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MCAT Behavioral Sciences > Ch 1: Parts of the Brain and their f(x) > Flashcards

Ch 1: Parts of the Brain and their f(x) Flashcards

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1
Q

Franz Gall (1758-1828)

A

developed the earliest theories on behavior, intellect and personality stating they are linked to brain anatomy. The more developed the trait, the bigger that area of the brain. This would push on the skull allowing measurement of physiological traits from skull measurement (phrenology)

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2
Q

Pierre Flourens (1794-1867)

A

first person to study the functions of the major sections of the brain. Did this using extirpation or ablation in which sections of the brain are removed and behavioral consequences are observed. Led to the assertion that the brain has specific parts for specific functions and loss of one part weakens the whole brain

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3
Q

William James (1842-1910)

A

father of american psychology. believed it was important to study how the mind functioned in adapting to the environment. His view was one of the first to form functionalism: system of though that studied how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment

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4
Q

John Dewey (1859-1952)

A

His 1986 article was seen as the inception of functionalism. The paper criticized the concept of the reflex arc which broke a reaction down into discrete parts because the author believed that psychology should focus on the organism as a whole as it functioned to adapt to the environment

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5
Q

Paul Broca (1824-1880)

A

First person to demonstrate that specific functional impairments could be linked with specific brain lesions. (Broca’s area on left side of brain = speech)

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6
Q

Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894)

A

first person to measure speed of a nerve impulse. Often credited with the transition of psychology into a field of the natural sciences

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7
Q

Sir Charles Sherrington (1857-1952)

A

first inferred the existence of synapses. Only one of his conclusions has not held over time: he believed the synaptic transmission was a mostly electrical process but it is primarily chemical

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8
Q

Sensory or afferent Neurons

A

transmit sensory information from receptors to the spinal cord and brain

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9
Q

Motor Neurons (efferent)

A

transmit motor information from the CNS to the muscles and glands

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10
Q

Interneurons

A

located in the CNS mostly and go between neurons. often linked to reflex behavior

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11
Q

reflex arcs

A

allowing pain signals from sensory neurons to be sent to the brain while also using interneurons in the spinal chord to cause faster adaptations to the pain (ex: step on tack)

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12
Q

Name the major divisions of the nervous system

A

NS-> CNS and PNS
CNS–> brain and spinal cord
PNS –> somatic and autonomic
Autonomic –> Sympathetic and parasympathetic

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13
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

consist of sensory and motor neurons

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14
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

-regulates heartbeat
-respiration
-digestion
-glandular secretions
-temperature by activating sweating or piloerection
-AKA involuntary muscles associated with organs and glands.
Autonomic = Automatic (unconscious) control

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15
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A
  • conserve energy
  • slows heart, constricts pupils, constricts bronchi, contracts bladder
  • stimulates peristalsis and secretions in stomach and bile production/release from the liver/gallbladder (conserve E, digestion makes more E)
  • functions via acetylcholine
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16
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A
  • activated by stress
  • Uses energy:
  • increased HR
  • redistributes blood to muscles of locomotion
  • increased blood sugar
  • dilates (relax) bronchi
  • dilate pupils
  • functions via epinephrine
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17
Q

meninges (function and layer names)

A 
f(x): a thick sheath of connective tissue responsible for protecting the brain, keeping it anchored within the skull, and resorbing cerebrospinal fluid 
Layers (outside--> in)
-dura matter
-arachnoid matter
-pia matter
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18
Q

site of CSF production

A

ventricles of the brain

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19
Q

Brainstem

A
  • composed of the hindbrain and midbrain
  • associated with basic survival
  • most primitive region
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20
Q

Parts of the forebrain (structures)

A
  • formed from the prosencephalon, which later splits into tele- and diencephalon
  • Diencehalon: thalamus hypothalamus posterior pituitary pineal gland
  • telencephalon: cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, limbic system
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21
Q

Parts of the Midbrain (composed of..)

A

-developed from the mesencephalon
-inferior and superior colliculi: sensorimotor reflexes
(superior = visual, inferior = auditory)

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22
Q

Parts of the Hindbrain (developed from, composed of…)

A
  • developed from the rhombencephalon (meten-/myelencephalon)

- Comprised of the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and reticular formation

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23
Q

Hindbrain function

A

balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, and general arousal processes (sleep or awake)
AKA vital function necessary for survival

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24
Q

Midbrain function

A
  • receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body
  • associated with reflex responses that are triggered by visual and auditory stimuli
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25
Q

Forebrain function

A

-complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes

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26
Q

Methods of mapping the brain

A
  • extirpation
  • cortical maps (patient awake, stim different regions and observe effects)
  • electroencephalogram (EEG)
  • regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)
  • CT (cross sectional x-rays)
  • PET scan (proton emission tomography)
  • MRI
  • fMRI
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27
Q

thalamus

A
  • forebrain

- relay and sorting station for sensory info (except smell)

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28
Q

hypothalamus

A
  • homeostatic functions
  • links the NS and endocrine systems via the hypophysial portal system (hypothal to ant. pit.)
  • regulates hormonal function of the pituitary gland
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29
Q

lateral hypothalamus

A

hunger and thirst

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30
Q

ventromedial hypothalamus

A

satiety center

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31
Q

anterior hypothalamus

A

sexual behavior

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32
Q

posterior pituitary

A

releases hypothalamic hormones ADH (vasopressin) and oxytocin

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33
Q

pineal gland

A

secretes melatonin, regulates circadian rhythms

34
Q

basal ganglia

A

help keep movement smooth and posture steady. Problems with this structure = parkinson’s

35
Q

limbic system (overall function and parts)

A
  • emotion and memory
  • septal nuclei: primary pleasure center of brain, associated with addictive behavior
  • amygdala: defensive and aggressive behavior
  • hippocampus: consolidates information to form long term memories
  • also included are the thalamus, hypothalamus, and cortex
36
Q

cerebral cortex

A

the outer surface of the brain, composed of frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes

37
Q

frontal lobe

A
  • composed of the prefrontal cortex and the motor cortex

- controls executive function, impulse control, motor function and speech production

38
Q

parietal lobe

A
  • sensation of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain (somatosensory cortex)
  • spacial processing, orientation, and manipulation
39
Q

occipital lobe

A

contain the visual cortex, responsible for sight

40
Q

temporal lobe

A
  • auditory cortex for hearing
  • Wernicke’s area for speech perception
  • memory
  • emotion (limbic system)
41
Q

responsibilities of the dominant hemisphere

A
  • letters and words
  • language-related sounds
  • speech, reading, writing, arithmetic
  • complex voluntary movement
42
Q

responsibilities of the non-dominant hemisphere

A
  • faces
  • music
  • emotions
  • geometry
  • sense of direction
43
Q

Acetylcholine

-function in cns and pns

A

CNS:
- linked to attention and arousal (excitatory)
PNS:
-transmit nerve impulses to muscles (somatic)
-can be excitatory or inhibitory depending upon the receptors at the target tissue

44
Q

What NT make up the Catecholamines?

A
  • Epi, NorEpi, Dopamine

- important in experiencing emotions

45
Q

function of Epinephrine and norepinephrine

A

control alertness and wakefulness
primary NT of the sympathetic NS (promotes fight/flight)
norepi works more locally whereas epi is systemic

46
Q

function of dopamine

A
  • important role in movement and posture

- high concentrations are normally found in the basal ganglia (smooths movements and maintains postural stability)

47
Q

what disease is associated with loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia?

A

Parkinson’s

48
Q

serotonin function

A
  • regulates mood, eating, sleeping, and dreaming

- too much = mania, too little = depression

49
Q

GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid)

A

causes hyper-polarization of postsynaptic membranes, causing inhibition “Brain stabilization”

50
Q

Glycine

A
  • inhibitory NT in the CNS
  • allows Cl influx into the neuron, hyper-polarizing it
  • “Brain stabilization”
51
Q

Glutamate

A

excitatory NT in the CNS

52
Q

NT v Neuromodulators or neuropeptides

A

NT’s are faster and less long lasting that neuromodulators. Some of the most important peptides are endorphins and enkephalins

53
Q

hormones released by the adrenal medulla

A

Epi and Norepi

54
Q

hormones produced by the adrenal cortex

A

corticosteroids, including cortisol, and sex hormones

55
Q

gonads produce…

A

sex hormones in higher concentrations than the adrenal cortex

56
Q

Innate Behavior

A

genetically programmed behavior resulting from evolution seen in all individuals regardless of environment or experience

57
Q

Learned Behaviors

A

behaviors based on environment and experience

58
Q

Adaptive Value of a trait

A

the extent to which a trait or behavior positively benefits a species. As species evolve, they will acquire traits of high adaptive value through natural selection

59
Q

three methods used to determine degree of influence in the nature v nurture argument

A
  • Family studies which rely on the assumption that genetically related individuals are more similar genotypically than unrelated individuals. Families also often share an environment making it impossible for family studies to rule out environmental factors
  • Twin studies: determines the effects of a shared environment and genetics
  • adoption studies: genetics and env.
60
Q

Neurulation

A

when the ectoderm over the notochord furrows, forming a neural grove and two neural folds. The process will continue resulting in formation of the neural tube which will later become the CNS

61
Q

rooting reflex

A

turning of the head towards the stimulus touching a cheek

62
Q

moro reflex

A

response to an abrupt movement of the head, arms extend then slowly attract while crying. Though to have developed when our ancestors lived in trees

63
Q

babinski reflex

A

toes spread apart when the sole of the foot is stimulated

64
Q

grasping reflex

A

the infant closes his or her fingers around an object placed in their hand

65
Q

function of the cerebellum

A

refined motor movement, balance

66
Q

Function of the medulla oblongata

A

vital functioning (breathing, HR, BP, and digestion)

67
Q

Function of the reticular formation

A

arousal and alertness

68
Q

function of the pons

A

relays information from the cortex and medulla

69
Q

Function of the prefrontal cortex

A

manages and directs functioning of other brain regions

70
Q

Function of the motor cortex

A

motor cortex coordinates voluntary muscle movement

71
Q

Sensation

A

the conversion of physical, electromagnetic, auditory, and other information from the internal and external environment into signals in the nervous system

72
Q

Perception

A

the processing of sensory information to make sense of its significance

73
Q

Process of signal transduction

A 
sensory receptor 
afferent neuron
sensory ganglion
spinal chord
brain (projection areas)
74
Q

sensory ganglia

A

collections of cell bodies outside the central nervous system

75
Q

projection areas of the brain

A

areas that further analyze sensory input

76
Q

Absolute threshold

A

the minimum of stimulus energy that is needed to activate a sensory system

77
Q

Threshold of conscious perception

A

the minimum of stimulus energy that will create a signal large enough in size and long enough in duration to be brought to awareness

78
Q

Difference Threshold or Just-Noticeable-Difference (JND)

A

the minimum difference in magnitude between two stimuli before one can perceive this difference

79
Q

Weber’s Law

A

states that the JND for a stimulus id proportional to the magnitude of the stimulus and that this proportion is constant over most of the range of possible stimuli

80
Q

Signal Detection Theory

A
  • the effects of non-sensory factors such as experiences, motives, and expectations, on perception of stimuli
  • Experiments with signal detection allow us to discern response bias
81
Q

adaptation

A

a decrease in response to a stimulus over time

MCAT Behavioral Sciences (14 decks)

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