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Psychology > Biological Influences > Flashcards

Biological Influences Flashcards

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1
Q

Spinal Chord

A
  • cable of nerve fibres that stretches from base of brain to the lower back
  • transmits messages between brain and PNS
  • Receives sensory information brought by PNS
  • sends out appropriate responses decided by brain to specific body part in PNS
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2
Q

Afferent track

A

sensory neutrons delivering information (towards)

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3
Q

Efferent track

A

delivering instructions from brain (away)

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4
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

system of nerves communicating information from the sensory organs to the CNS and motor messages from the CNS to voluntary muscles (conscious control)

  • Controls voluntary muscle movement and skeletal nervous system
  • Connects CNS to organs, muscles and skin
  • carries sensory messages to CNS and sends out motor messages from CNS
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5
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

system of nerves that carry neural messages between the CNS and the heart and other organs/glands

  • Controls involuntary functions of our internal organs, muscles and glands
  • “self governing” and operate independently (unconscious control)
  • ie breathing/heart rate
  • Parasympathetic and Sympathetic
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6
Q

Sympathetic

A

Fight or Flight

  • dominates when we are highly aroused and need sudden bursts of energy
  • increases the arousal of muscles, organs and glands to prepare body for vigorous activity
  • prepare for body to deal with potential threat/danger ie autonomic response to fight or flee
  • ie heart rate increases and bladder function decreases
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7
Q

Parasympathetic

A

Rest and Digest

  • Automatically calms body when threat is no longer present
  • Responsible for reversing the effects of the SNS and returning boys internal systems to natural level of functioning
  • Maintains homeostasis; function of body when no threat is present
  • heart rate decreases and bladder function increases
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8
Q

Neurons

A

neurons receives, process and or transmit information to other neurons in the form of neural impulses

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9
Q

Sensory Neurons

A

afferent/receptor (found in PNS)
specialised cells that receive information from both the external environment and from within the body and transmit this information to the CNS

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10
Q

Motor Neurons

A

efferent/effector (found in PNS)
- transmit messages from the CNS to the muscles, glands and organs for a response to be initiated
found primarily in PNS
- causes muscles to relax/contract or glands to increase/decrease their function

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11
Q

Interneurons

A

located in CNS and form a direct connection between motor and sensory neurons
formed reflex arc; inter neurons in spinal chord have relayed information From sensory neurones to motor, bypassing the involvement of the brain

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12
Q

Synapses

A

specialised junction where an axon terminal contacts another neutron or cell type, 2 types are chemical and electrical

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13
Q

Chemical synapse

A
  • use neurotransmitters (chemical mediator) for transmission of impulse
  • transmission is one way
  • seen at most of the synaptic junctions in the body
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14
Q

Electrical synapse

A
  • impulse is transmitted through gap junctions or low resistance bridges
  • transmission is two way
  • found only in special areas like retina, olfactory bulb, cerebral cortes and hippocampus etc.
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15
Q

Axon Terminal and Neurotransmitters

A

Axon terminals contain mitochondria for energy to cell functions and vesicles (membrane bound sacs) that contain neurotransmitters

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16
Q

Nerve Impulse

A

a signal transmitted along a nerve fibre. It consists of a wave of electrical depolarisation that reverses the potential difference across the nerve cell membranes.

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17
Q

Electrochemical Charge

A

Reduction-Oxidation
It refers to electrochemical processes involving electron transfer to or from a molecule or ion changing its oxidation state.
Via external voltage or release of chemical energy.

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18
Q

Membrane Potential

A

The potential inside a cell membrane measured relative to the fluid just outside; it is negative under resting conditions and becomes positive during an action potential.

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19
Q

CNS Structure and Function

A

Structure: brain and spinal chord –> 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of spinal

Function: acts as the control centre receiving messages from all parts of the body, interpreting these messages and sends the information back to body parts to instruct what to do

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20
Q

PNS Structure and Function

A

Structure: sensory receptors and nerves outside of CNS
Function: informs the CNS of changing conditions, connects the CNS to rest of body specifically the limbs, skin, muscles and organs, serving as a communication pathway that goes back and forth between brain and extremities

Consists of Somatic and Autonomic

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21
Q

Forebrain Structure and Function

A

S: The uppermost part of brain, consists of the cerebrum (cerebral cortex), limbic system, thalamus and corpus callosum.

F:sensory integration, voluntary movement and intellectual functions

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22
Q

Cerebrum

A

dominates the forebrain and is responsible for complex thoughts and control voluntary functions
Divided into 4 lobes; temporal, occipital, frontal and parietal

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23
Q

Thalamus

A

relays motor and sensory information, memory, alertness consciousness and cognition

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24
Q

Hind Brain Structure and Function

A

S: formed by the pons, medulla oblongata, and the cerebellum (lowest part of brain)

F:govern our autonomic body systems, controlling heart, breathing, and sleep patterns to our bladder function, sense of equilibrium, and fine motor control.

25
Q

Cerebellum

A
  • controls motor movement and coordination
  • Nerve connections that go topmost of the sense organs and to motor cortex
  • Integrates input from sensory systems of other parts of brain
26
Q

Pons

A
  • regulates breathing, tase and autonomic functions
  • bridges the brain with the cerebellum
  • Facial expressions and facial movements, ability to bite chew and swallow
27
Q

Medulla

A
  • controls vital functions you don’t think about

- Cardiac rate/patterns, breathing rhythms, dilation and contraction of blood vessels

28
Q

Resting Membrane Potential

A
  • is the voltage (charge) difference across the cell membrane when the cell is at rest
  • is negative relative to the outside -0.70mv (more K inside/Na outside)
  • K+ ions can cross the membrane more easily, but Na+ have a difficult time crossing
29
Q

Na/K Gates

A

Gates normally are closed but with stimulus open —> opening/closing allows for depolarisation and re-polarisation.

Na atoms larger than K

ie when membrane depolarises Na channels opens and Na+ enter cells

30
Q

Action Potential

A
  • occurs when a neuron sends info down an axon away from the cell body as a “impulse” for the A.P
  • due to the exchange of ions across neurons membrane
  • (stimulus) causes the resting potential to move towards 0mv (depolarised) when hits - 55mv fires an A.P (threshold)
31
Q

Threshold

A

depolarisation reaches -55mv the neuron fires an action potential known as the “threshold”

“all or nothing event” –> if does not reach will not fire A.P

32
Q

Depolarised

A

the process of reversing the charge across a cell membrane, causing an action potential

inside of membrane becomes more positively charged and outside becomes more negatively charged (Na+ rapidly entering cell)

33
Q

Hyperpolarisation

A

change in a cell’s membrane potential that makes it more negative

Opposite of depolarisation –>inhibits A.P by increasing stimulus required to move membrane potential to threshold

34
Q

Refractory Period

A

a period immediately following stimulation during which a nerve or muscle is unresponsive to further stimulation. (another stimulus would not cause 2nd A.P)

35
Q

Action Impulses in myelinated vs unmyelinated neurons

A
  • nerve impulse is faster in transmission, due to the myelin sheath acting as an electrical insulator (quicken transmission
  • can jump node’s of ranvier to another over the myelin sheath
36
Q

Saltatory Conduction

A

Involves an impulse jumping from node to node along a myelinated axon

37
Q

Neurotransmitters

A
  • Carry chemical messages across the synapse to dendrites of a receiving neuron, allows for neural energy to travel from sensory receipts to the brain.
  • Can assist (excite) or block (inhibit) transmission
38
Q

Excitatory

A

Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Noradrenalin

39
Q

Acetylcholine Function and Effects

A
  • excitatory
  • found in motor neuron and produces muscle contractions, memory, learning and intellectual function

Excess: violent muscle contractions
Deficit: paralysis + Alzheimers (loss memory)

40
Q

Dopamine Function and Effects

A
  • excitatory
  • voluntary muscle controlled, attention, emotional arousal and rewarding sensations

Excess: Schizophrenia like symptoms (hallucinations) and addiction
Deficit: Muscle rigidity and Parkinson’s disease (degeneration of neurons containing dopamine)

41
Q

Noradrenalin Function and Effects

A
  • excitatory and inhibitory
  • increasing heartbeat, arousal, eating and learning

Excess: anxiety
Deficit: Depression

42
Q

Inhibitory

A

Serotonin
GABA
Noradrenalin
Endorphins

43
Q

Serotonin Function and Effects

A
  • mood, sexual behaviour, sleep, pain perception, maintaining normal temperature + hormonal states

Excess: Autism
Deficit: Anxiety, insomnia, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression

44
Q

GABA Function and Effects

A
  • communicates msg to other neurons, balance excitatory messages, allergies

Excess: sleep and eating disorders
Deficit:Hungtinton disease –> tremors, loss of motor control and personality changes

45
Q

Endorphins Function and Effects

A
  • regulates pain perceptions, sexuality, brains natural opiate (positive emotions), pregnancy

Excess: body wont give adequate warning on pain
Deficit: body experiences pain

46
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

higher mental processes, attention, controlling behaviour/ emotions, coordinates sensory info and other lobes to make behavioural responses

Damage: personality/emotional changes ie Phineas Gage

Association Areas: Broca’s and Primary Motor Cortex

47
Q

Brocas Area

A

Specific cortical area located in the left frontal lobe next to the motor cortex (control the muscles of the face/tongue)

production of articulate speech (speech that is clear and fluent) + muscle movement required and supplying this info to cortex area

48
Q

Brocas Aphasia

A

unable to put grammatically correct sentences together ie “boy went beach” (connecting words)

Affects speaking and writing, but not comprehension

49
Q

Primary Motor Cortex

A

receives, processes and sends information about voluntary bodily movements
directs skeletal muscles, generates neural impulses that pass down spinal chord to plan and control movement

  • left controls right side and vice versa
  • amount corresponds to the importance of bodily areas not their size.
  • represented on the cortex in opposite position, ie mouth and ears on bottom.
50
Q

Parietal

A

concerned with reception and processing of sensory info from the body
bodily somatic sensations such as touch, temperature and pressure
spatial awareness

Damage: lose sensation in body areas, clumsy movements, suffer from spatial neglect

Somatosensory Cortex

51
Q

Somatosensory Cortex

A
  • receives and processes information from our senses
  • Sensations detected in sensory receptors of body/skin are registered and processed
  • left side of body goes to cortex in right
  • sensitivity of bodily areas rather than size (Homunculus) ie lips are large and back is small
  • represented in opposite order to their position on body, ie face sensations are registered at bottom.
52
Q

Temporal Lobes

A
  • concerned with memory, emotion, hearing and language
  • Auditory information received by ears is transmitted to lobe “hearing registers”
  • memory/ facial recognition

Damage: unable to recognises faces/objects/past skills and inappropriate emotional responses

Auditory cortex and Wernicke’s area

53
Q

Auditory cortex

A

registers and processes auditory information

right temporal lobe = processes non verbal sounds
left temporal lobe = processes verbal sounds associated with language

Auditory processed by cortex in left temporal cannot be properly understood until goes through Wernicke’s

54
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

specific area in the temporal lobe of the LH only, next to the primary auditory cortex and connected to Broca’s area

comprehension of speech; interpreting sounds of speech and formulating meaningful sentences

responsible for accessing words in stored memory to express meaning

55
Q

Wernicke’s Aphasia

A
  • severely limit the ability to use language
  • unable to locate that word from their memory, thus the sentences/words they hear is meaningless.
  • unable to produce coherent (understandable) speech
56
Q

Occipital Lobes

A

registers and processes visual information transmitted from retina of both eyes, providing quick responses to visual environment

Damage: visual impairment ie tumours may cause blind spots

Primary Visual Cortex

57
Q

Primary Visual Cortex

A

receiving and processing visual input from the eyes (visual perception/colour recognition is interpreted)

specialised neurons select/integrate info from cortex and sends visual info to other parts of brain to process input into meaningful form

Information from right visual field processed in left cortex

58
Q

Association Cortex

A

Areas which integrate sensory, motor and other information and are involved in more complex mental abilities

Combine and process sensory information and link it with pre existing ideas/memories (crucial to conscious recognition)

Found in all areas of brain (mainly partial/frontal)

ie visual cortex see rose (register shape/colour/) and association cortex link to knowledge ie thorns

Psychology (9 decks)

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