Biology And Behavior Flashcards
What are the three different types of neurons in the nervous system? What are their functions?
Sensory(afferent) neurons, motor(efferent) neurons, and interneurons. Afferent delievers sensory signals from sensory receptors to brain, Efferent delivers signal from brain to particular muscles to act accordingly, and interneurons send signals to brain while also to the source of stimuli
What is the function of Reflex arcs?
use interneurons in spinal cord to send signal to brain while also to the source of stimuli
What does Central nervous system consist of?
Brain and Spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system consists of?
Most cranial and spinal nerves
List the organization of the nervous system starting from CNS and PNS
CNS: brain, spinal cord
PNS: Somatic system(Voluntary) and Autonomic system(Involuntary) -> Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
What are the three subdivisions of the brain? How are they organized in position? How is the organization related to their function?
Hindbrain, Midbrain, Forebrain
low mid high
lowest - vital functions, high - complex functions
What does Hindbrain consist of? how are these subdivisions organized in position? what are their function?
Cerebellum, Pons, and Medulla oblongata.
Medulla oblongata: lowest, closes to spinal cord
- breathing, heart rate, blood pressure
Pons: directly above Medulla oblongata
- contains sensory and motor pathways between cortex and medulla
Cerebellum: across from Pons
- maintain posture, balance, coordinate body movement(alcohol affects here)
What does the Midbrain consist of? what is its main function?
Inferior and Superior colliculi.
- Receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body; reflexes to auditory and visual stimuli
What does Forebrain consist of? what is its main function?
Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Basal ganglia, Limbic system, and Cerebral cortex
- Complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes; emotion and memory
What is Hindbrain’s main function?
Balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, general arousal processes(sleeping and waking); vital functioning
Which ones are part of Forebrain? Inferior colliculi Pons Cerebellum Thalamus Hypothalamus medulla oblongata Basal ganglia Limbic system Crerebral cortex
Thalamus Hypothalamus Basal ganglia Limbic system Cerebral cortex
What are the functions of Thalamus, Hypothalamus, Basal ganglia, Limbic system(Septal nuclei, Hippocampus, Amygdala), and Cerebral cortex(Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, and Temporal lobe) which are all part of Forebrain?
Thalamus: Relay station for sensory information
Hypothalamus: maintains homeostasis and integrates with the endocrine system through the hypophyseal portal system that connects it to the anterior pituitary
Basal ganglia: smoothen movements and help maintain postural stability
Limbic system: includes Septal nuclei, Amygdala, and
Hippocampus, which control emotion and memory
- Septal nuclei: feelings of pleausre, pleasure-seeking behavior, addiction
- Amygdala: controls fear and aggression
- Hippocampus: memories, communicates with other parts of the limbic system
Cerebral cortex:
- Frontal lobe: executive function, impulse control, long-term planning, motor function, and speech production
- Parietal lobe: sensations of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain; spatial processing; orientation; and manipulation
- Occipital lobe: visual processing
- Temporal lobe: sound processing, speech perception, memory, and emotion
What are cerebral hemispheres and which one is generally the dominant one?
The brain is divided into two cerebral hemispheres: left and right. Usually left is the dominant one for language, regardless of the handedness.
What is the difference between Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators(neuropeptides)?
NTs: fast acting, short living
NPs: slow acting, long living
What is Acetylcholine and where is it found? what is its main function in its location?
Neurotransmitter found in both CNS and PNS. in CNS: arousal and attention; In PNS: transmit nerve impulses to the muscles(somatic NS) and Parasympathetic NS.
