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Psychology Unit 3 > Biological Influences > Flashcards

Biological Influences Flashcards

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1
Q

Function of the Brain

A

Maintains the body in an optimal state relative to the environment

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2
Q

Brain Plasticity

A

The ability for the brain to change by forming new connections between neurons

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3
Q

Location of the Hindbrain

A

Base of the brain - above the brain stem

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4
Q

Function of the Hindbrain

A

Part of the ANS; controls heart rate, breathing, sleep, arousal
Coordinates reflexive actions; swallowing, coughing, vomiting

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5
Q

Divisions of the Hindbrain

A

Metencephalon and Myelencephalon

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6
Q

Parts of the Metencephalon

A

Contains pons and cerebellum

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7
Q

Parts of the Myelencephalon

A

Contains the medulla oblongata

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8
Q

Location of the Midbrain

A

Between the forebrain and hindbrain

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9
Q

Function of the Midbrain

A

Keeps us awake, alert, vigilant

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10
Q

Parts of the Midbrain

A

Middle part of the Reticular Formation

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11
Q

Structure of Reticular Formation

A

Network of nerve pathways connecting the spinal cord, cerebellum, and cerebrum
Extends into hindbrain and thalamus

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12
Q

Function of Reticular Formation

A

Mediates overall levels of consciousness

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13
Q

Location of the Forebrain

A

Above the midbrain, divided into two hemispheres

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14
Q

Function of the Forebrain

A

Complex processes - emotions, motivations, sensations, perceptions, learning, memory, reasoning

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15
Q

Function of the Cerebrum

A

Contains cerebral cortex (higher mental functions), basal ganglia (selection action, learning, motor control), Limbic system (autonomic functions - sleep, sex, eating)

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16
Q

Functions of the Cerebral Cortex

A

Information processing activities - language, learning, thinking, memory, perception, problem solving
Planning and control of voluntary body movements, learning, time, recognition, recall, planning

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17
Q

Functions of the Left Hemisphere

A

verbal, language and analytical thinking

- Broca’s and Weirnicke’s area

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18
Q

Functions of the Right Hemisphere

A

Non-verbal, spatial activities, emotion, facial recognition

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19
Q

Function of the Thalamus

A

Processes and sends sensory info to higher brain areas

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20
Q

Functions of the Hypothalamus

A

Temporal control and basic behavioral drives

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21
Q

Functions of the Cerebellum

A

“little brain” - posture, balance, coordination

Connected to brainstem by cerebellar peduncles

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22
Q

Function of the Pons

A

Relays signals to and from the cerebellum

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23
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

Afferent - transmits impulses from sensory receptors

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24
Q

Interneurons

A

Connects afferent and efferent neurons in the CNS

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25
Q

Motor Neurons

A

Efferent - Transmits impulses for a response

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26
Q

Neural Impulses and Learning

A

Neurotransmitters repeatedly sent across a synapse lead to a change in the chemistry of the synapse - strengthening impulse

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27
Q

Serotonin

A

Biological functions - sex, sleep, appetite, aggression, mood
Has an inhibitory effect

28
Q

Affect of Serotonin Levels

A

Deficiencies = anxiety, mood disorders,insomnia

Elevated levels = other mood disorders, autism

29
Q

Dopamine

A

Attention, initiation of voluntary movement, pleasure
Formation of long term memory
Both inhibitory and and excitatory

30
Q

Affects of Dopamine

A

Inhibits certain synapses, might be partially responsible for Parkinson’s Disease

31
Q

The Frontal Lobe

A

Planning and carrying out movements, personality, language, judgement, emotional control

32
Q

Primary Motor Cortex

A

Found in frontal lobe - carries out the initial processing of motor information

33
Q

The Motor Homunculus

A

Amount of cortex devoted to body part = complexity of movements

34
Q

Association in Prefrontal Cortex

A

Receive and combine info from other lobes to perform complex mental functions

35
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Found in left frontal lobe - involved in the production of articulate speech
Coordinating movement of muscles for speech, relaying info to other motor cortex areas
Understanding grammatical sentence structure

36
Q

Broca’s Aphasia

A

Damage to Broca’s area - able to understand, formulate a response but can’t articulate it

37
Q

The Parietal Lobe

A

Touch, motion detection, object location, location of body

Processes sensory information

38
Q

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

A

Left Parietal lobe -
Receives and processes sensory info to perceive bodily sensations - touch pressure, temperature, muscle movement and positioning
Amount of cortex devoted to body part dictates sensitivity

39
Q

Damage to Parietal Lobe

A

Unable to sense stimuli, unable to recognise texture of stimuli, understand it’s use, clumsiness, confuse right and left, spacial neglect

40
Q

Spacial Neglect

A

Can’t recognise own body parts

41
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

Auditory perception, memory, identifying and recognising visual stimuli, emotional responses to stimuli and memories

42
Q

Primary Auditory Cortex

A

Processes incoming auditory sense information

Receives electrical signals from ear receptors - transforms them to meaningless sound sensations

43
Q

Organisation of the Primary Auditory Cortex

A

Tonotopically organised - neurons in different parts respond to different frequencies
- Low frequencies (500 hertz) at the front
- High frequencies (1000 hertz) at the back
Verbal sounds - right hemisphere
Non-verbal - left hemisphere

44
Q

Medial Temporal Lobe

A

Contains hippocampus, amygdala; formation of long tern memory, linking emotion to memories

45
Q

Auditory Association Areas

A

Meaningless sound from primary auditory area processed into recognisable auditory information
Sounds are then given meaning

46
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

Connected to Broca’s area by bundle of nerves
Involved in speech production, interpreting speech
Coordinates muscles to produce sounds, relays info to facial area

47
Q

Damage to Wenicke’s Area

A

Inability to recognise a person, but can describe them etc

48
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

Sense of vision

Divided into different visual areas that process different elements - texture, line etc

49
Q

Primary Visual Cortex

A

Largest visual area, receives info from photoreceptors
Each hemisphere receives 1/2 of the visual information
Neurons respond to different visual elements
Association areas select, organise, integrate and assign meaning/memory

50
Q

Effect of Genetics

A

Dictate individual development

51
Q

Epigenetics

A

Study of the transmission of genetic information without any alteration to the genes

52
Q

Behavioral Epigenetics

A

Environmental factors such as child neglect and drug use changing the neurons without changing the DNA

53
Q

Cognitive Epidermiology

A

Concerned with the heritability of intelligence

  • semen and intelligence are related (Arden et al, 2009)
  • genetics influence a child’s drawing, later intelligence (Arden et al, 2014)
54
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that travel through the blood stream to affect specific body parts

55
Q

Adrenal Glands

A

Secretes adrenaline, noradrenalin

  • Sympathetic nervous system
  • localised functions
56
Q

Thyroid Gland

A

Secretes thyroxine (regulation of metabolism)

  • brain and nervous system development
  • deficiency = intellect difficulties (during brain development), slowed growth
57
Q

Pituitary gland

A

Triggers the release of hormones from other endocrine glands
- growth hormone; deficiency = height of 130cm

58
Q

Drugs

A

Any substance taken/given for medicinal purposes; for euphoriant, relaxant purposes

59
Q

Depressants

A

Calms the nervous system

  • Alcohol
  • Heroin
60
Q

Herion

A

Mimics endorphines; alters reaction to pain
Euphoria followed by calmness
Withdrawal - fevers, cramps, gastro-intestinal problems

61
Q

Stimulants

A

Excites the nervous system

  • Cocaine
  • Ecstasy
  • Ice
62
Q

Cocaine

A

Suppresses appetite, elevates mood, increased mental awareness, self-confidence
Prolonged use - psychosis; auditory hallucinations, paranoia

63
Q

Ecstasy

A

Causes dehydration, deflated mood, memory loss, damage to immune system

  • higher depression rates, difficulty with long term memory, distracted (McCardle et al, 2004)
  • loss of mental flexibility >50 tablets (Dafters, 2006)
64
Q

Ice

A

intense high lasting for 4-12 hours; increased arousal and activity (Australian National Council on Drugs, 2014)
Prolonged use - brain and mental health conditions (depression, memory loss, psychosis)
- 2.1% aus pop. users in the past 12 months (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014)

65
Q

Hallucinogens

A

Stimulates receptors in the serotonin system (serotonin 1A and 2A receptors)
Changes perceptions, creates sensory images without input from the senses
- Marijuana
- LSD

66
Q

Marijuana

A

increased sensitivity to sounds, colours, tastes, smells - cannabinoid CB1 receptor; activating the receptor blocks neurons that inhibit dopamine release

67
Q

LSD

A

Induces trips
increased use destroys receptors in brain - flooded by monoamines; can’t feel pleasures without the drug (Australian National Council on Drugs, 2013)
Prolonged use - memory loss, depression, psychosis
Affects family and social relations, family problems

Psychology Unit 3 (17 decks)

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