Biological Bases: The Brain and Nervous System Flashcards
Physiological psychology
The study of behavior as influenced by biology
Imaging techniques
Allow researchers to map the structure and/or activity of the brain and correlate this data with behavior
EEG (electroencephalogram)
Measures subtle changes in brain electrical activity through electrodes placed on the head
CAT scan
Cross-sectional images of the brain using a series of X-ray pictures taken from different angles
MRI
Extremely powerful electromagnets and radio waves to get 3-D structural information from the brain
fMRI
Show brain function by rapid sequence in of MRI images
PET scan
Shows function via diffusion of radioactive glucose in the brain
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
All nerves in the body
Neurons
Nerve cells
Afferent (sensory) neurons
Neurosis that travel from the body to the brain
Motor (efferent) neurons
Neurons that travel from the brain to the body
Reflexes
Quick and involuntary responses to environmental stimuli
Somatic nervous system
Voluntary movement of large skeletal muscles
Automatic nervous system
Controls the non skeletal or smooth muscles (not under control)
Sympathetic nervous system
Processes that burn energy (flight-or-flight reaction)
Parasympathetic nervous system
Conserving energy
Cerebellum
Controls muscle tone and balance
Medulla Oblongata
Controls involuntary actions, such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, and swallowing
Reticular activating system
Controls arousal (wakefulness and alertness)
Pons
Coordinates voluntary movement, responsible for sleep (REM), related to facial expressions
Limbic system
Emotional center of the brain
Thalamus
Relays sensory information; receives and directs sensory information from visual and auditory systems
Hippocampus
Involved in processing and integrating memories; damage = prevents the formation of new memories (does not eliminate existing memories)
Amygdala
Implicated in the expression of anger, frustration, and fear
Hypothalamus
Controls the temperature and water balance of the body; controls hunger and sex drives
Lateral hypothalamus
“On switch” for eating
Ventromedial hypothalamus
“Off switch” for eating
Cerebral cortex
Higher cognitive functions like thinking, planning, language use, and fine motor control
Corpus callosum
Bundle of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres
Broca’s area
Ability to speak
Wernicke’s area
Comprehend spoken and written language
Contralateral processing
The ability of (non-split) brains to use both hemispheres and integrate information between them via the corpus callosum
Apraxia
The inability to organize movement
Agnosia
A difficulty processing sensory input
Alexia
The inability to read
A graphic
The inability to write
Soma
Nerve body cell
Dendrites
Receive input from other neurons through receptors on the surface
Axon
Long, tubelike structure that responds to input from the dendrites and soma
Myelin sheath
Insulation for axons, speeds up the rate at which electrical information travels down them
Nodes of Ranvier
Help speed up neural transmission
Terminal buttons/bulbs
End of neuron
Synapse
Gap between neurons
Neurotransmitters
Chemical messages that bind with receptors on subsequent dendrites
Resting membrane potential
An electric potential across the plasma membrane of approximately -70 millivolts (mV)
Leak channels
Channels that are open all the time and that simply allow ions to “leak” across the membrane according to their gradient
Action potential
A disturbance in the membrane potential
Excite neurotransmitters
Serve to excite the cell or cause the neuron to fire
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
Inhibit cell firing
Acetylcholine
Affects memory function, as well as muscle contraction
Serotonin
Related to arousal, sleep, pain sensitivity, and mood and hunger regulation
Dopamine
Associated with movement, attention, and reward
GABA
Inhibitory neurotransmitter
Glutamine
Excitatory neurotransmitter
Norepinephrine
Affects levels of alertness
Endorphins
Body’s natural painkillers
Neuroplasticity
The idea that the brain, when damaged, will attempt to find new ways to reroute messages
Pituitary glands
Releases hormones that control hormonal release by many other glands
Adrenal glands
Fight or flight reactions
