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Psyc 1F90 > Brain and Behaviour Unit 5 > Flashcards

Brain and Behaviour Unit 5 Flashcards

1
Q

two major kinds of cells in the nervous system

A

Neurons

Glial cells

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2
Q

What are Neurons

A

Cells specialized to receive, process and transmit information with electrical and chemical signals
Have about 100 billion- each has about a thousand connections to other neurons

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3
Q

Major parts of neuron

A

Soma (cell body)
Dendrites
Axon
Nerves
Myelin sheath
Axon terminals

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4
Q

Soma (cell body)

A

Life support centre, provides energy for neurons

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5
Q

Dendrites

A

Off of the soma (cell body)

gather incoming messages from other neurons, which influences the messages sent by the neurons its attached to

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6
Q

Axon

A

Off of the soma (cell body)
Each neuron only has one axon , but they branch

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7
Q

Nerves

A

Bunch of axons bundled together

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8
Q

Myelin sheath

A

Wraps around neurons and speeds up pace of signals sent by the neurons

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9
Q

Conduction

A

Electrical signals (action potential)

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10
Q

Resting potential

A

-70 millivolts
Neuron is in an inactive state

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11
Q

Ions

A

Molecules with a positive or negative electrical charge

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12
Q

Axon

A

Negative charge inside, positive charge outside
Due to different concentrations of ions inside and outside the cell

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13
Q

Sodium

A

Na+

More sodium + outside the cell at resting potential

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14
Q

Sodium potassium pumps

A

maintain negative charges inside axon - 3+ ions out, 2- ions in

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15
Q

Ion channels

A

gates in axon membrane, block most ions from entering unless open

Sodium ions channels closed at resting potential (that’s why - inside at resting)

Axon membranes are barriers to some ions (sodium cannot pass through but water and oxygen/co2 can)

How to open ion channels?
Changes in electrical charge- voltage gated Threshold of excitation(blue part): -50 millivolts
Voltage at which sodium ion channels open

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16
Q

Action potential

A

Neurons fired (electrical signal)
Electrical charge inside axon briefly becomes positive and outside negative

Note contrast with action potential
Increase voltage to +40 millivolts inside axon: (max green part)

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17
Q

All or nothing law

A

If the neuron fires and a action potential is generated, it always reaches +40 millivolts, so you either get one or you don’t
Either resting -70 or action potential +40

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18
Q

Propagation of action potential

A

Action potential move down the axon from cell body to the axon terminals (like dominos or wave at a hockey game)
Same thing happens over and over, the action potential follows through the axon

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19
Q

Negative after-potential and refractory period

A

The positive charge from the action potential is just a brief change, this is a bigger one

negative electrical charge after an action potential is more negative then the resting potential
Sodium ion channels close : this brings the axon back to a negative charge:
Axon repolarizes: potassium ion channels open

Refractory period: action potential cannot be triggered during this phase (further away)- resting potential returns after one millisecond

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20
Q

Synapse (gap/cleft)

A

Gap between the axon terminal of the presynaptic (sending) neuron and the dendrites of the postsynaptic (receiving neuron)

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21
Q

Synaptic vesicles

A

Located in the presynaptic neuron
Chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are stored here

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22
Q

Axon terminal

A

Release neurotransmitters into synapse when action potential reaches the axon terminal

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23
Q

Receptor sites

A

on post synaptic dendrite

When neurotransmitters bind to these sites, they affect the level of excitation and therefore whether the postsynaptic neuron fires (reach an action potential)

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24
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Bind to receptor sites

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25
Excitatory neurotransmitters
ore likely to fire, more likely to initiate action potential Eg. dopamine, norepinephrine
26
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
binds to the receptor on the dendrites of the neuron, making it less likely to fire, an action potential less likely Eg. serotonin, GABA
27
Reuptakes by transporters
Recycle neurotransmitters back into presynaptic neuron that released them
28
Deactivation
enzymes break down the neurotransmitters
29
Autoreceptors
located on the presynaptic neuron, neurotransmitters bind to them allowing the autoreceptors to detect if there is enough/too much it signals it to slow down or stop
30
Medication and neurotransmitters
Drug therapies Targets neurotransmitters Example: SSRIs: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Serotonin influences mood
31
Two divisions of nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
32
Brain
Receives sensory info, makes decisions and commands muscles, organs and glands to take action
33
Spinal cord
Relays brains commands to move muscles Relays sensations front he skin and muscles to the brain Paralysis shows its importance, not being able to feel touch or pain or control muscles below the injury Controls automatic reflexes- touching a hot surface, automatic reflex away- If brian is not involved, you can act more quickly
34
Peripheral nervous system:
peripheral nervous system (PNS) encompasses all components of the nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord. This includes nerves, ganglia (clusters of nerve cell bodies), and other neural structures that extend throughout the body.
35
Somatic nervous system:
Nerves that allow control of voluntary muscles Nerves that carry sensory information from skin, muscles and joints to CNS
36
Autonomic nervous system:
Controls involuntary bodily functions through organs and glands
37
Sympathetic branch
arouses body to prepare for challenging situations
38
parasympathetic branch
helps the body to return to normal arousal levels when the emergency is over. Note some of the bodily effects that occur when the parasympathetic branch is activated, to illustrate its “rest and digest” functions. Undoing a lot of what the sympathetic system does
39
Endocrine system
Second communication system Network of glands that release hormones into blood steam Hormones: chemical changes Affect biological functions and motives Slower communication than nervous system (milliseconds) Seconds → mins
40
Oxytocin and social behavior
Released by pituitary gland Effects breastfeeding, orgasms Influences social behavior by increasing… Empathy, sociability, warmth, openness, emotional sharing Many even influence commitment to romantic relationship Study of men with a pretty researcher
41
Brain structure is measured with …
CT or MRI scans
42
Brain function is measured with …
fMRI and PET scans
43
Major divisions of the brain
Hindbrain Midbrain Forebrain - cerebral cortex - subcortext
44
Hindbrain
Oldest part evolutionary wise Contains: Medulla Reticular formation Cerebellum Pons
45
Medulla
Vital life functions (breathing, heart rate etc.)
46
Reticular formation
Arousal levels and attention (sends alert signals to cortex when needed)
47
Cerebellum (little brain)
Fine motor skills Coordinates movement Procedural memory ( know memories like riding a bike )
48
Pons
Bridge bet cerebellum and rest of brain
49
Midbrain
Vital for brain communication Connects hindbrain to forebrain
50
Brain stem
In the midbrain Midbrain plus pons and medulla in the hindbrain
51
Forebrain
Where the subcortex , cerebral cortex are
52
Parts of the Subcortex
Thalamus Basal ganglia Limerick system 1-4
53
Thalamus
sensory and control centre Relays sensory info to cerebral cortex for further processing Gets input from all senses except smell Filters and prioritized info
54
Basal ganglia
Doesn’t decide but directs and coordinates Directs intentional movement Problems with functioning with Parkinson’s disease (shaky)- Basal ganglia receives faulty info resulting in shaky
55
Limbic system 1
Emotion, memory, motives Hypothalamus - controls hormones by directing the pituitary gland (master gland) in endocrine system - regulates bodily functions and motives (blood sugar levels, body temp) - does by monitoring levels in bloodstream, hunger, thrust, sexual desire Hippocampus - creates long-term memory - abnormalities associated it’s alz disease etc. (smaller hippocampus)
56
Limbic system 2
Amygdala: it helps us in danger situations Emotional processing, associating threatening events with fear Automatic assessments Emotional memories through hippocampus Automatically triggers branch of sympathetic nervous system
57
Limbic system 4
Reward circuit Pathway from midbrain to Limbic system (nucleus accumbens) - dopamine, related neurons Associated with pleasure
58
Cerebral cortex
Upper, outer layer of the brain , contains 70% of neurons Responsible for language, reasoning, planning Left and right hemisphere with 4 lobes
59
4 lobes
Occipital lobe Temporal lobe Parietal lobe Frontal lobe
60
Occipital lobe
Vision
61
Temporal lobe
Hearing… and language
62
Parietal lobe
Touch … somatosensory cortex
63
Frontal lobe
Personality/thinking Prefrontal cortex - executive functioning, decision making Primary motor area - contains voluntary muscle movement, refined by basal ganglia and cerebellum Ex. Soccer kick, PMA plans movements then BG kicks in
64
Genes
Segments of DNA Provide code production of proteins
65
Chromosomes
Threads of DNA on rod-like structures
66
Cell nucleus
23 pairs of chromosomes (one set from each parent)
67
DNA
Molecular structure with ladder-like chain of organic bases that code genetic information (tells genes what to do)
68
Organic bases
Adenine (A) , Thymine (T) , Guanine ( G) , Cytosine (C)
69
Gene expression
Determines whether instructions in DNA are read and carried out 2 steps - transcription ( transcribed into mrna so instructions can be be read and translated to make proteins) - translation
70
Alleles
Different versions of genes
71
Homozygous alleles
Same version of gene from each parent
72
Heterozygous alleles
Different versions of gene from each parent
73
Dominant or recessive
Dominant- always expressed Recessive- only expressed when paired with another
74
Incomplete dominance
2 different alleles in a gene gets averaged out (ex. Red + white = pink colour)
75
Codominance
2 different alleles, but both get expressed (ex. Blood types/ AB blood)
76
Why do we all look different?
Because our assortment of alleles are all different
77
Behaviour - genetic research , twin studies
Identical : Share 100% of genes Fraternal : share about 50% Results : identical twins more similar based on intelligence and personality
78
Molecular genetic research
Examines genes associated with traits
79
Polygenic characteristics
Influenced by many ages, each with small effects Ex. 200+ genes contribute to height Traits like personality and intelligence are influenced by multiple genes
80
Epigenetic processes
Changes in genetic influences due to modifications to gene expression rather than alterations to the genetic code Can be influenced by environmental factors - stress, trauma, abuse
81
methylation
In the epigenetic processes Gene expression altered by molecules called methyl groups Influence weather DNA is transcribed into mrna to make proteins
82
Neuroplasticity
he capacity of the nervous system to change in response to an experience (learn)
83
Neurogenesisa
the brain being capable of creating more new brain cells
84
Describe the action of the 4 endocrine glands.
Pituitary gland - influences other glands like the thyroid, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes. Regulates digestion, stress response and reproduction, also affects growth. Pineal gland - produces melatonin Thyroid gland - regulates metabolism therefore affecting personality Adrenal glands - controls fear and anger, fight or flight

Psyc 1F90 (5 decks)

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