ch2 - neuroscience and behavior Flashcards
neuron
nerve cell
dendrite
the part of the neuron that receives messages from other neurons
axon
carries and receives messages received by the dendrites to other neurons
terminal button
the end of an axon - sends messages to other neurons
impulse
electrical message that moves across the neuron in one direction. From dendrite to cell body to axon to adjacent neurons
myelin sheath
a protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon
all or none law
neurons only fire either on or off. no in between state
resting state
neuron before it is triggered, negative electrical charge of about 70millivolts
action potential
electrical impuls when the neuron becomes positively charged and reaches critical level
mirror neurons
neurons that fire not only a person enacts a particular behavior, but also when they observe another person carrying out the same behavior
synapse
the space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of another receiving neuron
neurotransmittor
chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to a dendrite.
excitatory mesasges
chemical messages that make it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire and action potential will travel down its axon
inhibitory message
provide chemical information that prevents or decreases the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire.
reuptake
reabsorption / chemical recycling of chemicals produced by constant excitatory and inhibitory messages
Dopamine pathways
acetylcholine
gluatamate
gamma aminobutyric acid
serotonin pathways
dopamine
serotonin
endorphins
explain the structure of a neuron
a neuron has a cell body, which contains a nucleus, with a cluster of fibers called dendrites which recieve messages from other neurons. on the opposite end of the cell body is a tubelike extension called an axon which ends in a small bulge called a terminal button which sends messages
how do neurons fire
they release an action potential, an electircal charge that travels through the axon. Neurons operat all or none law.
describe how messages travel from neuron to neuron
Neuron fires, nerve impulses are carried to other neurons via chemical substances called neurotransmitters, that bridge the gaps (synapses) between neurons
acetylcholine
transmits messages relating to our muscles and is involved in memory capabilities
glutamate
plays a role in memory
gamma aminobutyric acid
moderates behaviors from eating to aggression
dopamine
involved in movement attention and learning
serotonin
regulation of sleep, eating, mood, pain, and
endorphins
pain suppresion, pleasurable feelings,
appetite, placebos
central nervous system
composed of the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
made up of long axons and dendrites, contains all parts of the nervous system other than the brain and spinal cord
three kind of neurons involved in reflexes
sensory
motor
interneurons
sensory (afferent) neurons
transmit information from the perimeter of the body to the central nervous system
motor (efferent) neurons
communicate information from the nervous system to the muscles and glands
interneurons
connect sensory and motor neurons carrying messages between the two
two major divisions of the peripheral nervous system
somatic and autonomic divisions
somatic division
the peripheral nervous system specializes in the control of voluntary movements, and communicates information to and from the sense organs
autonomic division
controls the parts of the body that keep us alive, the heart, blood vessels, glands, lungs, and other organs that function involuntarily
divisions of the autnomic nervous system
sympathetic and parasympathetic
sympathetic division
acts to prepare the body for action in stressful situations engaging all the organisms resources to run away or confront the threat. -fight or flight response
parasympathetic division
acts to calm the body after the emergency has ended
behavioral genetics
studies the effects of heredity on behavior
cognitive abilities, personality traits, sexual orientation, and psychological disorders are determined to some extent by genetic factors`
gene therapy
scientists inject genes meant to cure a particular disease into a pations bloodstream triggering defective genes to produce chemicals to treat the disease
genetic counseling / counselors
help people with issues related to inherited disorders. ie risks in future pregancy, birth defects, hereditary illness
endocrine system
chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream. Its job is to secretes hormones
hormones
chemicals that circulate through the blood and regulate the functioning or growth of the body. Also influences and can be influenced by the nervous system
how fast do neural messages travel
thousands of a second
how fast does hormonal communication happen
may take minutes to reach destinatin
pituitary gland
controls the functioning of the rest of the endocrine system - secretes hormons that control growth
how are the structures of the nervous system linked together
composed of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system which is made up of the somatic (voluntary movement) and autonomic (involuntary functions). autonomic is comprised of sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions
describe how the endocrine system works
it secrets hormones that regulate the functioning of the body via bloodstream. The pituitary gland secrets growth and influences the release of hormones by other endocrine glands, and is regulated by the hypothalamus
electroencephalogram EEG
records electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the skull - produces a graph of electrical wave patterns
Positron emission tomography PET
shows biochemical activity within the brain at the given moment, can determine the more active regions. used in cases of memory problems or finding brain tumors
functional magnetic resonance imaging fMRI
detailed three dimensional computer generated image of brain structures with magnetic fields
transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS
uses magnetic fields to produce an understanding of the functioning brain. causes momentary interruption of electrical activity. Can potentially treat psychological disorders such as depression or schizophrenia
central core
the old brain, directs our basic functions
hindbrain
contains the medulla, pons and cerbellum
medulla
controls critical body functions - breathing and hearbeat
pons
joins the two halves of the cerebellum - involved in sleep and arousal
cerebellum
controls bodily balance - also several intellectual functions ranging from analysis, coordination of sensory information, to problem solving
reticular formation
nerve network in the brain produces general arousal of our body. Can prompt heightened state of awareness, can also regulate our sleep wake cycle by filtering out background stimuli
thalmus
relay station for information about the senses - messages from eyes ears and skin travel to thalmus to be communicated upward to higher parts of the brain
hypothalmus
major function is to maintain homestasis, provides constant body temperature and monitors the amount of nutriets store in the cells
produces and regulates behavior that is critical to to survival of the species, eating, self protection and sex.
limbic system
amygdala and hippocampus - controls basic functions relating to emotions and self preservation, learning, memory and pleasure
cerebral cortex
new brain - higher thought functions
frontal lobe
motor area
parietal lobe
sensory area - touch
temporal lobe
auditory area
occipital lobe
visual area
neuroplasticity
the brains ability to change and reorganize itself
hemispheres
left and right halves of the brain - control motion and receive sensation from their opposite location
lateralization
certain behaviors are more likely to reflect activity in one hemisphere than in the other
left hemisphere
language processing and verbal competence, speaking reding thinking and reasoning
right hemisphere
spatial relationships, recognition of patters, and drawings music and emotional expression
association area
site of higher mental processes such as thinkinglanguage memory and speech
