Biology and Behavior Flashcards
Neuropsychology
Study of connection between nervous system and behavior. It most often focuses on the functions of the various brain regions.
3 types of neurons in the nervous system
Sensory (afferent), motor (efferent), internuerons
Reflex arcs
Use the ability of interneurons in spinal cord to relay information to the source of stimuli while simultaneouslt routing it to the brain
Central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
Most cranial and spinal nerves
Somatic nervous system
Division of periphery nervous system and is voluntary
Autonomic nervous system
Division of periphery nervous system and is automatic
Parasympathetic nervous system
Rest and digest
Sympathetic nervous system
Fight or flight
Branches of autonomic nervous system
Parasympathetic and sympathetic
3 subdivisions of brain
Hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain
Hindbrain
Cerebellum, medulla oblongata, reticular formation
Midrbain
Inferior and superior colliculi
Forebrain
Thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, limbic system, cerebral cortex
Methods of studying the brain
Studying animals and humans with lesions, electrical stimualtion, activity recording, EEG, regional cerebral blood flow
Thalamus
Relay station for sensory information
Hypothalamus
Maintains homeostasis and integrates with endocrine system through hypophyseal portal system that connects it to the anterior pituitary
Hypophyseal portal system
Connects hypothalamus to anterior pituitary
Basal ganglia
Smoothen movements and help maintain postural stability
Limbic system
Contains septal nuclei, amygdala, hippocampus. It controls emotion and memory.
Septal nuclei
Involved in feelings of pleasure, pleasure-seeking behavior, and addiction
Amygdala
Controls fear and aggression
Hippocampus
Consolidates memories and communicates with other parts of the limbic system through an extension called fornix
Cerebral cortex lobes
Frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
Frontal lobe
It controls executive function, impulse control, long term planning, motor function, speech production
Parietal lobe
Controls sensation of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain;spatial processing, orientation and manipulation
Occipital lobe
Controls visual processing
Temporal lobe
Controls sound processing, speech perception, memory, and emotion
In most individuals, which hemisphere is dominant for language?
Left hemisphere
Neurotransmitters
Released bu neruons to carry a signal to another neuron or effector ( muscle fiber or gland)
Acetylcholine
Used by somatic nervous system (to move muscles), parasympathetic nervous system, and the central nervous system (for alertness)
Dopamine
Maintains smooth movements and steady posture
Endorphins and enkephalins
Natural painkillers
Epinephrine and norepinephrine
Maintain wakefulness and alertness, and mediate fight or flight responses. They both are released by adrenal medulla and mediate sympathetic nervous system activity.
Epinephrine
Acts as a hormone
Norepinephrine
Acts as a neurotransmitter
2 inhibitory neurotransmitters in brain
GABA ( γ-Aminobutric acid) and glycine
Glutamate
Excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
Serotonin
Modulates mood, sleep patterns, eating patterns, and dreaming
Cortisol
Stress hormone released by adrenal cortex
Testosterone
Mediates libido and increases aggressive behavior. Released by adrenal cortex. In males, it is also made by testes.
Estrogen
Mediates libido. It is released by adrenal cortex and ovaries.
Nature vs Nurture
Debate regarding the contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) to an individual’s traits. For most traits, both nature and nurture play a role. The relative effects of each can be studied.
Family studies
Look at relative frequency of a trait within a family compared to a general population
Twin studies
Compare concordance rates between monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twins
Adoption studies
Compare similarities between adopted children and their adoptive parents, relative to similarities with their biological parents
Neuralation
Nervous system develops by having the notochord stimulate overlying ectoderm to fold over, and create a nerual tube topped with neural crest cells.
Neural tube
Becomes central nervous system
Neural crest cells
Spread out throughout body and differentiate into many different tissues
Primitive reflexes
Exist in infants and should disappear with age. Most primitive reflexes serve ( or used to) protective role. They can reappear in central nervous system disorders.
Rooting reflex
Infant turns their head toward anything that brushes their cheek
Moro reflex
Infant extends arms, then slowly retracts them and cries in response to a sensation of falling
Babinski reflex
Big toe is extended and the other toes fan in response to the brushing of the sole of the foot
Grasping relfex
Infant grabs anything put into their hand
Developmental milestones
- Gross and fine motor abilities progress head to toe and core to periphery
- Social skills shift from parent-oriented to self-oriented to other-oriented
- Language skills become more complex
