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Psychology Unit 3 > Biological Influences > Flashcards

Biological Influences Flashcards

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
Motor Neurons
Efferent - Transmits impulses for a response
26
Neural Impulses and Learning
Neurotransmitters repeatedly sent across a synapse lead to a change in the chemistry of the synapse - strengthening impulse
27
Serotonin
Biological functions - sex, sleep, appetite, aggression, mood Has an inhibitory effect
28
Affect of Serotonin Levels
Deficiencies = anxiety, mood disorders,insomnia | Elevated levels = other mood disorders, autism
29
Dopamine
Attention, initiation of voluntary movement, pleasure Formation of long term memory Both inhibitory and and excitatory
30
Affects of Dopamine
Inhibits certain synapses, might be partially responsible for Parkinson's Disease
31
The Frontal Lobe
Planning and carrying out movements, personality, language, judgement, emotional control
32
Primary Motor Cortex
Found in frontal lobe - carries out the initial processing of motor information
33
The Motor Homunculus
Amount of cortex devoted to body part = complexity of movements
34
Association in Prefrontal Cortex
Receive and combine info from other lobes to perform complex mental functions
35
Broca's Area
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
Broca's Aphasia
Damage to Broca's area - able to understand, formulate a response but can't articulate it
37
The Parietal Lobe
Touch, motion detection, object location, location of body | Processes sensory information
38
Primary Somatosensory Cortex
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
Damage to Parietal Lobe
Unable to sense stimuli, unable to recognise texture of stimuli, understand it's use, clumsiness, confuse right and left, spacial neglect
40
Spacial Neglect
Can't recognise own body parts
41
Temporal Lobe
Auditory perception, memory, identifying and recognising visual stimuli, emotional responses to stimuli and memories
42
Primary Auditory Cortex
Processes incoming auditory sense information | Receives electrical signals from ear receptors - transforms them to meaningless sound sensations
43
Organisation of the Primary Auditory Cortex
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
Medial Temporal Lobe
Contains hippocampus, amygdala; formation of long tern memory, linking emotion to memories
45
Auditory Association Areas
Meaningless sound from primary auditory area processed into recognisable auditory information Sounds are then given meaning
46
Wernicke's Area
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
Damage to Wenicke's Area
Inability to recognise a person, but can describe them etc
48
Occipital Lobe
Sense of vision | Divided into different visual areas that process different elements - texture, line etc
49
Primary Visual Cortex
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
Effect of Genetics
Dictate individual development
51
Epigenetics
Study of the transmission of genetic information without any alteration to the genes
52
Behavioral Epigenetics
Environmental factors such as child neglect and drug use changing the neurons without changing the DNA
53
Cognitive Epidermiology
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
Hormones
Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that travel through the blood stream to affect specific body parts
55
Adrenal Glands
Secretes adrenaline, noradrenalin - Sympathetic nervous system - localised functions
56
Thyroid Gland
Secretes thyroxine (regulation of metabolism) - brain and nervous system development - deficiency = intellect difficulties (during brain development), slowed growth
57
Pituitary gland
Triggers the release of hormones from other endocrine glands - growth hormone; deficiency = height of 130cm
58
Drugs
Any substance taken/given for medicinal purposes; for euphoriant, relaxant purposes
59
Depressants
Calms the nervous system - Alcohol - Heroin
60
Herion
Mimics endorphines; alters reaction to pain Euphoria followed by calmness Withdrawal - fevers, cramps, gastro-intestinal problems
61
Stimulants
Excites the nervous system - Cocaine - Ecstasy - Ice
62
Cocaine
Suppresses appetite, elevates mood, increased mental awareness, self-confidence Prolonged use - psychosis; auditory hallucinations, paranoia
63
Ecstasy
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
Ice
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
Hallucinogens
Stimulates receptors in the serotonin system (serotonin 1A and 2A receptors) Changes perceptions, creates sensory images without input from the senses - Marijuana - LSD
66
Marijuana
increased sensitivity to sounds, colours, tastes, smells - cannabinoid CB1 receptor; activating the receptor blocks neurons that inhibit dopamine release
67
LSD
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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