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Introduction to psychology > Biological psychology > Flashcards

Biological psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the difference between central and peripheral nervous systems.

A

Central NS = brain + spinal cord

Peripheral = connects the brain and the spinal cord to the rest of the body (autonomic/somatic)

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2
Q

Which NS controls voluntary/involuntary muscles?

A

Peripheral, voluntary - somatic, involuntary - autonomic.

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3
Q

Describe the function of parasympathetic NS.

A
  • “rest and digest” system
  • opposite of sympathetic
  • promotes sexual arousal
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4
Q

Describe the function of sympathetic NS.

A
  • “flight or fight” response

- network of nerves that prepare organs for a burst of vigorous activity

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5
Q

What is a basic unit of the nervous system?

A

Neuron.

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6
Q

Describe the parts of a neuron.

A

Dendrites, cell body, axon, myelin sheats, nodes of ranvier, terminal buttons.

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7
Q

What is a synapse?

A

The gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons.

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8
Q

What is the definition of an action potential?

A

Neural firing = electrical signal that passes along the axon

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9
Q

What is the resting membrane potential?

A

The electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active. (-70)

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10
Q

What is the activation threshold for a neuron?

A

-55

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11
Q

Excitatory signals:

A

Depolarize the cell membrane, increase the likelihood of neural firing.

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12
Q

Inhibitory signals:

A

Hyperpolarize the cell, decrease the likelihood of action potential.

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13
Q

What is the node of ranvier?

A

A place on the axon where the action potential is recharged. (extremely fast)

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14
Q

What is the cause of multiple sclerosis?

A

Deterioration of myelin sheath, which rapidly slows down action potentials.

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15
Q

What does the all-or-none principle mean?

A

A neuron either fires or not. Fires with the same potency each time, frequency can vary.

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16
Q

How are the specialized protein molecules on the postsynaptic membrane called?

A

Receptors.

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17
Q

Name the 3 major events that terminate the neurotransmitters influence in the synapse.

A

Reuptake, autoreception, enzyme deactivation

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18
Q

Explain reuptake.

A

The process whereby a neurotransmitter is taken back into the presynaptic terminal buttons (recycling)

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19
Q

Explain autoreception.

A

Neurotransmitters binding with receptors on the presynaptic neuron (when excess is detected)

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20
Q

Explain enzyme deactivation.

A

Enzyme destroys the neurotransmitter in the synapse.

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21
Q

How can drugs alter neurotransmitters?

A

Block reuptake, alter how NT is synthesized, raise/lower the released number of NT.

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22
Q

How do agonists and antagonists differ?

A

Agonists - enhance actions of NT (can block reuptake)

Antagonists - inhibit actions of NT (can destroy NT or block the receptors)

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23
Q

What is the function of acetylcholine (ACh)?

A

Motor control over muscles, memory, learning, sleeping and dreaming.

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24
Q

What is the function of norepinephrine?

A

Arousal, vigilance, attention (adrenaline rush).

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25
Q

What is the function of serotonin?

A

Emotional states and impulsiveness, dreaming.

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26
Q

What is the function of dopamine?

A

Reward, motivation, motor control over voluntary movement.

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27
Q

What is the function of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)?

A

Inhibition of action potentials, anxiety reduction.

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28
Q

What is the function of glutamate?

A

Enhancement of action potentials, learning and memory.

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29
Q

What is the function of endorphins?

A

Pain reduction, reward.

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30
Q

Which kind of drugs is used to treat depression?

A

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIS).

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31
Q

Which neurotransmitter is associated with the Alzheimers disease?

A

ACh (severe memory deficit).

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32
Q

Which neurotransmitter is associated with the Parkinsons disease?

A

Dopamine (problems with movement)

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33
Q

Which neurotransmitter is associated with epileptic seizures?

A

GABA – low levels

34
Q

What is the Brocas area and where is it located?

A

Temporal lobe, crucial for the production of language.

35
Q

What does electroencephalography measure?

A

Electrical activity in the brain (brain waves).

36
Q

How does the positron emission topography work?

A

Assesses metabolic activity by using a radioactive substance.

37
Q

What is the difference between MRI and fMRI?

A

MRI - measures structure - static anatomical picture of the brain
fMRI - measures brain activity

38
Q

Which of the two - fMRI and EEG - has higher temporal resolution?

A

EEG.

39
Q

Which of the two - MRI and EEG - has higher spatial resolution?

A

MRI.

40
Q

What does the transcranial magnetic stimulation do?

A

Momentarily disrupts brain activity in a specific brain region.

41
Q

Single cell recordings

A

-invasive

42
Q

What is the basic function of brain stem + spinal cord?

A

Houses the basic programs of survival, coordination of reflexes.

  • carrying sensory info up to the brain
  • carrying motor signals from the brain to initiate function
43
Q

Describe the parts of brain stem.

A 
From the top:
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla oblongata
\+ reticular formation (sleep + arousal)
44
Q

What are gray/white matter made of?

A

Gray - neurons cell bodies

White - axons + myelin sheaths

45
Q

Describe the position and function of cerebellum.

A

Behind the brain stem.

Motor function, coordination of “trained” movement (walking, biking), muscle memory

46
Q

Name all of the subcortical regions. (5)

A

Thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia.

47
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

Border between evolutionarily older parts of the brain and newer parts.

48
Q

Function of thalamus:

A

A gateway to the brain. Receives almost all sensory information (not smell)–organizes is–relays it to the cortex.

49
Q

Function of hypothalamus:

A

Regulation of bodily functions (temperature, rhythm, pressure).
Influences our basic motivated behaviors (thirst, hunger, lust).

50
Q

Function of hippocampus:

A

Creation of new memories. Remembering stuff. Does not store memories, retrieves them.

51
Q

Function of amygdala:

A

Associating things with emotional responses.

52
Q

Function of basal ganglia:

A

A system of subcortical structures that are important for the planning and production of movement.
Contains nucleus accumbens – dopamine activity.

53
Q

The outer layer of brain tissue, the site of all thoughts, perceptions and complex behaviors:

A

Cerebral cortex.

54
Q

Name 4 lobes each cerebral hemisphere has:

A

Frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital. (more of an anatomical than functional division)

55
Q

How is the bridge that connects the hemispheres called?

A

Corpus callosum.

56
Q

Which of the hemispheres is dominant in language?

A

The left hemisphere.

57
Q

Function of the occipital lobe:

A
  • visual information

- eyes provide the stimulus, visual cortex provides the experience

58
Q

Function of the parietal lobe:

A
  • primary somatosensory cortex - receives sensations from touch receptors
  • damage to parietal lobe — hemineglect
59
Q

Function of the temporal lobe:

A
  • auditory information
  • understanding spoken language
  • contributes to complex aspects of vision (perception of movement, recognition of faces)
60
Q

Function of fusiform face area:

A

Face recognition.

61
Q

Function of the frontal lobe:

A

-primary motor cortex (movement)
-prefrontal cortex
-working memory, cognitive control, making
decisions

-damaged PC = impulsiveness, delayed response, inappropriate behavior

62
Q

Describe the difference between nervous system and endocrine system.

A

NS - fast, electrochemical signals

ES - slow, hormones

63
Q

What is the function of pituitary gland?

A

Governs the release of hormones.

64
Q

Which two of the endocrine glands influence reproduction and are involved in sexual behavior?

A

Ovaries and testes. (Gonads)

65
Q

What is the function of thyroid gland?

A

Controls how body burns energy.

66
Q

What is the term describing the period during which the female is sexually receptive and fertile?

A

Estrus.

67
Q

What does the term (brain) plasticity mean?

A

The property of brain that allows it to change as a result of experience or injury. Plasticity decreases with age.

68
Q

How is the production of new neurons called and in which region does it occur?

A

Neurogenesis, hippocampus.

69
Q

What is a gene?

A

The unit of heredity that helps to determine the characteristics of an organism. Particular sequence of DNA.

70
Q

What is gene expression?

A

Whether a particular gene is turned on or off.

71
Q

Genome:

A

Provides the options (which genes are available, which will be turned on/off), and the environment determines which option is taken.

72
Q

What are chromosomes made of?

A

DNA.

73
Q

How many pairs of chromosomes does one cell contain?

A

23

74
Q

Explain the difference between genotype and phenotype.

A

Genotype = the genetic constitution of an organism, determined at the moment of conception

Phenotype = observable physical characteristics, result from both genetic and environmental influences, is always changing

75
Q

What does it mean for a trait to be polygenic?

A

Influenced by many genes.

76
Q

Which field studies how genes and environment interact to influence psychological activity?

A

Behavioral genetics.

77
Q

Explain the term heredity.

A

Transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring through genes.

78
Q

Explain the term heritability.

A

A statistical estimate of the extent to which variation in a trait within a population is due to genetics. (and not due to environment or random chance)

79
Q

What does the field of epigenetics study?

A

Looking at the process by which the environment affects genetic expression. (living under stress makes some genes more/less active and that could be passed to future generations)

80
Q

What does the field of optogenetics study?

A

Understanding causal relationships between brain activity and behavior.

Introduction to psychology (14 decks)

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