Ch 4: the brain Flashcards
neuron structure (label the image)
dendrites- receive neurotransmitters
cell body (soma) - contains the nucleus - direct cell actions
axon - passes signal
myelin - fatty coating that helps signals move faster
axon terminal - sends the neurotransmitters
synapse - space between the axon terminal and dendrites
neurotransmitters - chemical message
difference between white matter and gray matter
white matter is myelinated while gray matter is unmyelinated
what is and what are the functions of glial cell
it is a cell with a 10:1 ration with neurons that support the neurons
scaffolding
help create synaptic connections
make myelin
provide nutrition
waste removal
difference between neurogenesis and synaptogenesis
neurogenesis is the continuous generation of new neurons in certain brain regions while synaptogenesis is new skills and experience create new neural connections
define these terms
migration
arborization
myelination
synaptic pruning
neurons move to their final locations (helped by glial cells)
dendrites grow and branch out
constantly used connections get a fat coating
unused connections are eliminated/weakened
what are the different regions of the brain and what they control
central sulcus
parietal lobe (sensory input and motor control)
occipital lobe (vision)
temporal lobe (auditory, language, memory)
lateral fissure
frontal lobe (complex thought, planning, language, impulse control)
differentiate experience expectant plasticity vs experience dependent plasticity
experience expectant plasticity is the brain development shaped by species-typical experience (pro - brain can expand beyond factory settings; con - lacking experience could lead to problems) is what human species need for stimuli in a certain time frame
experience dependent plasticity is based on individuals’ experience. Example: enriched environment, poverty, playing an instrument
define lateralization
specialization of the two hemispheres to carry out different functions. Influenced by genes and early experience. causing later a dominance of a hemisphere over the other
what can neuroplasticity result from
new experiences
traumatic events
emotions
meditation
diet
learning
social interactions
stress
exercise
advantages and disadvantages of neuroplasticity
pro:
make your brain resilient
enables you to recover from stroke, injury, and birth anormalities
learn ways of being and responding to conflict
you can overcome depression, addiction, ADHD, obsessive compulsive patterns
cons:
the brain is always learning but it remain neutrality, i.e. it doesn’t know the difference between good and bad
it learns whatever is repeated; may entrench depressive, anxious, obsessive, and over-reactive patterns
how brain chnages and ages
infancy - synaptogenesis (3)
synstapic pruning
apoptosis (neuron die)
childhood - 90% brain weight
myelination
katerization and hemisphere dominance
greatest plastictiy
adolescence- synpatogenesis (second burst) - increases developmental potential but also vulnerability
myelination- increase in white matter
synaptic pruning- decreases in gray matter
limbicsystem (emotions) intensifies - fear and reward
prefontal still developing
young adulthood - prefontl cortex further develop; greater control over impulsive actions; more sound judgment
adulthood- dvelopment reaches development
neurons begins to lose myelin
brain volume begins to shrunk
plasticity still applies
cognitive reserve- efficient use of brain resources to maximize functioning
neurogenesis is hippocampus andstriatum - aerobic exercise
describe limbic system
is the part of the brain that regulates emotions; Thalamus, corpus callosum, amygdala, hippocampus
neurodegerative disease (definition)
alzheimer’s disease - cortex hippocampus
parkinson’s disease - substantia nigra cortex
huntington’s disease - striatum basal ganglia
multiple sclerosis - basal ganglia brain stem
types of dementia
alzheimer’s disease - abnormal deposit of proteins form amyloid plaques and tau tangles
lewy body - abdnirmal deposits of the alpha-synuclein protein, affecting the brain’s chemical messengers
vascular - blood lcots, disrupts blood flow in the brain
frontemporal
parkinson, hungtington
ways to prevent neurodegenerative disease
keep learning
proper nutrition
socialization
exercise
eliminate toxic chemicals
sleep
Reflexes
involuntary and automatic responses to stimuli
give examples of some reflexes in infancy
sucking, palmar grasp, rooting, babinski, stepping
difference between gross motor development and fine motor development
Gross (total, whole) – generally, moving whole body or big part of the body (lifting head, standing, scooting)
Fine (small, delicate) – precision movements (reaching, grasping, precise lips)
what is the role of nature and nurture in gross motor development
Role of nature
Brain development and natural maturation
Role of nurture
Opportunities to practice motor skills
Child-rearing context / societal norms
different grasp movements
Palmar grasp (intentional 4-6 mo)
Pincer grasp (9 mo)
role of nurture and nature in fine motor development
Role of nature
Brain development and natural maturation
Role of nurture
Opportunities to practice motor skills
Child-rearing context / societal norms
Sensation vs Perception
Sensation: detecting stimuli via transduction (Raw data)
Perception: brains interpreting the signal / awareness of it
how perceptual narrowing works
From generalists (able to discern broadly) to specialists
important changes in sensory and perceptual development across the lifespan
smell and taste
hearing - most developed at birth
vision - least developed (that’s why visual stimuli is essential, depth perception)
