Biological Psychology Part 1 Flashcards
What are neurons?
Nerve cells specialised for communication
Function of cell body?
Central region of neuron, responsible for creation of new cell components
What are dendrites and what do they do?
Branch like extensions for receiving information from other neurons
What is the axon and what does it do?
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.
What is a synapse?
Space between two connecting neurons where messages are transmitted
What is myelin sheath?
Glial cell wrapper around axon, fatty coating speeds up impulses
What are synaptic vesicles?
Spherical sacs containing neurotransmitters
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemical messengers specialised for communication and released at the synapse
What are glial cells and what do they do?
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
Describe the action potential
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
What is the resting potential?
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.
What is the refractory period?
Time after an action potential where another cannot occur
Difference between excitatory and inhibitory post synaptic potential?
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
What are receptor sites?
After neurotransmitters are released into synapse, they bind with receptor sites - locations that uniquely recognise a neurotransmitter. E.g. like a lock and key
What is reuptake?
Recycling of neurotransmitter
Difference between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters?
Excitatory - excites nervous system, increasing activity
Inhibitory- inhibits nervous system, decreases activity
Glutamate role?
Main excitatory neurotransmitter
Relay of sensory information
Learning
GABA role?
Main inhibitory neurotransmitter
Acetylcholine role?
Muscle contraction PNS
Corticol arousal
Noradrenaline role?
Cortical arousal
Dopamine role?
Motor function and reward
Serotonin role?
Cortical arousal
Endorphins role?
Pain reduction
Anandamide role?
Pain reduction
Increase in appetite
Neural plasticity during development - stages
- Growth of dendrites and axons
- Synaptogenesis - forming new synapses
- Pruning - death of connections that are not useful
- Myelination - insulation of axons with myelin sheath
What is the cns made of?
Brain and spinal cord
What does the pns consist of?
Everything else - divided into
Somatic - voluntary behaviour of skeletal muscles
Autonomic - involuntary behaviour
What is the cortex made up of? (lobes)
Frontal lobe
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital
Frontal lobe functions
Executive functioning
Motor planning
Language
Memory
Parietal lobe function
Process touch information, integrates vision and touch
Temporal lobe function
Process auditory information, language and autobiographical memory
Occipital lobe function
Process visual information
Basal ganglia function
Control movement and motor planning
What does the limbic system consist of?
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Thalamus function
Convey sensory info to cortex
Hypothalamus function
Oversee endocrine and autonomic nervous system
Amygdala role
Arousal and fear
Hippocampus role
Process memory for spatial locations
Cerebellum role
Balance and movement
Brain stem consists of?
Midbrain
Pons
Medulla
Midbrain role?
Tracks visual stimuli and reflexes triggered by sound
Pons role?
Conveys information between cortex and cerebellum
Medulla role?
Regulates breathing and heartbeat
Spinal cord role ?
Conveys information between brain and rest of body
Somatic nervous system role
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
Autonomic nervous system role?
Control involuntary actions of internal organs and glands (with limbic system) participates in emotion
Also made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system
When one is active the other one is passive
S - fight or flight
P - rest and digest
Corpus callosum role?
Responsible for transferring info from one side of the brain to the other
