Biopsychology Flashcards
Define biopsychology
The study of biological impact on behavior, thoughts and emotions
What are the main components and subcomponents of the nervous system
Nervous system is separated into two parts; Peripheral NS and Central NS.
PNS is split into the Autonomic and Somatic divisions where Autonomic involves involuntary commands and Somatic is under voluntary control.
Finally, the autonomic division is itself split into two divisions; the parasympathetic and the sympathetic divisions.
Parasympathetic is associated with relaxation and energy conservation. For instance, involuntary actions such as breathing and heart beating.
Sympathetic division is like the fight or flight reaction where the body prepares itself for short-term energy expenditure. Involuntary actions include pupil dilation and saliva inhibition.
What are the 3 major divisions of the brain
- Hindbrain (back)
- Midbrain
- Forebrain
What are the 4 distinct lobes of the cerebral cortex and where are they approximately located in the forebrain
- Occipital lobe: Processes visual information, located in the back of the forebrain
- Parietal lobe: Processes sensory information, located at the top of forebrain
- Temporal lobe: Responsible for hearing and language, located right over ear level
- Frontal lobe: Specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking,
planning, memory, and judgment, located at the very front of forebrain
What is the corpus callosum
Thick band of nerve fibers connecting both hemispheres that allow the crossing of electrical activity
What is the split-brain procedure
Severing of the corpus callosum to alleviate epileptic seizures
What are the 2 main categories of brain cells
- Neurons: Used for communication between neurons to command bodily responses
- Glial cells: Support and nourish neurons
Describe the neuron and its 3 key components
Cells within the central nervous system that are specialized for communication.
The neuron is composed of;
1. Dendrites (branch like head), it receives information form other neurons and relays it to the cell body
2. Nucleus (sphere in the center of dendrite), contains genetic information
3. Axon (tail), carries information to other neurons, muscles and glands
What are the 2 steps involved in communication between neurons
- Conduction; information is carried in the form of an electrical signal and travels inside the neuron from the dendrite to the axon
- Transmission; information in the form of a chemical signal must pass from one neuron to the other
Define the neuronal membrane
The neuronal membrane surrounds the neurons and separates high concentration of sodium outside the the neuron and the high concentration of potassium inside.
What creates potential energy in the neuron
The difference in ion concentration outside and inside the neuron called resting membrane potential.
What controls the movement the concentration of ions inside and outside in the neuron
The ion channels
Describe the action potential cycle of a neuron
- The neuron starts in a resting state where the ions channels are closed and voltage stays constant
- Stimulation of the neuron causes the ion channels causes the sodium channels to open and let sodium ions flow inside and increase the positive charge relative to the outside. This step is called depolarization.
- After the action potential reaches its maximum, the sodium channels become inactive and potassium channels open to let potassium ions flow out of the neuron, but this process gets overdone and the charge of the cell becomes more negative. This step is called Repolarisation.
- Finally, the imbalance in ions for the action potential is reversed by mechanisms known as sodium/potassium pumps and moves some sodium outside and moves some potassium inside so that resting potential can be reached again. This step is called hyperpolarization.
What are neurotransmitters, what triggers them and what happens once they’re released
Triggered by action potential, they’re chemical signals released by presynaptic neurons (neuron firing neurotransmitter) into the synaptic cleft. The synaptic cleft is a small gap between two neurons. After being released into the synaptic cleft, they interact with receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
Define polygenic
Controlled by more than one gene.
Eg. height
What coats the axon and acts as an insulator, increasing the speed at which the signal in travels
Myelin sheath
What are called the gaps in the myelin sheath
Nodes of Ranvier
How many sodium ions does the sodium-potassium pump bring outside the cell during resting state and what about the potassium ions
3 sodium ions out for 2 potassium ions in
what are the 7 nts
- Acetylcholine
Involved in voluntary movement, attention, learning,
alertness, and memory - Dopamine
Involved in motor behaviour, motivation, pleasure,
arousal, learning and memory. - Glutamate
Major excitatory neurotransmitter (Regulation of activity
e.g.: too much can produce seizure) - GABA
Major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Balance glutamate
activity - Norepinephrine
Involved in heightened awareness, alertness and arousal - Seretonin
Involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness,
eating and mood. - Endorphins
Dull the experience of pain. Act within pain centers of
the brain
What are the possibilities one a NT binds to a receptor
- increase in likelihood of an AP in the postsynaptic neuron (excitatory)
- decrease likelihood of AP (inhibitory)
what do SSRIs do
- limit reuptake of serotonin
- allow serotonin to act at the receptors for longer
what are the 4 ways that the NTs signal can end
- reuptake by presynaptic neuron, it takes the excess back
- enzymatic destruction
- diffusion
- binding to autoreceptors
Autoreceptors: receptors on the presynaptic neuron, detect excessive NT in the synaptic gap and shut down production
differentiate the nervous system and the endocrine system
NS; electrical impulses are the messengers
Endocrine sys; specialized for communication through glands and hormones
Compare NTs and hormones
- both chemical messengers
Hormones act throughout the body - slower and longer lasting
- released into the blood, effect is widespread
NTs act in local areas - fast acing
- acts on neighbouring neuros, effect is localized
List the main glands of the endocrine system
Pituitary gland - master gland
Thyroid - metabolism and growth
Parathyroid - calcium
hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis - stress
Gonads - reproduction
Pineal gland - melatonin
