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Psychology > BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES > Flashcards

BIOLOGICAL INFLUENCES Flashcards

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1
Q

The Brain

A

Primary task is to help maintain the whole body in an optimal state relative to the environment in order to maximise the chances of survival.
The brain does this by registering stimuli and then responding by generating actions.
The brain receives a constant stream of information as electrical impulses from neurons in the sense organs

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2
Q

The Spinal Cord

A

Responsible for coordinating all of the processes and movements in the body.
Is a dense budle of nerves and is linked to the Peripheral Nervous System
Transmission of information along the spinal cord to and from the brain occurs through interconnected neurons that form neural pathways
Carries sensory information to the brain, and motor information from the brain

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3
Q

Ascending Neural Pathways for Somatosensory Information

A

Comes in from various parts of the body through the spinal nerves and ravels up to the brain

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4
Q

Descending Neural Pathways for Motor Information

A

Leaves the brain and travels down the spinal cord to exit via the spinal nerves to its destination in the muscles, organs and glands

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5
Q

The Hindbrain

A

Located: base of the brain and towards the back of the skull
Important part of the ANS
Controls basic survival functions (heart rate, breathing, sleep, arousal)
Coordinates voluntary muscle movement and reflexive actions (swallowing, vomiting)
Occur without conscious effort

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6
Q

Metencephalon

A

Contains the pons and the cerebellum

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7
Q

Myelencephalon

A

Contains the medulla oblongata (autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate and digestion)

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8
Q

Midbrain

A

Connects the Forebrain and Hindbrain
Keeps us alert, awake and vigilant
Contains the middle of the Reticular Formation (a network of nerve pathways connecting the spinal cord, cerebrum and cerebellum and mediating the overall level of consciousness

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9
Q

Mesencephalon

A

Midbrain

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10
Q

Forebrain

A

Located: above the midbrain and divided into 2 hemispheres
Contains structures responsible for our most complex processes
- emotions, motivations, sensations, perceptions, learning, memory, reasoning

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11
Q

Telencephalon

A

The largest part of the brain, consisting of 2 hemispheres separated by the corpus callosum
- contains the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and limbic system

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12
Q

Diencephalon

A

Lower and smaller part of the forebrain

Contains the thalamus and the hypothalamus

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13
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

Covering of each of the cerebral hemispheres
Involved in information processing activities: language, learning, memory, thinking, perception and problem solving
Planning and control of voluntary body movements
Some areas are dedicated to specific structures but most perform multiple functions at once and combine information
Divided into 4 main lobes

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14
Q

Gyri

A

Bulges in the cerebral cortex

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15
Q

Sulci

A

Shallower groves in the cerebral cortex

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16
Q

Fissures

A

Deeper groves in the cerebral cortex

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17
Q

Sensory Cortex Area

A

Receive and process information from senses

18
Q

Motor Cortex Area

A

Receives, prcesses and sends information about voluntary bodily movements

19
Q

Cerebral Hemispheres

A

Are almost symmetrical structures that are separated by a deep grove but are connected by the corpus callosum
They have many of the same functions that are located in the same place on each side
They don’t function independently, they communicate via the corpus callosum

20
Q

Left Hemisphere

A

Verbal; language and analytical (logic)

Broca’s area and Wernicks areas

21
Q

Right Hemisphere

A

Non-verbal; spatial activities, emotion, facial recognition

22
Q

Thalamus

A

Processes and sends on sensory information to higher brain areas

23
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Situated under the thalamus

Temperature control and basic behavioural drives

24
Q

Cerebellum

A

Connected to the brainstem immediately in front of it by three pairs of stalk like extensions called cerebellar peduncles
Maintains balance, movement, coordination and conduction of sensory information

25
Q

Pons

A

Crossroads consisting mainly of nerve fibres- relay signals to and from the cerebellum

26
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

Regulates vital functions such as heartbeat, respiration and digestion

27
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

Selecting action, learning and motor control

28
Q

Limbic System

A

Emotions, long-term memory and sense of smell

29
Q

Nervous System

A

Transmits signals between different parts of the body, coordinates actions, provides the biological basis for psychological experience and is subdivided into a hierarchy of systems

30
Q

Neurons

A

A nerve cell, the basic unit of the nervous system

31
Q

Central Nervous System

A

Consists of the nerves in the Brain and Spinal Cord
Tasks such as thinking, speaking, reading, moving, feeling and hearing
Coordinates all incoming sensory information as well as initiating outgoing motor messages (conscious and unconscious)

32
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

Carries information between the CNS and the reset of the body

33
Q

Nervous System

A

Contains all the nerve cells in the body
Main function to communicate stimuli from the body and outside world to the brain and to communicate commands for movements and other responses back to the body

34
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

All parts of the Nervous System outside of the CNS

It carries messages between the CNS and sensory organs, muscles, internal organs and glands in the body

35
Q

Cranial Nerves

A

Nerves of the PNS linking the brain stem to organs and muscles in the head

36
Q

Brain Stem

A

Lower part of the brain comprising the midbrain and hindbrain

37
Q

Spinal Cord

A

Part of the CNS, an extension from the brain into the spinal column which channels most communications between the brain and body

38
Q

Spinal Nerve

A

31 pairs of sensory and motor nerves of the PNS linking the body to the spinal cord

39
Q

Sensory or Afferent Neurons

A

Specialised in the transmission of information from sensory receptors to interneurons in the brain and spinal cord. They provide specific information about sensations

40
Q

Interneurons

A

Connect neurons to each other in the CNS. Most of the neurons in the brain and spinal cord are interneurons

41
Q

Motor or Efferent Neurons

A

Transmit movement requests from interneurons in the CNS to muscles in the body. They command specific directed bodily actions

Psychology (11 decks)

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