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MCAT Behavioural Sciences > Biology and Behaviour > Flashcards

Biology and Behaviour Flashcards

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1
Q

What did Franz Gall contribute to neuropsychology?

A

Late eighteenth/early nineteenth c: Phrenology

Well-developed trait > relevant portion of brain expands > visible on physical inspection

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2
Q

What did Pierre Flourens contribute to neuropsychology?

A

Early nineteenth c. : expiration/ablation of rabbits and pigeons
== surgically removing parts of brain, observing consequences
==> conclusion: different parts of brain had different functions; removal of one part weakens whole brain

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3
Q

What did William James contribute to neuropsychology?

A

mid nineteenth century:

Functionalism = study of how mental processes help individuals adapt to environments

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4
Q

What did John Dewey contribute to neuropsychology?

A

turn of century

1896 article breaks down stimulus response into discrete parts

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5
Q

What did Paul Broca contribute to neuropsychology?

A

c. 1860
Studied behavioural deficits of people w/ brain damage
First to demonstrate that specific functional impairments = specific brain lesions

Found man unable to talk because of lesion on left side of brain; now called ‘Broca’s area’

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6
Q

What did Hermann von Helmholtz contribute to neuropsychology?

A

Mid nineteenth c.

First to measure speed of nerve impulse. Credited with transition of psychology to a science

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7
Q

What did Sir Charles Sherrington contribute to neuropsychology?

A

Around turn of century:

Inferred existence of synapses, tho thought they were electrical

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8
Q

What covers the brain?

A

From outside in:

Skin
Periosteum
Skull bone

Meninges: dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Cerebrospinal fluid

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9
Q

In what order did the mammalian brain evolve?

A

First mid/hind brain, from brainstem
Second the forebrain
Most recently the cerebral cortex (in humans)

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10
Q

Discuss each component of the forebrain and their functions

A

Cerebral cortex: complex perceptual, cognitive, behavioural processes

Basal ganglia: movement

Limbic system: emotion, memory

Thalamus: sensory relay station

Hypothalamus: hunger, thirst, emotion

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11
Q

Discuss each component of the midbrain and their functions

A

Superior colliculus: visual sensory input

Inferior colliculus: auditory sensory input

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12
Q

Discuss each component of the hindbrain and their functions

A

Cerebellum: refined motor movements

Medulla oblongata: vital functions

Reticular formation: arousal and alertness

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13
Q

Discuss embryonic development

A

1) Neural tube forms

2) Anterior neural tube develops three swellings:
Prosencephalon (future forebrain)
Mesencephalon (future midbrain)
Rhombencephalon (future hindbrain)

3) Secondary splits:
Prosencephalon splits into telencephalon (cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system) and diencephalon (thalamis, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary, pineal gland)

Rhombencephalon splits into metencephalon (pons and cerebellum) and myencephalon (medulla oblongata)

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14
Q

List eight methods of studying the brain

A

1) studying human brain lesions
2) inflicting brain lesions in lab animals – e.g. by inserting electrodes inside brain
3) electrically stimulating human brain activity w/ surgical electrodes and recording result – relies on patient assistance and local anaesthesia
4) EEG (electroencephalogram) - electrodes placed on scalp, used for broad patterns e.g. sleep/seizure research
5) rCBF (regional cerebral blood flow) tracked by inhaling radioactive gas
6) CT scan – x-rays at lots of different angles, processed to create x sections
7) PET scan – radioactive sugar absorbed, dispersion measured
8) MRI / fMRI (associated with increased blood flow)

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15
Q

What is the largest portion of the human brain, by weight/volume?

A

The forebrain

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16
Q

What is the function of the thalamus?

A

Receives stimuli and transmits to appropriate areas of cerebral cortex

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17
Q

What are the functions of the hypothalaumus?

A

Important in arousal, aggression, sexual behaviour
Also some endocrine functions
Sensors for metabolism, temperature, water balance
Primary regulator of autonomic nervous system

18
Q

What are the functions of the lateral hypothalamus (LH)?

A

‘Hunger centre’: Receptors that detect hunger/thirst

When destroyed in lab rats, they refuse food

19
Q

What are the functions of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)?

A

‘Satiety centre’: produces signals to stop eating. Lesions here lead to obesity

20
Q

What are the functions of the anterior hypothalamus (AH)?

A

Sexual behaviour. When behaviour stimulated here, lab animals get very horny! Damage = permanent sexual inhibition.

Also regulates sleep, body temperature

21
Q

What does the posterior pituitary do?

A

Secretes hypothalamic hormones, ADH and oxytocin

Releasing/inhibiting factors

22
Q

What does the pineal gland do?

A

Secretes melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythms – direct contact with the retina for sunlight coordination

23
Q

What do the basal ganglia do?

A

Co-ordinate muscle movement as they receive info from the cortex; relay to brain and spinal cord

Parkinson’s = destruction of parts of basal ganglia

24
Q

List the components of the limbic system

A

Septal nuclei
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Fornix

25
Q

What do the septal nuclei do?

A

One of the primary pleasure centres of the brain. Associated with addictive behaviour

26
Q

What does the amygdala do?

A

Important in defensive / aggressive behaviour

Damage = marked reduction in fear, aggression, docility, hypersexuality

27
Q

What does the hippocampus do?

A

Helps form long-term memories; redistributes remote memories to cerebral cortex

Communicates with rest of limbic system through fornix (long tube)

28
Q

What is the neocortex?

A

Another name for cerebral cortex

29
Q

What are the lumps and bumps of the cerebral cortex called?

A 
Lumps = gyri
Bumps = sulci
30
Q

What are the main divisions of the cerebral cortex

A

Two cerebral hemispheres (halves)

Four cerebral lobes (surfaces):
Frontal lobe (executive function, voluntary movement)
Parietal lobe (touch, temperature, pain)
Occipital lobe (vision)
Temporal lobe (hearing)
31
Q

What is an association area? What is the opposite called?

A

An area that integrates input from diverse regions, e.g. prefrontal cortex

Opposite = projection area – perform one rudimentary task, e.g. visual cortex, motor cortex

32
Q

What is in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex?

A

Two basic regions:

– prefrontal cortex
executive function

– motor cortex
located on precentral gyrus, in front of central sulcus that divides frontall and parietal lobes
initiates voluntary motor movements

33
Q

Where is Broca’s area?

A

Usually frontal lobe in dominant hemisphere – which is usually the left

34
Q

What is in the parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex?

A

To the rear of the frontal lobe.

Contains somatosensory cortex - on postcentral gyrus (just behind central sulcus)
Projection area for incoming sensory touch, pressure, temperature, pain signals.
Often described as one unit with the motor cortex – the ‘sensorimotor cortex’, as very close

35
Q

What is in the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex?

A

At back of brain. Contains visual cortex (sometimes called striate cortex)

36
Q

What is in the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex?

A

Auditory cortex
Wernicke’s area – associated with language reception and comprehension

TL also functions in memory processing, emotion, language

37
Q

What is the relationship between brain hemispheres and body function?

A

usually one hemisphere controls opposite side of body (contralateral side)

Some exceptions: hearing (ipsalateral)

38
Q

What defines dominant v. non-dominant hemispheres?

A

Dominant = side typically used in language reception and production

39
Q

What are the differences between the dominant and non-dominant hemispheres of the brain?

A

Dominant (usually left) = primarily analytic. Has language production (Broca’s area) and understanding (Wernicke’s area)

Nondominant area = intuition, creativity, music cognition, spatial processing

40
Q

List the seven main neurotransmitters

A 
Acetylcholine
Epinephrine and norepinephrine
Dopamine
Serotonin
GABA/Glycine/Glutamate
Peptide neurotransmitters
41
Q

Discuss acetylcholine as neurotransmitter

A

In CNS and PNS
In PNS: transmits nerve impulses to muscles
Neurotransmitter used by parasympathetic NS and small portion of sympathetic NS
In CNS: linked to attention and arousal

MCAT Behavioural Sciences (1 decks)

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