brain and mind Flashcards
what is the cerebral cortex involved with?
- intelligence
- memory
- language
- consciousness
what do invasive methods include?
- studying how a person is affected when a certain part of the brain is damaged
- during brain surgery, using electrodes 2 stimulate parts of brain electrically, seeing how patients are affected, including reporting memories
what are non invasive methods useful in?
- looking at activity in brain when its activated
- comparing non diseased brains with diseased
what is neuron pathway?
transmitting impulses in the brain lead to links forming between neurons
what are the 2 types of memory?
short term memory
- involves info from most recent exp. stored for a brief period of time
long term memory
- involve infro from most earliest exp. stored for a long period of time
how are you more likely to remember information?
- if strong stimulus associated eg loud sounds, bright colours, strong smells
- if use repetition
- if theres a pattern to it
why do scientists use models?
to explain how we receive and store information
what is the multi store model?
scientists produced models to explain how brain stores info eg multi store model
splits memory into sensory, short, long term and shows how these work together
why are models limited in explaining how memory works?
- memory more complicated
- no models have explanation how long term memory works
- model doesnt differentiate between diff types of stimulus and difference in performance of individuals
how do drugs and toxins work?
affecting transmission of nerve impulses across synapses, stopping or changing speed of transmission, or making impulse stronger or weaker
what are 2 examples of how drugs and toxins work?
- prozac increases levels of serotonin
- curare (arrow poison), blocks action of another type of transmitter molecules
what are beta blockers?
prescription drugs that block adrenaline, reducing heart rate
treat people with problems with heart rhythm, or controlling anxiety during public performances
where is serotonin passed and what drug blocks it?
across brains synapse, landing on receptor molecules, absorbed back into transmitting neuron by transporter molecules
MDMA blocks transporter causing serotonin to build up in the synapse causing concentration in brain to increase and user experiences feelings of elation
neurons are harmed in this process and memory loss can be caused long term
what are instinctive behaviours?
controlled by reflex responses
what is conditioning?
reflex response to a stimulus can be learned by introducing an unrelated stimulus
what are examples of conditioning?
give 2 examples and explain
1) pavlov’s work with dogs. dogs produce saliva in response to smell, rang a bell before giving food, repeated, dogs produce saliva at sound of bell learning to associate sound with food
2) watson’s study with albert. albert showed no fear of lab rat. albert shown rat while Watson made loud noise which made albert cry, later when shown rat, showed signs of distress
what are conditioned reflexes?
simple form of learning help us to survive
what is a reflex?
simple response to stimulus
whats the reflex arc?
pathway of a reflex action through ns
what is the pathway?
stimulus —> receptor —> sensory neuron —> relay neuron in cns —> motor neuron —> effector
what are examples of simple reflexes in humans?
- knee jerk reflex, pupil reflex, hot object
- newborn reflexes eg grasping, sucking, stepping, rooting
what is the speed of the nerve impulse affected by?
- temperature (speed increased)
- diameter of axon (wider, quicker response)
- myelin sheath (speed nerve impulse, travel quick)
what are the 2 different types of neurons?
sensory neurons
- connect receptors
motor neurons
- connect cns to effectors
relay neurons in the cns connect with other neurons that run to the brain so we can what?
- know whats happened after reflex action
- can override an action
what is memory?
storage and retrieval of information
what does the nervous system do?
- sends messages using neurons which product response
- has specialised organs called brain and spinal cord
what does the hormonal system produce?
produces chemical messages in the form of hormones
long lasting
what are the 2 communication systems?
- nervous system
- hormonal system
what are examples when responses are slower and longer lasting in the hormonal system?
(give 2 examples)
- insulin by pancreas, acts on liver to take up glucose from blood
- oestrogen by ovaries, controls development of female body at puberty + menstrual cycle
what are neurons?
cells specialised for carrying nerve impulses, so are long
what do neurons consist of?
cell body, long axon, conduct impulses towards cell body
what do axons carry?
impulses away from cell body to other nerves
what is the axon?
long extension of cytoplasm in a neuron that communicates with CNS or effectors
what are axons covered with?
insulating fatty sheath called myelin sheath
what are muscles used for?
movement, contraction helps move away from harmful stimuli
movement not conscious of eg heartbeat
what is a response made by?
effector eg glands and muscles
what do glands do?
make and release chemicals like hormones eg hormone insulin released after meal when blood sugar rises
what are stimuli detected by?
receptors eg light/temp
what is stimuli?
ns responds to changes in environment called stimuli
what is a synapse?
small gap between 1 neuron and next where messages are transmitted
why do we sometimes forget information?
2 answers
- physical:
neurons decaying eg Alzheimers disease - lack of retrieval:
if don’t use info for long time, pathway is lost
how are impulses transferred between neurons?
1) nerve impulse reaches synapse
2) impulse triggers release of neurotransmitters into synapse
3) neurotransmitters diffuse across synapse and bind with receptor molecules on membrane of motor neuron
4) nerve impulse sent through motor neuron
what does it mean if milestones are missing to check if development is following normal patterns?
(give an example)
- neurological problems
- child lacking stimulation
eg
- at 3 months, babies should lift head
- at 12 months, babies should hold cups and drink
what do non invasive methods include?
- producing images and mapping activity with scanning techniques eg MRI
what is the way in which a mammal interacts with its environment
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what is serotonin?
chemical transmitter used in cns, can have mood enhancing effects
how can potential pathways in the brain make it possible for animals to adapt to new situations?
(2 examples)
- dogs trained to follow commands
- dolphins in captivity trained to collect food from hand
where does learning experiences result from?
- new neuron pathways form
- certain pathways in brain more likely to transmit impulses
what are hormones?
chemicals produced by glands, transported in blood meaning all organs of body are exposed to them, but they only affect their ‘target’ cells
what are 2 examples of slow and long lasting responses in the hormonal system?
- insulin by pancreas, acting on liver + body cells to take up glucose from blood
- oestrogen by ovaries, controls development of female body at puberty + menstrual cycle
relay neurons in the CNS connect with other neurons to the brain so we can what?
- override an action
- know whats happened after reflex action
what is a PET scan?
provides 3D image showing neuron activity in parts of brain in response to learning through:
- hearing
- seeing
- speaking
how do simple reflexes affect animals?
automatically respond to stimulus that helps it to survive in:
- finding food
- finding a mate
- sheltering from predators
what is the basic pathway for a reflex arc?
1) receptor stimulated
2) impulses pass along sensory neuron into spinal cord
3) sensory neuron synapses with a relay neuron by passing the brain
4) relay neuron synapses with a motor neuron sending impulses to effectors
5) effects respond (muscles contract)
what is the disadvantage of reflex actions by simple animals?
animals have difficulty responding to new situations
