Ch. 2: Brain & Behavior

Question 1

what is phrenology? who developed it and when?

Answer 1

study of bumps on skull and their relationship to mental abilities and character traits; developed by Franz Gall in early 1800’s

Question 2

what do we mean by “localization of function?”

Answer 2

different areas of the brain do different things

Question 3

what is a neuron?

Answer 3

nerve cells throughout the body

Question 4

what is the structure of a neuron?

Answer 4

cell body, dendrites, axon, myelin, terminal branches of axon, synaptic gap

Question 5

function of dendrites?

Answer 5

receive incoming messages from other neurons/cells

Question 6

function of axon?

Answer 6

propagates chemical message down neuron

Question 7

function of myelin?

Answer 7

insulates axon and speeds conduction of impulse

Question 8

function of terminal branches of axon?

Answer 8

form junctions w/ other cells

Question 9

what is an action potential?

Answer 9

neural impulse that travels down an axon like a wave; how neurons communicate

Question 10

what must an action potential reach in order to conduct an impulse?

Answer 10

threshold; it s an all-or-nothing process

Question 11

function of synapse?

Answer 11

gap b/w neurons containing neurotransmitters; also called synaptic gap/junction

Question 12

what is re-uptake?

Answer 12

whatever neurotransmitters aren’t used are taken back up for later use; much like recycling

Question 13

serotonin?

Answer 13

MASH; affects Mood, Arousal, Sleep, Hunger

Undersupply: depression

Question 14

dopamine?

Answer 14

LEAM; influences Learning, Emotion, Attention, Movement
Undersupply: Schizophrenia
Oversupply: Parkinson’s and ADHD

Question 15

Acetylcholine (ACh)?

Answer 15

MLM; enables Muscle action, Learning, Memory

undersupply: Alzheimer’s

Question 16

Norepinephrine?

Answer 16

AA: controls Alertness, Arousal
Undersupply: depressed mood/ ADHD-like problems

Question 17

GABA?

Answer 17

major inhibitory neurotransmitter

Undersupply: STI: Seizures, Tremors, Insomnia

Question 18

Glutamate?

Answer 18

major excitatory neurotransmitter
involved in memory
Oversupply: MS: Migraines, Seizures

Question 19

what is an agonist?

Answer 19

mimics neurotransmitter and activates receptor

Question 20

what is an antagonist? what is an example?

Answer 20

blocks neurotransmitter; anesthesia

Question 21

2 Major Subdivisions of Nervous System?

Answer 21

CNS: Central Nervous System
PNS: Peripheral Nervous System

Question 22

what makes up the CNS?

Answer 22

brain and spinal cord

Question 23

what makes up the PNS?

Answer 23

everything else

Question 24

3 types of neurons?

Answer 24

1. sensory
2. motor
3. interneurons

Question 25

what are nerves? where are they located)

Answer 25

neural "cables" with many axons (only in PNS)

Question 26

2 divisions of PNS?

Answer 26

1. Autonomic | 2. Somatic

Question 27

what is autonomic?

Answer 27

involuntary control

Question 28

what is somatic?

Answer 28

voluntary control

Question 29

what is the autonomic broken into?

Answer 29

1. sympathetic | 2. parasympathetic

Question 30

function of sympathetic?

Answer 30

arousal/ fight or flight

Question 31

function of parasympathetic?

Answer 31

calming/ rest and digest

Question 32

where are interneurons located?

Answer 32

spinal cord and cause reflexes

Question 33

what is a neural network?

Answer 33

complex webs of interconnected neurons that form experience; inputs and outputs; neurons that fire together, wire together

Question 34

what is the endocrine system? is it fast or slow compared to the N.S.?

Answer 34

it activates hormones which are secreted by glands and sent to brain and other parts of body; slower than N.S. b/c travels through blood stream

Question 35

what are adrenal glands? their effects?

Answer 35

use symp. N.S. to release adrenaline/epinephrine/norepinephrine/cortisol; increase heart rate, bld sugar, bld pressure; these provide energy for fight/flight

Question 36

what is the pituitary gland? produces?

Answer 36

"master gland" in brain works w/ hypothalamus; produces oxytocin ("bonding hormone") (growth hormone during sleep)

Question 37

what are lesions?

Answer 37

surgical destructions of brain tissue (not very effective in trying to understand brain functions/locations)

Question 38

what is a split-brain patient?

Answer 38

the connections b/w hemispheres are cut

Question 39

what are the 4 types of ways to read the brain?

Answer 39

1. EEG- electrodes on head to record electrical brain waves 2. PET- reads metabolic responses in brain using glucose 3. MRI- makes images from signals produced by brain tissue and reveals ventricular abnormalities 4. fMRI- reveals brain activity rather than structures

Question 40

parts of brainstem?

Answer 40

1. pons 2. medulla 3. thalamus 4. reticular formation

Question 41

what is the function of the brainstem and cerebellum?

Answer 41

coordinates body

Question 42

function of medulla?

Answer 42

allows breathing and heart rate

Question 43

function of pons?

Answer 43

allows automatic reflexes/movements ex: swallowing

Question 44

function of thalamus?

Answer 44

acts like a switchboard/router; filters 4 senses (not smell) and sends messages to other parts of brain

Question 45

function of reticular formation?

Answer 45

nerve network that enables alertness and coma (wake/sleep)

Question 46

function of cerebellum?

Answer 46

"little brain"; coordinates vol. muscle movement/muscle memory and balance

Question 47

parts of limbic system?

Answer 47

1. hippocampus 2. amygdala 3. hypothalamus

Question 48

function of hippocampus?

Answer 48

processes conscious, episodic memories

Question 49

function of amygdala?

Answer 49

controls fear and aggression ex: cat studies

Question 50

function of hypothalamus?

Answer 50

"reward center"; body temp., homeostasis, sex drive/pleasure drive; directs endocrine system via messages to pituitary