Chapter 1: Biology and Behaviour Flashcards
What is phrenology? Who developed it? Was it true or false?
- The basic idea that if a particular trait was well-developed, then the part of the brain responsible for that trait would expand.
- Franz Gall
- Shown to be false
What is ablation? What happens during ablation? It is used to study what? Was it tested on humans?
- Extirpation on rabbits and pigeons to study the functions of the major sections of the brain
- Various parts of the brain are surgically removed and the behavioural consequences are observed?
What were the major contributions of Franz Gall?
Phrenology; associated development of a trait with growth of its relevant part of the brain
What were the major contributions of Pierre Flourens?
Extirpation/ablation; concluded that different brain regions have specific functions
What were the major contributions of William James?
Pushed for importance of studying adaptations of the individual to his or her environment
What were the major contributions of John Dewey?
Credited with the landmark article on functionalism; argued for studying the entire organism as a whole as it functioned to adapt to the environment
What were the major contributions of Paul Broca?
Correlated pathology with specific brain regions, such as speech production from Broca’s area
What were the major contributions of Hermann von Helmoltz?
Measured speed of a nerve impulse
What were the major contributions of Sir Charles Sherrington?
Inferred the existence of synapses
Who is the father of American psychology?
William James
What is functionalism? Who helped form this system of thought? Who is another important name whose article is seen as the inception of functionalism?
- System of thought in psychology that studied how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment
- William James
- John Dewey
Who is credited with the transition of psychology into a field of the natural sciences?
Hermann von Helmholtz
Sir Charles Sherrington inferred the existence of synapses. Did he think it was an electrical or chemical process? What is it really?
- He thought it was an electrical process
- We now know that it is primarily a chemical process
What are the three kinds of nerve cells in the nervous system?
- Sensory neurons
- Motor neurons
- Interneurons
Sensory neurons transmit information from where to where? What are they also known as?
- Afferent neurons
- Transmit sensory information from receptors to the spinal cord and brain
Motor neurons transmit information from where to where? What are they also known as?
- Efferent neurons
- Transmit motor information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
Where are interneurons found? What behaviour are they linked to?
- Found between other neurons
- Located predominantly in the brain and spinal cord
- Linked to reflexive behaviour
Which type of nerve cell is the most abundant?
Interneurons
What controls reflexive behaviour?
- Neural circuits called reflex arcs
What are the two components of the nervous system?
- Central nervous system (CNS)
- Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What is the CNS composed of?
Brain and spinal cord
What is the PNS composed of?
Nerve tissue and fibers outside the brain and spinal cords
How many pairs of cranial nerves are there? How many pairs of spinal nerves?
- Cranial: 12 pairs
- Spinal: 31 pairs
What are the two components of the PNS?
- Somatic nervous system
- Autonomic nervous system