Chappy 3: Biological Basis of Behaviour

Question 1

Electroencephalography

EEG

Answer 1

Brain function overtime (measures electrical potencials through electrodes on the scalp)

Question 2

Define absolute refractory period

Answer 2

Minimum length of time after which an action potencial during which another action potencial cannot begin

Question 3

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Answer 3

Pulse induces neurons in a target brain area to fire simultaneously, places them in brief refractory period - cognituve activities are surpressed

Question 4

Define action potential

Answer 4

Electrical signals that form the basis of neuronal communication

Question 5

Define afferent fibres

Answer 5

Carry information to CNS from PNS

Question 6

Define autonomic NS

what are the subsets?

Answer 6

nerves that conect heart, blood, smooth vessels and glands (involuntary functions)

Sympathetic division: mobilizes resources for emergencies

Parasympathetic division: conserves bodily resources

Question 7

Define CNS

Answer 7

Brain and spinal cord enclosed in sheaths (meninges), cerebrospinal fluid (nourishes brain and provides cushion) - fills ventricles

Question 8

Functions of the spinal cord

Answer 8

movement and sensation

connects brain to body via PNS

Question 9

Define PNS

what is the subset?

Answer 9

nerves that lie outside the brain/spinal cord

Somatic NS : nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors (afferent + efferent fibres)

Question 10

Axon

Answer 10

carried info AWAY from the soma

Larger axons: faster rate of transmission

Question 11

Dendrites

Answer 11

specialized to RECIEVE info

Question 12

Myelin Sheath

Answer 12

insulated material derrived from glial cells - 30x faster transmisson when axon is myelinated

deterioration: mutiple schlerosis

Question 13

Terminal buttons

Answer 13

small knobs, secrete neurons

Question 14

Synapses

Answer 14

the junction between neurons

syaptic celfts: gaps between neurons

Question 15

Soma

Answer 15

cell body - contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells

Question 16

Neurons

Answer 16

Individual cells in the NS that recieve, intergrate and transmit information

Question 17

Cerebral cortex

Answer 17

Thinking perceiving, producing and understanding language - processing

Question 18

Cerebral hemispheres

hemispheric specialization

Answer 18

Left: linguistics, verbal processing

Right: non-verbal tasks, spatial tasking

Question 19

Corpus callosum

Answer 19

connects cerebral hemispheres: near center of the brain

Question 20

Post synaptic potencial

2 types

Answer 20

Not all or nothing!

Excitatory: increases probability of initiating an action potential

Ihibitory: decreases probability of initiating an action potential

Question 21

Forbrain

Thalamus, Limbic system

Answer 21

Thalamus

Limbic system: hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

Question 22

Thalamus

Answer 22

all sensory info (except olfactory) must pass to get to cerebral cortex

Question 23

Hypothalamus

Answer 23

limbic

basic bio needs (fuck, fight, feed, flee)

Question 24

Amygdala

Answer 24

limbic

experience of emotion

Question 25

Hippocampus

Answer 25

limbic

memory processes/consolidation of memories for factual information

Question 26

Genotype/phenotype

Answer 26

Geno: genetic makeup
pheno: manifestation of genetic makeup

Question 27

Genes

Answer 27

Basic units of heredity - natural selection operates on genes and not organisms

Question 28

Leisioning

Answer 28

systematic distruction of certain parts of the brain (in animals) in order to study functions of specific areas

Question 29

Glial cells

Answer 29

Support neurons - produce cerebrospinal fluid, forms the blood-brain barrier (keeps out foreign materials), immune system of the brain
May also send/receive chemical signals
Dysfunction: schizo, depression, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain

Question 30

Hindbrain

Hints: Pons, Medulla, Cerebellum

Answer 30

back, bottom

Pons: connects brainstem with the cerebellum, involved in sleep and arousal

Medulla: attaches to the spinal cord - i charge of largely unconscious but vital functions ei: circulating blood, breathing and maintaining muscle tone

Cerebellum: “little brain” - coordination of movemet and to the sense of equilibrium, or physical balance

Question 31

Hormones

Answer 31

regulatory substance transported in tissue fluids to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action (ex: insulin)

Question 32

Split brain research

Answer 32

Gazzaniga: Hemispheres separated to reduce severity of epilepsy

Question 33

Steps of AP

Answer 33

1. Resting potential (-70mv) stable negative charge - uneven distribution of ions results in the cell having an electrical charge relative to outside

2 & 3. External stimulus + AP
(-70mv to max of +30mv) very brief shift frm negative to positive charge (NA+ rushes in)

3 & 4. Absolute refractory period

4. Neuron returns to resting state

Question 34

Reuptake

Answer 34

After excite or inhibit signal is sent, unused neurot are reabsorbed

Synaptic pruning: gradual removal of less active synapses

Question 35

Post synaptic potential

spatial/temporal summation

Answer 35

Neurot + receptor molecule - reacting in cell membrane cause a postsynaptic potential (PSP, voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane)

spatial: combining of in+ex post pot as different but very close branches of dendrites