Biological Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Define dualist

A

The idea that the conscious mind is very different from the physical brain

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2
Q

Descartes ideology

A

Mind and body are separate

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3
Q

Cerebellum function

A

Motor coordination/control
- I’m not drunk but my cerebellum is

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4
Q

Medulla function

A

Coordinates heart rate, circulation, respiration
- Without me medulla me die

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5
Q

Reticular formation function

A

Regulates sleep, wakefulness, and arousal

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6
Q

Pons function

A

Relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

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7
Q

Thalamus function

A

Filters and transmits info from senses to the cortex

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8
Q

Hypothalamus function

A

Regulates temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep, and hormones, maintaining the body’s balance and homeostasis.

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9
Q

Amygdala function

A

Role in emotional process

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10
Q

Hippocampus

A

Critical for creating and integrating new memories

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11
Q

Basal ganglia function

A

Intentional Movement

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12
Q

Types of Amnesia

A

Retrograde and Anterograde

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13
Q

Hindbrain structures

A
  • Pons
  • Medulla
  • Reticular formation
  • Cerebellum
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14
Q

Forebrain subcortical structures

A
  • Basal ganglia
  • Thalamus
  • Hypothalamus
  • Amygdala
  • Hippocampus
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15
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

Large surface area is folded so it can be placed into the limited volume of the skull
Composed of:
- Ridges (gyrus.gyri)
- Valleys (sulcus/sulci)

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16
Q

Somatosensory Cortex

A

It processes sensory input from the body, including touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception (the sense of body position).

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17
Q

Brain Geography:
- What are the up, down, front, and back sides of the brain?
- What are the front and back of the brain stem?
- What is one half of the brain called?

A
  • Superior dorsal, inferior ventral, anterior, posterior
  • ventral, dorsal
  • Hemisphere
18
Q

What part of the brain develops last and when is it fully developed?

A

Prefrontal cortex
Not fully developed until 20-25 years of age

19
Q

Broca’s Area

A

Language production

20
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Speech comprehension

21
Q

Aphasia definition

A

The loss of ability to use or understand speech/language

22
Q

What are the two cerebral hemispheres connected by?

A

The corpus callosum

23
Q

Define split-brain

A

The corpus callosum is cut in surgery

24
Q

Split brain patients

A

Each hemisphere can process information independently, leading to situations where a person might not be able to verbally identify an object seen in the left visual field (processed by the right hemisphere) because the speech centers are typically in the left hemisphere.

25
Q

Neurons

A

A cell that specializes in receiving and transmitting information

26
Q

Parts of a neuron: Cell body

A

Coordinates information-processing tasks and keeps cell alive

27
Q

Parts of a neuron: Dendrites

A

Receive information from other neurons and relays it to the cell body

28
Q

Parts of a neuron: Axon

A

A long slender projection that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body

29
Q

Parts of a neuron: Synapse

A

The region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite (or cell body) of another

30
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

Fatty sheath that insulates axons resulting in increased speed or and efficiency of neural communications
- Works like wire insulation

31
Q

What happens when myelin is damaged?

A

Multiple sclerosis

32
Q

How do neurons send and receive messages?

A

Action potential
Transmission accross the synapse

33
Q

Resting potential

A

When a neuron is at rest:
- Outside + charge: Na, Cl
- Inside - charge: K, A
- Resting potential: -70mV

34
Q

What happens when the axon is stimulated?

A

Depolarization

35
Q

Define depolarization

A

When the stimulated sodium channels open and = ions rush in

36
Q

Define repolarization

A

After the sodium gates close, potassion moves out

37
Q

Define action potential

A

An electrical signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron’s axon to a synapse

38
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

when the action potential reaches the terminal buttons it causes the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft

39
Q

Neurotransmitters: Excitory

A

Increase the likelihood of an action potential (by causing the membrane potential to be less negative)

40
Q

Neurotransmitters: Inhibitory

A

Decrease the likelihood of an action potential (by causing the membrane potential to be more negative)

41
Q

Summation of postsynaptic potentials

A

If the neuron is pushed past firing threshold (-55mV) then the neuron will initial an action potential