brain Flashcards
neuopsychology
Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with how the brain and the rest of the nervous system influence a person’s cognition and behaviours. More importantly, professionals in this branch of psychology often focus on how injuries or illnesses of the brain affect cognitive functions and behaviours.
sensory neurons
carry signals from the outer parts of your body (periphery) into the central nervous system
motor neurons
carry signals from the central nervous system to the outer pants (muscles, skin, glands) of your body
interneurons
connect various neurons within the brain and spinal cord
4 lobes and where they are located
frontal lobe - front of head
parietal lobe- top of head
occipital lobe - back of head
temporal lobe - near ear
frontal lobe functions
decision making, problem solving, motor control, and personality
parietal lobe functions
involved in processing information from our sensory organs such as the skin
occipital lobe function
involved with vision
temporal lobe function
involved with hearing, speech, and memory
frontal lobe cortex
primary motor cortex
controls voluntary movement
parietal lobe cortex
somatosensory cortex
receives information about body sensations
temporal lobe cortex
primary auditory cortex
processes auditory information
occipital lobe cortex
primary visual cortex
processes visual information
cortex on all 4 lobes
association areas
combine sensory and motor information; coordinate interaction among different brain areas
spatial neglect
commonly on the opposite side of the damaged hemisphere
an affected patient behaves like one side of sensory space is non-existent
cerebral cortex
The folded shape of the human brain allows the cerebral cortex, the thin outer layer of neurons and their associated projections, to attain a large surface area relative to brain volume.
cerebellum
- coordinating voluntary movements.
- It is also responsible for a number of functions including motor skills such as balance, coordination, and posture.
hypothalamus
functions - link the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.
pineal gland
a small, pea-shapedglandin the brain. Researchers do know that it produces and regulates some hormones, including melatonin.
hippocampus
region of the brain that is associated primarily with memory.
amygdala
- There are two, one in each hemisphere or side of the brain.
- This is where emotions are given meaning, remembered, and attached to associations and responses to them (emotional memories).
hemispheres of the brain
- 2 hemispheres
- connected by a stand of tissue called the corpus callosum. it acts as a bridge of communication between the halves
- they are contralateral
functions of left hemisphere
- analytical
- planning
- cautious
- logic
- verbal
functions of right hemisphere
- holistic
- emotional though
- creative
- non-verbal
- adventurous
the nervous system sides
- central nervous system
- peripheral nervous system
central nervous system
includes the brain and the spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
includes everything outside of the CNS
the two sides of the nervous system
theperipheral nervous systemtakes in information from its surroundings both internally and externally and then sends that information to thecentral nervouswhich decides what todowith the info.
interneurons - what do they do
they connect spinal motor and sensory neurons, As well as transferring signals between sensory and motor neurons.
neurons
Nerve cells in our brain are called neurons.
Neuron consists of three main parts:
dendrites
soma (cell body)
axon
how neurons work
The first part is the neuron’s set of dendrites which receive messages from neighbouring neurons. This is how neurons ‘talk’.
The dendrites carry the message through to the soma, which is the control centre of the neuron.
The message then continues from the soma along the axon.
Axons carry neural impulses very quickly – our speed of thinking can range from 3 to 320 kilometres per hour!
neuroimpluse
The neuroimpulse in our brain (The messages that travel along a neuron) are electrochemical, meaning they are both electrical and chemical in nature.
neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers released by the axon that travel across the synapse (a gap) to neighbouring neurons
The axon of a neuron releases neurotransmitters, which ‘talk’ to the dendrites of a neighbouring neuron.
There are about 1000 neurotransmitters in the human body and each has a different role.
serotonin
in considered a natural mood stabilizer
low levels of serotonin in the brain may cause depression, anxiety, and sleep trouble. many doctors will prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor to treat depression
dopamine
- plays a role in how we feel pleasure
- how happy we feel
- also affects movement, memory, and focus
a dopamine deficiency may be related to certain medical conditions including depression and Parkinson’s disease
hallucinations
Hallucinations are false or distorted sensory experiences that appear to be real perceptions. These sensory impressions are generated by the mind rather than by any external stimuli, and may be seen, heard, felt, and even smelled or tasted.
neural communications
The more connections your neurons make, the faster you are able to access your knowledge.
The human brain can make a million connections between its neurons each second.
neuroplasticity
is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. these changes range from individual neuron pathways making new connections, to systematic adjustments like cortical remapping.
interneurons
interneurons are the ones in between - they connect spinal motor and sensory neurons, As well as transferring signals between sensory and motor neurons.
nuerons
Nerve cells in our brain are called neurons.
Neuron consists of three main parts:
dendrites
soma (cell body)
axon
dendrites
The first part is the neuron’s set of dendrites which receive messages from neighbouring neurons. This is how neurons ‘talk’. The dendrites carry the message through to the soma, which is the control centre of the neuron. The message then continues from the soma along the axon.
serotonin
- considered a natural mood stabilizer
low levels may cause depression, anxiety, and sleep trouble
dopamine
- plays a role in how we feel pleasure
- how happy we feel
- also affects movement, memory, and focus
defiecency may be related to certain medical conditions, including depression and Parkinsons disease
dendrites
Dendrites are tree-like extensions at the beginning of a neuron that help increase the surface area of the cell body
axon
the long, thin, hollow, cylindrical extension of a neuron that normally carries a nerve impulse away from the cell body
synapse
A synapse is the junction that allows the signal to pass between neurons, which are cells that transmit information to and from your brain and your central nervous system
presynaptic neurons
In psychology, presynaptic refers to a neuron that sends information to another neuron through a synapse
postsynaptic neurons
A postsynaptic cell is a neuron that receives signals from another neuron via a specialized structure called a synapse.
receptors
A Receptor is a physiological term for the part of a nerve that receives and reads chemical signals (neurotransmitters) from other nerves to transmit the electrical signals that transfer information through the brain and nervous system.
acetylcholine
Acetylcholine (ACh) is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in learning, memory, and attention in psychology
endorphins
Endorphins are hormones that are released when your body feels pain or stress. Endorphins are produced to help relieve pain, reduce stress and improve mood.
corpus callosum
The corpus callosum is a vital part of the brain for mental functioning, especially language processing and production.
contralateral
In psychology, contralateral refers to the relationship between the brain hemispheres and the opposite side of the body. each hemisphere in the brain, controls the opposite side of the body.
