human growth hormone part of endocrine system
adrenal gland
fight or flight responses through secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline
part of endocrine system
thyroid
growth and metabolism
part of endocrine system
pancreas
metabolizes sugar
insulin lowers it and glucagon raises it
part of endocrine system
ovaries and testes
primary sex charactersitics: reproduction
secondary sex characteristics: other factors in puberty
ovaries produce progesterone and estrogen
testes produce androgens (testosterone)
part of endocrine system
pineal gland
part of endocrine system
inside brain, secrete melatonin (a sleep-inducer_ and are involved in light/dark cycles
pheromones
part of endocrine system
chemical messengers that communicate between members of the same species
DNA
you know this (even if you don’t have a biotech advantage )
genes
those things you wear sometimes when you are feeling more ambitious than sweatpants
heterozygous genes
different
homozygous genes
same
dominant genes
the ones that show up
recessive genes
the ones that don’t show up because they are disloyal and fakers
chromosomes
46 chromosomes, 23 pairs
phenotypes
physical characteristics
genotypes
genetic characteristics that one cannot see
sex chromosomes
the ones that get down and dirty
sex-linked genes
genes carried on sex chromosomes that have nothing to do with sex characteristics
think colorblindness and hemophilia
sex-limited genes
genes on x and y, but only expressed in one gender
facial hair, breast development, etc..
XXY (Klinefelter’s syndrome)
males
extra x chromosome
lack of sexual development
possible infertility and psychological problems
XYY
additional Y chromosome
taller than average
people thought it was related to acne but not anymore
not inherited, just random
may be related to learning disabilities, but who really knows
lower IQ
XO (Turner’s Syndrome)
females missing an X chromosome, leaving them sexually underdeveloped and (I think) often with learning disabilities
people with this syndrome are infertile
sickle cell
mutated form of hemoglobin that distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape that causes low oxygen levels
Twin and adoption studies
help determine the effect of nature and nurture
PKU (Phenylketonuria)
missing enzyme that breaks down amino acids so they build up in the body and can cause intellectual disabilities
if caught early, certain diets can make this manageable
Cystic Fibrosis
extra mucus in the lungs can make breathing difficult
Tay Sachs
degenerative mental disease
Down Syndrome
extra gene on chromosome 21. Also called trisomy 21
Symptoms include slanted eyes, flat faces, short fingers, short stature, heart problems, and intellectual disabilities (among others)
Concordance rates
tells the likelihood that someone else will have the disorder given that one person has it
heritability
the degree to which a trait in a population is attributable to genes
Genetic predisposition
being born with a tendency towards a certain trait (ie alcoholism) but the genes are not the only determining factor
genetic determinism
trait completely controlled by genes (ie short fingers in people with Down Syndrome)
XX male syndrome
looks like a guy (phenotype) but chromosomally female
have male reproductive parts, but don’t go through normal puberty (breasts, lack facial hair)
infertile
Roger Sperry
conducted experiments on the corpus callosums of cats
Phineas Gage
rod stuck through head, lived, but was a very different person
Gazzaniga
continued with experiments on split brain patients
Wilder Penfield
mapped the motor and sensory areas of the cortex
Positron Imaging Tomography
imaging test that highlights glucose metabolism with a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in body
PET scan shows how organs and tissues are working
Magentic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
use strong magnetic fields to form images of organs and structures in the body
Computed Tomography (CT)
combines a series of X-ray views taken from many different angles and computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside of your body
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, flat metal discs (electrodes) attached to your scalp
fMRI
Functional magnetic resonance imaging or functional MRI (fMRI) is a functional neuroimaging procedure using MRI tech that measures brain activity by detecting associated changes in blood flow
Brain lateralization
theory that left and right have different functions (two different brains)
Brain plasticity
brain creates new neurons through neurogenesis throughout life
brains rewire themselves to compensate for the loss of function resulting form injury or illness
Where is language processed?
left side of brain
Broca’s area (frontal lobe)
Wernicke’s area (temporal lobe)
