Ch. 3: Bio

Question 1

Somatosensory Nerves

Answer 1

The sensory nerves that provide information from the skin and muscles.

Question 2

Type of Neuron that directs muscles

Answer 2

motor neuron

Question 3

Reflexes

Answer 3

Automatic motor responses. For each reflex action, a handful of neurons convert sensation into action.

Question 4

Grey Matter

Answer 4

In the spine, dominated by neurons’ cell bodies. In the brain, consists mostly of neurons without myelin sheaths on the axons and that only communicate with nearby neurons.

Question 5

White Matter

Answer 5

In the spine, consists mostly of axons and the fatty myelin sheaths that surround them. In the brain, consists mostly of myelinated axons that travel between brain regions.

Question 6

What does the Brain Stem consist of

Answer 6

the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the midbrain.

Question 7

What functions does the Brain Stem house

Answer 7

functions of survival such as heart rate, breathing, swallowing, vomiting, urination, and orgasm. The brainstem also houses many reflexes such as gagging.

Question 8

Reticular formation

Answer 8

a network of neurons that project up to the cerebral cortex and affects general alertness, as well as is involved in inducing and terminating the different stages of sleep.

Question 9

The Cerebellum’s functionality

Answer 9

Extremely important for proper motor function, and damage to its different parts produces very different effects. It seems to be “trained” by the rest of the nervous system, and operates independently and unconsciously, allowing a person to , for example, ride a bike and plan your next meal. The cerebellum may be involved in cognitive processes such as making plans, remembering events, using language, and experiencing emotion.

Question 10

All members of the Forebrain

Answer 10

Cerebral cortex, Basal ganglia, Thalamus, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus, Amygdala.

Question 11

Function of the Basal ganglia

Answer 11

planning and producing movement; these structures receive input from the entire cerebral cortex and send that input to the motor sensors of the brain stem. Also contains the nucleus accumbens which is key for experiencing reward and motivational behavior.

Question 12

Function of the thalamus

Answer 12

sensory gateway to the cortex; it receives almost all incoming sensory information, organizes it, and relays it to the cortex. The only exception to this rule is the sense of smell, which is the oldest and has a direct route to the cortex.

Question 13

Function of the Hippocampus

Answer 13

Plays an important role in the formation of new memories by creating new interconnections within the cerebral cortex with each new experience. It also may be involved in how we remember the arrangements and positions of objects in space.

Question 14

Function of the Amygdala

Answer 14

Important for learning about biologically relevant stimuli. It plays a special role in responding to stimuli that elicit fear. It is also involved in evaluating a facial expression’s emotional significance, and seems to be part os a system that automatically directs visual attention to the eyes when evaluating a facial expression. The Amygdala also intensifies the function of memory during times of emotional arousal.

Question 15

Function of the hypothalamus

Answer 15

The brain’s master regulatory structure. It receives input from everywhere in the body and brain, and it projects its influence to almost everywhere in the body and brain. It regulates many internal organs and body temperature, and is often involved in many motivated behaviors like thirst, hunger, and lust.

Question 16

Limbic System

Answer 16

Where the subcortical structures meet the cerebral cortex. Regulates the endocrine and autonomic nervous system. The members of the limbic system are especially important for controlling appetitive behaviors and emotions.

Question 17

The Occipital lobes location and function

Answer 17

located at the back portion of the head. They are devoted almost exclusively to vision, and contain the primary visual cortex (PVC), which is the primary destination for visual information. Visual information is generally organized in a way that preserves spacial relationships, and as a result, two objects near each other will activate neurons near one another in the PVC

Question 18

The parietal lobes location and function

Answer 18

Located behind the frontal lobes. Devoted partially to touch, and each parietal lobe contains the Primary Somatosensory Cortex (PSC) that is in charge for touch information. Similar to the PVC, the PSC stores information of body parts that are near each other in nearby locations. Also important with attention (makeup on half face example)

Question 19

The temporal lobes function

Answer 19

Hold the primary auditory cortex (PAC), which is the brain region responsible for hearing. It also contains the fusiform face area, which is activated when looking at a face of someone else.

Question 20

The Fusiform face area

Answer 20

Activated when someone looks at someone else’s face.

Question 21

The Frontal Lobe location and function

Answer 21

Located at the front of the brain, the frontal lobes are essential for planning and movement. the rearmost portion of the frontal lobe is the Primary Motor Cortex (PMC). The PMC includes neurons that project directly to the spinal cord to move the body’s muscles. The rest of the frontal lobe is the prefrontal cortex, which in short is responsible for conscientiousness, acting in sync with society, and planning.

Question 22

The prefrontal cortex function

Answer 22

Responsible for directing and maintaining attention, keeping ideas in mind while distractions bombard people from the outside world, developing and acting on a plan, understanding what people are thinking, behaving according to cultural norms, and contemplating one’s own existence

Question 23

the somatic nervous system function

Answer 23

transmits sensory signals to the CNS via nerves. Specialized receptors in the skin, muscles, and joints send sensory information to the spinal cord, which relays it to the brain. In addition, the CNS sends signals through the SNS to muscles, joints, and skin to initiate, modulate, or inhibit movement.

Question 24

The autonomic nervous system function

Answer 24

regulates the body’s internal environment by stimulating glands and by maintaining internal organs. Nerves from the ANS also carry somatosensory signals from the glands and internal organs to the CNS, providing information about, for example, how full your stomach is or how anxious you feel.

Question 25

Sympathetic signals (sent from, sent to, and general functionality)

Answer 25

sent from CNS to organs and glands in order to prepare the body for action

Question 26

Parasympathetic signals (sent from, sent to, and general functionality)

Answer 26

sent from CNS to organs and glands in order to return the body to its resting state.

Question 27

The Endocrine System function

Answer 27

is a communication network that influences thoughts, behaviors, and actions. Both the nervous system and the endocrine system work together to regulate psychological activity. Uses hormones rather than electrochemical signals to communicate with its different parts/ the rest of the body.

Question 28

Hormones

Answer 28

are chemical substances released into the bloodstream by the ductless endocrine glands such as the pancreas, thyroid, and testes/ovaries. They can take seconds or hours to take effect and can last a long time and affect multiple targets.

Question 29

Growth Hormone; where is it released from and what does it do

Answer 29

released from the pituitary gland. It prompts bone, cartilage, and muscle tissue to grow or helps them regenerate after injury.

Question 30

The two major categories of gonadal hormones + examples of both

Answer 30

Androgens (testosterone) and estrogens (estradiol)

Question 31

Gonads location and function

Answer 31

testicles in males, ovaries in females. Influence sexual behavior.

Question 32

Broca’s area location and functionality

Answer 32

on the side of the frontal lobe and is crucial to speech production

Question 33

Pituitary gland functionality and location

Answer 33

Located just under the hypothalamus, it receives signals via releasing factors from it and then releases hormones into the blood stream in order to communicate with the rest of the endocrine system. These hormones then bind to receptors on the endocrine glands and cause the release of different hormones to affect the body from there.

Question 34

Competencies of the two hemispheres

Answer 34

Right brain is usually really good at spacial relationships while the left brain is essential for speech/language (the left brain contains Broca’s area