Biology and Behaviour Flashcards
What did Franz Gall contribute to neuropsychology?
Late eighteenth/early nineteenth c: Phrenology
Well-developed trait > relevant portion of brain expands > visible on physical inspection
What did Pierre Flourens contribute to neuropsychology?
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
What did William James contribute to neuropsychology?
mid nineteenth century:
Functionalism = study of how mental processes help individuals adapt to environments
What did John Dewey contribute to neuropsychology?
turn of century
1896 article breaks down stimulus response into discrete parts
What did Paul Broca contribute to neuropsychology?
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’
What did Hermann von Helmholtz contribute to neuropsychology?
Mid nineteenth c.
First to measure speed of nerve impulse. Credited with transition of psychology to a science
What did Sir Charles Sherrington contribute to neuropsychology?
Around turn of century:
Inferred existence of synapses, tho thought they were electrical
What covers the brain?
From outside in:
Skin
Periosteum
Skull bone
Meninges: dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
Cerebrospinal fluid
In what order did the mammalian brain evolve?
First mid/hind brain, from brainstem
Second the forebrain
Most recently the cerebral cortex (in humans)
Discuss each component of the forebrain and their functions
Cerebral cortex: complex perceptual, cognitive, behavioural processes
Basal ganglia: movement
Limbic system: emotion, memory
Thalamus: sensory relay station
Hypothalamus: hunger, thirst, emotion
Discuss each component of the midbrain and their functions
Superior colliculus: visual sensory input
Inferior colliculus: auditory sensory input
Discuss each component of the hindbrain and their functions
Cerebellum: refined motor movements
Medulla oblongata: vital functions
Reticular formation: arousal and alertness
Discuss embryonic development
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)
List eight methods of studying the brain
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)
What is the largest portion of the human brain, by weight/volume?
The forebrain
What is the function of the thalamus?
Receives stimuli and transmits to appropriate areas of cerebral cortex
What are the functions of the hypothalaumus?
Important in arousal, aggression, sexual behaviour
Also some endocrine functions
Sensors for metabolism, temperature, water balance
Primary regulator of autonomic nervous system
What are the functions of the lateral hypothalamus (LH)?
‘Hunger centre’: Receptors that detect hunger/thirst
When destroyed in lab rats, they refuse food
What are the functions of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)?
‘Satiety centre’: produces signals to stop eating. Lesions here lead to obesity
What are the functions of the anterior hypothalamus (AH)?
Sexual behaviour. When behaviour stimulated here, lab animals get very horny! Damage = permanent sexual inhibition.
Also regulates sleep, body temperature
What does the posterior pituitary do?
Secretes hypothalamic hormones, ADH and oxytocin
Releasing/inhibiting factors
What does the pineal gland do?
Secretes melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythms – direct contact with the retina for sunlight coordination
What do the basal ganglia do?
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
List the components of the limbic system
Septal nuclei
Amygdala
Hippocampus
Fornix
What do the septal nuclei do?
One of the primary pleasure centres of the brain. Associated with addictive behaviour
What does the amygdala do?
Important in defensive / aggressive behaviour
Damage = marked reduction in fear, aggression, docility, hypersexuality
What does the hippocampus do?
Helps form long-term memories; redistributes remote memories to cerebral cortex
Communicates with rest of limbic system through fornix (long tube)
What is the neocortex?
Another name for cerebral cortex
What are the lumps and bumps of the cerebral cortex called?
Lumps = gyri Bumps = sulci
What are the main divisions of the cerebral cortex
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)
What is an association area? What is the opposite called?
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
What is in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex?
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
Where is Broca’s area?
Usually frontal lobe in dominant hemisphere – which is usually the left
What is in the parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex?
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
What is in the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex?
At back of brain. Contains visual cortex (sometimes called striate cortex)
What is in the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex?
Auditory cortex
Wernicke’s area – associated with language reception and comprehension
TL also functions in memory processing, emotion, language
What is the relationship between brain hemispheres and body function?
usually one hemisphere controls opposite side of body (contralateral side)
Some exceptions: hearing (ipsalateral)
What defines dominant v. non-dominant hemispheres?
Dominant = side typically used in language reception and production
What are the differences between the dominant and non-dominant hemispheres of the brain?
Dominant (usually left) = primarily analytic. Has language production (Broca’s area) and understanding (Wernicke’s area)
Nondominant area = intuition, creativity, music cognition, spatial processing
List the seven main neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine Epinephrine and norepinephrine Dopamine Serotonin GABA/Glycine/Glutamate Peptide neurotransmitters
Discuss acetylcholine as neurotransmitter
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
