biology of mind and behavior

Question 1

brain plasticity

Answer 1

the brain’s ability to change

Question 2

neurogenesis

Answer 2

the formation of new neurons

Question 3

what are the jobs of the neuron

Answer 3

1. receives information from senses
2. process the information
3. sends the information to other neurons, muscles, or organs

Question 4

what is a neuron

Answer 4

the basic unit of the nercous system

Question 5

how many neurons does the brain have?

Answer 5

one hundred billion neurons

Question 6

types of nerons

Answer 6

-sensory
-interneuron
-motor neuron

Question 7

sensory neurons

Answer 7

receives input from senses

Question 8

motor neurons

Answer 8

direct output from brain

Question 9

interneuron

Answer 9

the “in-between message carrier”

Question 10

are there more glial cells or neurons?

Answer 10

glial cells

Question 11

what are glial cells

Answer 11

they fill the gap between neurons (glia = glue)
-the nutrition & maintenance of nerve cells
-some are involved in the brain’s immune response
-10 times more glial cells than neurons

Question 12

what do dendrites do?

Answer 12

receive signals from other cells

Question 13

nucleus

Answer 13

controls the entire neuron

Question 14

cell body

Answer 14

organizes and keeps the cell function

Question 15

cell membrane

Answer 15

protects the cell

Question 16

axon

Answer 16

transfers signals to other cells and organs

Question 17

meylin sheath

Answer 17

increases the speed of the signal

Question 18

axon hillock

Answer 18

generates impulse in the neuron

Question 19

schwann cells

Answer 19

produces the myelin sheath

Question 20

what is the resting potention of neural impulses

Answer 20

-70 mV

Question 21

action potential for neural impulses

Answer 21

firing about 40 mV
all or none law about 55 mV (once it hits 55, it shoots way up)

Question 22

myelin

Answer 22

acts as an insulator
allows signal to travel more efficiently

Question 23

what is multiple scerlosis?

Answer 23

a deteriorated myelin

Question 24

what are the types neurotransmitters

Answer 24

-acetycholine
-dopamine
-norepinephrine
-serotonin
-GABA
-glutamine
-endorphine

Question 25

acetylcholine (ACh)

Answer 25

-learning muscle memory
-muscle movement
-problems: alzheimer’s disease

Question 26

dopamine (DA)

Answer 26

-movements, learning, attention, emotion
-problems: schizophrenia (too much) Parkinson’s (too little)

Question 27

norepinephrine (NE)

Answer 27

-alertness and arousal
-Problems: depression, bipolar disorder

Question 28

serotonin (5-HT)

Answer 28

-mood, hunger, sleep, arousal
-problems: depression, bipolar disorder

Question 29

GABA

Answer 29

inhibitory action- CALMS (calms firing of cells)
-problems: generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, seizures, tremors (when gaba is abnormal)

Question 30

Glutamate (Glu)

Answer 30

-excitatory action (increases firing of cells) memory
-problems: schizophrenia, migraines, seizures

Question 31

endoprhins

Answer 31

-pain & pleasure
-problems: too much can alter body’s production of natural endorphins

Question 32

how do neurotransmitters travel?

Answer 32

they cross the snyapse

Question 33

excitatory vs inhibitory

Answer 33

excitatory: neuron more likely to fire
inhibitory: neuron less likely to fire

Question 34

agonist vs antagonist

Answer 34

agonist: any molecule that increases the effect of the neurotransmitter
antagonist: any molecule that blocks or decreases the effect of a neurotransmitter

Question 35

ex of agonist

Answer 35

codine and morphine are both opiods which kill pain, endorphins also kill pain, so its and agonist. if it acts like a transmitter, it is an agonist

Question 36

agonist ______ a neurotransmitter’s normal effects and an antagonist ______ them.

Answer 36

amplifies
reduces

Question 37

autonomic nervous system

Answer 37

-part of the peripheral nervous system
-sympathetic: fight or flight
-parasympathetic: rest and digest

Question 38

the neuroendocrine system

Answer 38

-“slow” chemical communication system
-messenger: hormones secreted in bloodstream
-pituitary gland: master gland
-adrenal glands: involved in “fight or flight”
-slower than central nervous system
-longer lasting effects than CNS

Question 39

electroencephalogram

Answer 39

-reads electrical activity of cells
-(EEG)

Question 40

magnetoencephalogram (MEG)

Answer 40

• maps activity by recording magnetic fields from electricity in the brain

Question 41

positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer 41

visualizes brain function

Question 42

functional magnetic resonance imaging

Answer 42

(fMRI)

Question 43

medulla

Answer 43

heartbeat and breathing

Question 44

pons

Answer 44

sleep control & movement coordination

Question 45

thalamous

Answer 45

receives sensory information relays to higher brain regions

Question 46

cerebellum

Answer 46

coordination of movement and balance, involved in nonverbal learning and memory

Question 47

lymbic system

Answer 47

associated with memory and drives

Question 48

hippocampus

Answer 48

memory formation of facts, events, and spatial awareness

Question 49

amygdala

Answer 49

linked to emotions, especially aggression and fear

Question 50

hypothalamus

Answer 50

-maintenance and motivation
-homeostasis
-thirst & hunger
-linked to reward & pleasure via nucleus accumbens (in humans more likely to produce desire)

Question 51

cerebral cortex

Answer 51

largest division in the brain. it si divided into two hemispheres, each of which is divided into four lobes