Biopsychology And Mind-Brain Problem Flashcards

Dualism vs. Materialism, PNS, neurons, the 🧠

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1
Q

What two basic cell types is a nervous system composed of

A

Glial cells and neurons

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2
Q

What are glial cells

A

They play a supportive role to neurons: provide insulation, transport nutrients and waste products, mediate immune responses, provide scaffolding on which the nervous system is built, help neurons line up closely together to allow neuronal communication.

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3
Q

Are glial cells or neurons more abundant

A

Glial cells are more abundant, they outnumber neurons 10 to 1

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4
Q

Neurons

A

They serve as interconnected information processors that are essential for all the tasks of the nervous system

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5
Q

What are the main parts of a neuron

A

Semi-permeable cell membrane, cell body or Soma, axon, dendrites, myelin sheath, terminal buttons that contain synaptic vesicles that house neurotransmitters.

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6
Q

What is a Soma

A

The cell body of a neuron, signals are transmitted from dendrites across the Soma, contains cell nucleus

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7
Q

What are dendrites

A

Tree like Branches extending from the Soma of a neuron. They serve as input sites or signals are received from other neurons.

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8
Q

What is the main function of a neuron

A

It is a small information processor

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9
Q

What is the function of an axon

A

Signals are transmitted electrically across the Soma and down a major extension of the Soma known as the axon

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10
Q

Where are terminal buttons located

A

They are extensions from the axon

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11
Q

What do the terminal buttons contain

A

Synaptic vesicles

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12
Q

What do synaptic vesicles house

A

Neurotransmitters which are chemical messengers of the nervous system

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13
Q

What is a synapse

A

A very small space between two neurons and an important site where communication between neurons occurs

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14
Q

What happens once neurotransmitters are released into the synapse

A

They travel across a small space and bind with corresponding receptors on the dendrite of an adjacent neuron

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15
Q

What are receptors

A

Proteins on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach, vary in shape, with different shapes matching different neurotransmitters

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16
Q

How does a neurotransmitter know which receptor to bind to

A

The neurotransmitter and the receptor have what is referred to as a lock and key relationship

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17
Q

Biological perspective

A

This is when the focus of a psychological disorder is on the physiological causes of that behavior

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18
Q

Which disorders are biological perspectives used on and why

A

Disorders such as depression and schizophrenia because they are found to be associated with imbalances and one or more transmitter systems

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19
Q

How do psychotropic medications help disorders like depression and schizophrenia

A

These are drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

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20
Q

What are the two major subdivisions of the nervous system

A

Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system

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21
Q

What makes up the central nervous system

A

The brain and spinal cord

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22
Q

What makes up the peripheral nervous system

A

The PNS is made up of nerves carrying messages back and forth between the central nervous system and the muscles, organs, and senses in the periphery of the body

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23
Q

What are nerves

A

Thick bundles of axons

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24
Q

What are the two major subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system

A

The somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system

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25
Q

What is a somatic nervous system

A

The part of the PNS That controls the body’s skeletal muscles (motor information) and processes sensory information, traditionally thought of as conscious or voluntary

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26
Q

What is the function of motor neurons

A

They carry instructions from the central nervous system to the muscles, and are also known as efferent fibers.

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27
Q

What is the function of sensory neurons

A

They carry sensory information to the central nervous system, and are known as afferent fibers, they are activated by chemical and physical stimuli, and illicit sensations such as pain, touch, temperature, itch

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28
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

This is a part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary muscles, internal organs and glands and is generally considered to be outside the realm of voluntary control

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29
Q

The autonomic nervous system is subdivided into what 2 divisions

A

The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

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30
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Involved in preparing the body for stress related activities, prepares the organs for rigorous activity and is involved in psychological arousal

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31
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

Is associated returning the body to routine, day-to-day operations, slows down bodily functions and is involved in psychological relaxation

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32
Q

If the parasympathetic system is activated does that mean that the sympathetic nervous system is deactivated

A

Both systems are always on but one is usually more active than the other, dependent on the relative amount of input from either system. Each organ receives efferent nerves from the CNS that consist of opposing parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves

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33
Q

What happens when our sympathetic nervous system is activated

A
  • can result when faced with stressful or higher arousal situations
  • dilates pupils, inhibits salivation, increases heart rate dilate bronchi, inhibits digestion, blood pressure increases, bladder relaxes, liver releases glucose, adrenaline (Epi, NE) surges into bloodstream
  • also known as fight or flight response
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34
Q

What happens when parasympathetic nervous system is activated

A
  • calms or conserves energy
  • pupils constrict, stimulates elevation, heart rate slows, blood pressure returns to normal, bronchi constrict, digestion is stimulated, contracts bladder, liver begins to store glucose in the form of glycogen for future use
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35
Q

Function of spinal cord

A

It is like a relay station, it routes messages to and from the brain and also has its own system of automatic processes called reflexes

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36
Q

What occurs in the brain stem

A

Control of breathing and digestion

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37
Q

Each segment of the spinal cord that corresponds with a vertebrae is connected to what part of the nervous system

A

The peripheral nervous system, nervous branch out from the spine at each vertebrae, sensory nerves bring messages in, motor nerves send messages out of the muscle organs, messages travel to and from the brain through every segment

38
Q

The surface of the brain is known as the

A

Cerebral cortex

39
Q

Gyri

A

A distinctive pattern of folds or bumps

40
Q

Sulci

A

Grooves

41
Q

What is the longitudinal fissure of the brain do

A

It is a deep groove that separates the brain into the left and right hemisphere

42
Q

Thick band of neural fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain

A

Corpus callosum

43
Q

Function of corpus callosum

A

Allows the two hemispheres to communicate with each other and allows for information being processed on one side of the brain to be shared with the other side

44
Q

What is a cerebral cortex associated with

A

Higher level processes such as consciousness, thought, emotion, reasoning, language, and memory

45
Q

What are the two hemispheres associated with the cerebral cortex

A

The right and left hemispheres

46
Q

Forebrain

A

It’s the largest part of the brain. It contains a zero cortex and subcortical structures such as the thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and limbic system

47
Q

How many subdivisions are there of each cerebral hemisphere

A

They are subdivided into four lobes

48
Q

What are the four lobes of the brain

A

Frontal, cradle, temporal, and occipital lobes

49
Q

Frontal lobe

A
  • located in the forward part of the brain, extending back to a Central sulcus
  • involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language
50
Q

What is contained in the frontal lobe

A

Motor cortex, prefrontal cortex, Broca’s area

51
Q

Motor cortex

A

Involved in planning and coordinating movement

52
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

Responsible for higher level cognitive functioning

53
Q

Broca’s area

A

Essential for language production

54
Q

What are the three main categories that the brain and its parts are divided into

A

The four brain, midbrain, and hindbrain

55
Q

Parietal lobe

A
  • Located immediately behind the frontal lobe

- involved in processing information from the body’s senses

56
Q

What is contained in the parietal lobe

A

Somatosensory cortex

57
Q

Somatosensory cortex

A

Essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain

58
Q

Temporal lobe

A
  • located on the side of the head

- associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language

59
Q

What is contained in the temporal lobe

A

The auditory cortex, and Wernicke’s area

60
Q

Auditory cortex

A

The main area responsible for processing auditory information

61
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Important for speech comprehension

62
Q

Occipital lobe

A
  • located in the very back of the brain

- contains visual cortex

63
Q

Visual cortex

A

Responsible for interpreting incoming visual information

64
Q

Thalamus

A
  • sensory relay for the brain

- all of our senses except for smell are rooted through here and directed to other areas of the brain for processing

65
Q

Limbic system

A
  • Processes both emotion and memory

- the sense of smell projects directly through here and that is why smell can evoke emotional responses

66
Q

What structures make up the limbic system

A

The hippocampus, the amygdala, and the hypothalamus

67
Q

Hippocampus

A

Essential structure for learning and memory

68
Q

Amygdala

A

Involved in our experience of emotion such as fear, aggression, and anger, and in tying emotional meaning to our memories, and motivation

69
Q

Hypothalamus

A
  • Regulates a number of homeostatic processes including the regulation of body temperature, appetite, and blood pressure
  • regulates sexual motivation and behavior
70
Q

Which structure serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system

A

The hypothalamus

71
Q

What structures comprise the midbrain

A

It is comprised of structures located deep within the brain, between the forebrain and the hindbrain. These structures include the reticular formation, substantia nigra, and the ventral tegmental area (VTA)

72
Q

Reticular formation

A

Important and regulating the sleep wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity

73
Q

Substantial nigra and ventral tegmental area

A
  • Contains cell bodies that produce dopamine
  • critical for movement
  • involved in mood, reward, and addiction
74
Q

The degeneration of what structure is responsible for Parkinson’s disease

A

Substantia nigra and VTA

75
Q

Hindbrain

A
  • located in the back of the head and looks like an extension of the spinal cord
  • contains medulla, pons, and cerebellum
76
Q

Medulla

A

Controls the automatic process of the automatic nervous system such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

77
Q

Pons

A

Serves to connect the brain and the spinal cord and involved in regulating brain activity during sleep

78
Q

Brainstem is made up of

A

Medulla, ponds, and midbrain

79
Q

Cerebellum

A
  • Receives messages from muscles, tendons, joints, and structures in our ear that control balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills
  • helps process some types of memories involved in learning and performing tasks
80
Q

Electroencephalography

A

Provides a measure of a brain’s electrical activity. An array of electrodes are placed around a person’s head. The signals received by the electrodes result in a printout of the electrical activity of the brain.

81
Q

Myelin sheath

A

Often covers axons and increase the speed of transmission of neural impulses

82
Q

Each hemisphere controls

A

The opposite side of the body

83
Q

What is the mind brain problem

A

It involves trying to answer the question if the mind and brain are two different things/are consciousness separate from our physical brain

84
Q

Mind

A

Consciousness or current experience or soul

85
Q

Brain

A

Physical structure seen when a skull is cut open

86
Q

Dualism

A

The belief that there are different kinds of substance that exist independently such as your experience resides in your mind and a separate from what may be going on in your physical brain, they function and dependently

87
Q

Materialism

A

A form of monism which is the belief that everything that exists is made up of physical substance, therefore your experience is a direct result of what’s going on in your physical brain such as electrochemical activity

88
Q

What do non-scientists believe and what do neuroscientists believe

A

Non-scientists believe in dualism and neuroscientists believe in materialism

89
Q

Portion of the brain responsible for four basic life support, the most primitive part of the brain

A

Hindbrain

90
Q

Region of brain involved in higher level thought processes

A

Frontal lobes