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PSY101 > Biological Psychology Part 1 > Flashcards

Biological Psychology Part 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are neurons?

A

Nerve cells specialised for communication

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2
Q

Function of cell body?

A

Central region of neuron, responsible for creation of new cell components

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3
Q

What are dendrites and what do they do?

A

Branch like extensions for receiving information from other neurons

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4
Q

What is the axon and what does it do?

A

Long thread part of neuron, allows impulses conducted from cell body to travel other cells. Synaptic vessels travel along the axon through to axon terminals.

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5
Q

What is a synapse?

A

Space between two connecting neurons where messages are transmitted

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6
Q

What is myelin sheath?

A

Glial cell wrapper around axon, fatty coating speeds up impulses

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7
Q

What are synaptic vesicles?

A

Spherical sacs containing neurotransmitters

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8
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemical messengers specialised for communication and released at the synapse

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9
Q

What are glial cells and what do they do?

A

Cells in nervous system that play a role in formation of myelin and the blood-brain barrier, respond to injury, remove debris and enhance learning and memory

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10
Q

Describe the action potential

A

When a neuron is at rest, there are positive and negative ions on both sides of the membrane. During action potential, positive ions rush in and out of axon. This process occurs along the axon until the axon terminal releases a neurotransmitter. Allows neurons to communicate

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11
Q

What is the resting potential?

A

More negative ions inside than outside the neuron. Neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited. Both positive and negative ions are flowing in and out of the neuron.

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12
Q

What is the refractory period?

A

Time after an action potential where another cannot occur

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13
Q

Difference between excitatory and inhibitory post synaptic potential?

A

E - makes the inside of neuron more positive, brings neuron closer to action potential
I - makes inside of neuron more negative, moves further away from firing action potential

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14
Q

What are receptor sites?

A

After neurotransmitters are released into synapse, they bind with receptor sites - locations that uniquely recognise a neurotransmitter. E.g. like a lock and key

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15
Q

What is reuptake?

A

Recycling of neurotransmitter

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16
Q

Difference between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters?

A

Excitatory - excites nervous system, increasing activity
Inhibitory- inhibits nervous system, decreases activity

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17
Q

Glutamate role?

A

Main excitatory neurotransmitter
Relay of sensory information
Learning

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18
Q

GABA role?

A

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter

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19
Q

Acetylcholine role?

A

Muscle contraction PNS
Corticol arousal

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20
Q

Noradrenaline role?

A

Cortical arousal

21
Q

Dopamine role?

A

Motor function and reward

22
Q

Serotonin role?

A

Cortical arousal

23
Q

Endorphins role?

A

Pain reduction

24
Q

Anandamide role?

A

Pain reduction
Increase in appetite

25
Q

Neural plasticity during development - stages

A
  1. Growth of dendrites and axons
  2. Synaptogenesis - forming new synapses
  3. Pruning - death of connections that are not useful
  4. Myelination - insulation of axons with myelin sheath
26
Q

What is the cns made of?

A

Brain and spinal cord

27
Q

What does the pns consist of?

A

Everything else - divided into
Somatic - voluntary behaviour of skeletal muscles
Autonomic - involuntary behaviour

28
Q

What is the cortex made up of? (lobes)

A

Frontal lobe
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital

29
Q

Frontal lobe functions

A

Executive functioning
Motor planning
Language
Memory

30
Q

Parietal lobe function

A

Process touch information, integrates vision and touch

31
Q

Temporal lobe function

A

Process auditory information, language and autobiographical memory

32
Q

Occipital lobe function

A

Process visual information

33
Q

Basal ganglia function

A

Control movement and motor planning

34
Q

What does the limbic system consist of?

A

Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Amygdala
Hippocampus

35
Q

Thalamus function

A

Convey sensory info to cortex

36
Q

Hypothalamus function

A

Oversee endocrine and autonomic nervous system

37
Q

Amygdala role

A

Arousal and fear

38
Q

Hippocampus role

A

Process memory for spatial locations

39
Q

Cerebellum role

A

Balance and movement

40
Q

Brain stem consists of?

A

Midbrain
Pons
Medulla

41
Q

Midbrain role?

A

Tracks visual stimuli and reflexes triggered by sound

42
Q

Pons role?

A

Conveys information between cortex and cerebellum

43
Q

Medulla role?

A

Regulates breathing and heartbeat

44
Q

Spinal cord role ?

A

Conveys information between brain and rest of body

45
Q

Somatic nervous system role

A

Carries messages from cns to muscles, controlling movement
When we stabilise or move joints, cns works with somatic nervous system to regulate posture and body movement

46
Q

Autonomic nervous system role?

A

Control involuntary actions of internal organs and glands (with limbic system) participates in emotion
Also made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

47
Q

Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system

A

When one is active the other one is passive
S - fight or flight
P - rest and digest

48
Q

Corpus callosum role?

A

Responsible for transferring info from one side of the brain to the other

PSY101 (3 decks)

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