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MCAT Flashcards > Biological Basis of Behavior > Flashcards

Biological Basis of Behavior Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Functionalism

A

James and Dewey
mental processes of organism as whole
Input from environment leads to an adaptive response
dismissive of reductive/over-simplified approaches of earlier physiologists studying brain

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2
Q

Basic Structure of Neuron

A

soma = body
dendrites = projections which take in the data (inputs)
axon hillock = start of the axon where decision is made to send signal or not
axon = where signal is sent
myelin = what surrounds and insulates the axon
nodes of Ranvier = breaks in myelin
axonal terminal = signal is output

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3
Q

Glial cells

A

support neurons of the CNS and PNS

stabilize the environment around the neuron and are critically important to making nervous system function

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4
Q

Oligodendrocytes

A

provide myelination in the CNS

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5
Q

Schwann Cells

A

provide myelination in the PNS

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6
Q

Astrocytes

A

provide various support functions to neurons in the CNS

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7
Q

Ependymal Cells

A

produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid in the CNS

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8
Q

Satellite Cells

A

control microenvironment around cell bodies in ganglia in the PNS

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9
Q

Microglia

A

macrophages that clean out microbes and debris in the CNS

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10
Q

Unipolar

A

single dendrite that splits into dendrioles but no axon
found in cerebellum and associated with balance
found in insects more than humans

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11
Q

Bipolar

A

sensory neuron for smell, sight, taste, hearing, balance

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12
Q

Pseudounipolar

A

sensory neuron in PNS
one axon splits with one part running to spinal cord and one running to periphery
found in dorsal root ganglia

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13
Q

Multipolar

A

single axon and mult. dendrites
classic image of neuron
includes moto neurons and interneurons

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14
Q

Resting voltage of a nerve cell

A

-70 mV
losing neg potential = depolarized
become more neg = hyperpolarized
ATPase maintains - for every 3 Na+ pushed out, 2 K+ come in

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15
Q

Describe the depolarization/hyperpolarization of an action potential

A

hit with stimuli - once depolarized to at least -55 mV, Na channels open. Sodium rushes out and the cell is depolarized
At peak, all Na channels are open (around +40 mV)
Triggers K channels to open, and Na channels close
Rapid repolarization as K rushes in
Temporarily hyperpolarized to prevent, then brought back to resting phase

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16
Q

What triggers release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft

A

rush of Ca ions into the axon terminal . Triggers exocytosis or neurotransmitters which then bind to their receptors

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17
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

brain and spinal cord

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18
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

all your other nerves (afferent (into CNS) efferent (away from CNS))

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19
Q

Sensory nerves

A

afferent

bring data into CNS

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20
Q

Motor neurons

A

efferent

signal muscles to respond to data from the CNS

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21
Q

Spinal nerves and cranial nerves

A 
spinal = nerves that directly enter the spine
cranial = directly enter the skull
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22
Q

Visceral nerves

A

connect to digestive system

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23
Q

Somatic

A

connect to skeletal muscle, allow for voluntary movement

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24
Q

Automonic

A

connect to involuntary responses of body

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25
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

fight or flight

pupil dilation, raise heart rate, increase blood flow to skeletal muscles

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26
Q

Parasympathetic

A

rest and digest
increase blood flow to digestive system
slow heart rate

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27
Q

Brainstem

A

midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata
connection of brain to spinal cord
regulate: heart rate, respiration, sleep, activation of CNS

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28
Q

Cerebellum

A

found under occipital lobe

directs complex coordinated movement

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29
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

under cortex
connect to brainstem and occipital lobes
involved in: voluntary movement, habitual behaviors, learning, emotion
participates in: motivation, controlling eye movement, modulate decision-making

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30
Q

Cerebral Cortices

A

frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal lobes

functions: sensation, motor activity, cognition

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31
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

making judgements
regulating behavior –> executive functioning
involved in: voluntary movement, memory processing, planning, motivation, attention

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32
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Visual processing of data from optic nerves

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33
Q

Parietal Lobe and Temporal Lobe

A

parietal lobe: integrates sensory inputs, important for language
temporal lobe: important for language (Wernicke’s area), help form memory and attach meaning to information

34
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

autonomonic functions : breathing, heart rate, blood pressure

35
Q

Pons

A

relays signals btwn cerebellum, medulla and rest of brain

involved in sleep, respiration, swallowing, taste, bladder control, balance

36
Q

Inferior Colliculus

A

processes auditory signals, sends them to medial geniculate nucleus in the thalamus

37
Q

Superior Colliculus

A

Process visual signals

participate in control of eye movements

38
Q

Hindbrain

A

cerebellum
pons
medulla oblongata

39
Q

Midbrain

A

inferior colliculus

superior colliculus

40
Q

Amygdala

A

process memory, emotions, decision-making

41
Q

Hippocampus

A

consolidation of short-term memory into long-term memory

42
Q

Hypothalamus

A

links nervous system to endocrine system via pituitary gland

43
Q

Pineal gland

A

modulates sleep through melatonin production

44
Q

Posterior pituitary

A

projection through which hypothalamus secretes oxytocin and vasopressin

45
Q

Septal Nuclei

A

part of reward pathway

46
Q

Thalamus

A

relays sense and motor signals

regulates sleep, alertness

47
Q

Acetylcholine

A

activates muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction
used in all autonomic outputs from the brain to autonomic ganglia
used in parasympathetic nervous system for post-ganglionic connections

48
Q

Dopamine

A

used in reward pathways and motor pathways

associated with Parkinson’s disease – loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra

49
Q

Epinephrine

A

pain suppression and can produce euphoria

50
Q

GABA

A

inhibitory neurotransmitter of CNS
hyperpolarizes cells to reduce action potential firing
associated with physiological effects of alcohol intoxication

51
Q

Glutamate

A

excitatory neurotransmitter

most common neurotransmitter (90% of brain cells)

52
Q

Glycine

A

inhibitory neurotransmitter of spinal cord and brainstem

can work in conjunction with GABA

53
Q

Norepinephrine

A

used in post-ganglionic connections in sympathetic division of autonomic nervous system
increases arousal, alertness, focuses attention

54
Q

Serotonin

A

regulates intestinal movement in GI tract
regulates mood, appetite, sleep
low levels associated with depressive mood disorders

55
Q

EEG

A

measures electrical impulses of brain

uses blood flow and an injected tracer to show what parts of brain are more active under a stimuli

56
Q

MRI

A

use magnetic fields and radio waves to image part of brain

57
Q

fMRI

A

functional MRI
trades spatial resolution for temporal resolution –> can map active parts of the brain by analyzing differences in oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentration

58
Q

PET

A

inject patient with radioactive glucose

measure radioactive emissions

59
Q

CT

A

use x-rays to take measurements of brain from different angles

60
Q

Oxytocin

A

peptide

uterine contraction, emotional bonding

61
Q

Vasopressin (ADH)

A

peptide

retain water, increase aquaporin channels in collecting duct, DCT

62
Q

Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

A

glycoprotein
initiate follicle growth (females)
increase spermatocyte development (males)
maturation of germ cells (both)

63
Q

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

A

glycoprotein
ovulation, follicle becomes corpus luteum (females)
Leydig cells –> increase testosterone (males)

64
Q

Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)

A

peptide

increase adrenal release of corticosteroids

65
Q

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

A

glycoprotein

increase thyroid release of T4 and T3

66
Q

Prolactin

A

peptide

mammary gland enlargement, milk production

67
Q

Growth Hormone

A

peptide

growth of long bones, general anabolism

68
Q

Enorphin

A

peptide

pain relief

69
Q

Calcitonin

A

peptide

reduce plasma concentration of Calcium ions

70
Q

T4 and T3

A

amino acid, Tyr, but act like steroid

increase metabolic rate

71
Q

Parathyroid Hormone

A

peptide

increase plasma concentration of calcium ions

72
Q

Glucagon

A

peptide

increase conc. of blood glucose

73
Q

Insulin

A

peptide

decrease conc. of blood glucose

74
Q

Somatostatin

A

peptide

suppress: GH, TSH, cCK, insulin, glucagon

75
Q

Cortisol

A

steroid
increase conc. of glucose
immune suppression

76
Q

Aldosterone

A

steroid

collecting duct, DCT: reabsorb Na ions, secrete K ions, water retention, increase blood pressure

77
Q

Epinephrine

A

peptide/Tyr derivative

sympathetic response: increase heart rate, breathing, etc.

78
Q

Estrogen

A

steroid

secondary sex characteristics, endometrial development during menstrual cycle, surge leads to LH surge

79
Q

Progesterone

A

steroid

thicken, maintain endometrium in preparation for implantation

80
Q

Testosterone

A

steroid

development, maintenance of secondary sex characteristics

81
Q

Norepinephrine

A

peptide/Tyr derivative

sympathetic responses of fight or flight

82
Q

hCG

A

glycoprotein

maintains corpus luteum at start of pregnancy

MCAT Flashcards (23 decks)

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