Chapter 1: Biology&Behavior Flashcards
Franz Gall (1758-1828)
(1. 1)
- theory that behavior, intellect and personality may have link to brain anatomy
- developed idea of phrenology
- believed that could measure physiological attributes by feeling and/or measuring skull
- phrenology since proven false but did generate lots of work in area of brain function
Phrenology
(1.1)
[Franz Gall]
- if a particular trait was well-developed then the part of the brain responsible for the trait would expand
-this expansion would push the area of the skull that covered that part of the brain outward thus causing bulge in head
-this theory is false
Pierre Flourens (1794-1867)
(1. 1)
- first person to study functions of major area of brain
- Method: extirpation/ablation in rabbits and pigeons
- ablation=surgically remove parts of brain
- observed behavioral consequences of ablation
- Importance of work —> assertion that brain had specific parts for specific functions (and removal of one part weakens whole brain)
William James (1842-1910)
(1. 1)
- father of American psychology
- studied how the mind functioned in adapting to the environment
- view was among first theories that formed functionalism
Functionalism
(1.1)
(William James, John Dewey)
System of thought in psychology that studied how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments
John Dewey (1859-1952)
(1. 1)
- functionalism
- author of article that criticized concept of reflex the arc (breaks down the process of reacting to a stimulus into discrete parts)
- thought should focus on study of organism as a whole as it functioned top adapt to the environment
Paul Broca (1824-1880)
(1. 1)
- examined the behavioral deficits of people with brain damage
- first to demonstrate that specific functional impairments linked with specific brain regions
- found that a man who was unable to talk couldn’t do so because of a lesion in a specific area on the left side of the brain (Broca’s area)
Sir Charles Sherrington (1857-1952)
(1. 1)
- first to infer existence of synapses
- many of his conclusions held over time EXCEPT though synaptic transmission was electrical process when actually primarily chemical process
Nervous System
(1.2)
Complex web of over 100 billion cells that communicate, coordinate and regulate signally for the rest of the body
-mental and physical action occurs when the body can react to external stimuli using the nervous system
Types of Nerve Cells in Nervous System
(1. 2)
1) Sensory Neurons (afferent neurons)
2) Motor Neurons (efferent neurons)
3) Interneurons
Sensory Neurons
(1. 2)
- Afferent neurons
- transmit sensory information from receptors to the spinal cord and brain
Motor Neurons
(1. 2)
- Efferent neurons
- transmit motor information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
Interneurons
(1. 2)
- found between other neurons
- most numerous of the 3 types
- located predominately in the brain and spinal cord and and are often linked to reflexive behavior
- reflexive behavior is controlled by reflex arcs
Reflex Arcs
(1. 2)
- neural circuits that control reflexive behaviors
- Ex: stepping on a nail- Rs in foot detect pain—> pain signal transmitted by sensory neurons up spinal cords —> sensory neurons connect w/ Interneurons which can then relay pain impulses up to brain—> instead of waiting for brain to send a signal Interneurons in spinal cord send signals to muscles in both legs directly which causes the individual to withdraw the foot with pain while supporting with the other foot
* original sensory info still makes its way up to the brain but by the time it arrives there the muscles have already responded to the pain bc of the reflex arc
Divisions of the Nervous System
(1. 2)
- 2 primary component= central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- CNS=brainstem and spinal cord
- PNS divided—> somatic and autonomic
- Autonomic division of PNS divided—> sympathetic and parasympathetic
Central Nervous System (CNS)
(1.2)
Composed of brainstem and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
(1. 2)
- peripheral nerve tissue and fibers outside brain and spinal cord
- includes 31 pairs of spinal nerves and 10 of 12 pairs of cranial nerves (cranial and optic nerves outgrowth of CNS)
- PNS connects the CNS to the rest of the body
- subdivided into somatic and autonomic nervous systems
Somatic Nervous System
(1. 2)
- subdivision of peripheral nervous system
- consists of sensory and motor neurons distributed throughout skin, joints and muscles
- sensory neurons—>transmit info through afferent fibers
- efferent fiber—> transmit motor impulses
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
(1. 2)
- generally regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, glandular secretions—> manages the involuntary muscle associated w/ internal organs and glands
- helps regulate body temperature—>sweating or piloerection
- function is automatic and independent of conscious control
- subdivided into 1) sympathetic nervous system 2) parasympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
(1. 2)
- main role is to conserve energy
- associated w/ resting and sleeping states
- acts to reduce HR and constrict bronchi
- also responsible for managing digestion by increasing peristalsis and exocrine secretion
- Acetylcholine (ACh)=NT
- Summary of Functions
* constrict pupils
* stimulates flow of saliva
* constricts bronchi
* slows HR
* stimulates peristalsis and secretion
* stimulates bile release
* contracts bladder
.Sympathetic Nervous System
(1. 2)
- activated by stress
- closely associated with rage and fear reactions—> fight or flight reactions
- when activated sympathetic NS
* increases HR
* redistributes blood to muscles of locomotion
* increases blood glucose concentration
* relaxes bronchi
* decreases digestion and peristalsis
* dilates eyes to maximize light intake
* releases epi into bloodstream
* stimulates sweating
* inhibits salivation
* inhibits bladder contraction
* stimulates orgasm
Meninges
(1. 3)
- thick sheet of connective tissue that covers brain
- Functions:
* help protect the brain
* keep it anchored within the skull
* reabsorb CSF
- Composed of 3 layers
1) dura mater
2) arachnoid mater
3) pia mater
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
(1. 3)
- Aqueous solution in which brain and spinal cord rest
- produced by specialized cells that line ventricles of brain
Basic Subdivisions of Human Brain (3)
(1. 3)
1) hindbrain
2) midbrain
3) forebrain
* structures associated with basic survival at base of brain and structures with more complex function located higher up
* hindbrain and midbrain developed earlier
Brainstem
(1.3)
Made up of hindbrain and midbrain
-most primitive region of brain
Limbic System
(1. 3)
- forebrain developed later; includes limbic system
- group of neural structures primarily associated with emotion and memory
- aggression, fear, pleasure and pain
Cerebral Cortex
(1. 3)
- most recent evolutionary development
- outer covering of cerebral hemisphere
- in humans associated with language processing, problem-solving, impulse control, long-term planning and almost everything in between
- complex perceptual, cognitive and behavioral processes
Structures of Forebrain
(1. 3)
- Cerebral cortex—>complex perceptual, cognitive and behavioral processes
- Basal ganglia—> movement
- Limbic system—>emotion and memory
- Thalamus —>sensory relay station
- Hypothalamus—> hunger and thirst, emotion
Structures of Midbrain
(1. 3)
- Inferior and superior colliculi—> sensorimotor reflexes
Structures of Hindbrain
(1. 3)
- Rhombencephelon
- During embryonic development rhombencephelon divides to form the myelencephalon (medulla oblogonata) and metencephalon (pons and cerebellum)
- Structures: Medulla oblongata, pons, cerebellum
Layers of Meninges
(1. 3)
1) Dura Mater
2) Arachnoid Mater
3) Pia Mater
Major Function of Hindbrain
(1.3)
Controls balance, motor coordination [refined motor movements], breathing, digestion and general arousal processes (sleeping and waking)
Medulla Oblongata
(1. 3)
- Hindbrain structure
- derived from myelencephalon
- lower brain structure that is responsible for regulating vital functions (breathing, HR, BP)
Pons
(1. 3)
- hindbrain structure
- derived from metencephalon
- lies above medulla and contains sensory and motor pathways between the cortex and medulla
Cerebellum
(1. 3)
- Hindbrain structure
- Metencephalon derived
- top of hindbrain, mushrooming out of back of pons
- helps maintain posture and balance
- coordinates body movements
Damaged Cerebellum
(1.3)
Causes clumsiness, slurred speech and loss of balance
-alcohol impairs functioning of cerebellum
Midbrain
(1. 3)
- receives sensory and motor input from the rest of the body
- associated with involuntary reflex responses triggered by visual/auditory stimulu
Prominent Nuclei of Midbrain
(1. 3)
1) superior colliculus
2) inferior colliculus
* collectively called colliculi
Superior Colliculus
(1. 3)
- midbrain nucleus
- receives visual sensory input
Inferior Colliculus
(1. 3)
- midbrain nucleus
- receives sensory information from the auditory system
* has a role in reflexive reactions to sudden loud noises
Forebrain
(1. 3)
- above midbrain
- prosencephalon
- associated with complex perceptual, cognitive and behavioral processes
- associated with emotion and memory
- has greatest influence on human behavior
- functions not necessary for survival but associated w/ intellectual and emotional capacities
Prosencephalon divides into _____ and ____ during embryonic development
1) telencephalon
2) diencephalon
Telencephalon forms…
(1. 3)
- cerebral cortex
- basal ganglia
- limbic system
Diencephalon forms…
(1. 3)
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
- posterior pituitary gland
- pineal gland
Neuropsychology
(1. 3)
- study of functions and behaviors associated with specific regions of the brain
- Research settings: associate very specific areas in brain to behavior
- Clinical: patients related for brain lesions
Brain Lesions in Lab Animals
(1. 3)
- method of studying relationship of brain regions and behavior
- advantageous approach bc extirpation allows for precisely defined brain lesions
Cortical Mapping
(1. 3)
- determined using electrical stimulation
- when brain area is electrically stimulated with electrode neurons fire and active the behavioral or perceptual processes associated with those neurons
- when stimulation stops, behavior stops
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
(1. 3)
- measures electrical activity of larger groups of neurons
- place several electrodes on scalp which measure broad patterns of electrical activity
- non-invasive so used often in research
Regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF)
(1. 3)
- noninvasive mapping procedure
- detects broad patterns of neural activity based on blood flow to different parts of brain
- relies on assumption that when a specific cognitive function activates certain areas of brain, the blood flow to those regions increases
Thalamus
(1. 4)
- forebrain structure
- important relay station for incoming sensory info for all senses EXCEPT smell
- after receiving incoming signals, sorts and transmits them to appropriate area of cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus
(1. 4)
- subdivided into [1] lateral hypothalamus [2] ventromedial hypothalamus [3] anterior hypothalamus
- serves homeostatic functions —> self-regulatory processes maintain balance
- key player in emotional experiences during high arousal states, aggressive behavior and sexual behavior [FEEDING, FIGHTING, FLIGHTING, FUCKING]
- helps control some endocrine functions
- primary regulator of autonomic nervous system—> important in drive behaviors: thirst, hunger, sexual behaviors
- Rs regulate metabolism, temp, water balance—> detects problems and signals to body to fix imbalance [ex: release of antidiuretic hormone which increases water reabsorption]
Lateral Hypothalamus (LH)
(1. 4)
- hunger center
- has special Rs that detect when body needs more food or fluid
- so, triggers eating and drinking
- if destroyed in lab rats—> refuse to eat and drink; would starve to death if not force-fed
Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH)
(1. 4)
- satiety center
- provides signals to stop eating
- brain lesions in this area lead to obesity
Anterior Hypothalamus
(1. 4)
- controls sexual behavior (#letmefindout)
- when stimulated in lab animals they will mount literally anything (lol)
- when damaged—> permanent inhibition of sexual activity [:(]
- also regulates sleep and body temp
Posterior Pituitary
(1. 4)
- diencephalon derived
- comprised of axonal projections from hypothalamus
- site of release for hypothalamic hormones: antidiuretic hormone (ADH)/vasopressin, oxytocin
Pineal Gland
(1. 4)
- diencephalon derived
- key player in several biological rhythms
- secretes melatonin—> regulates circadian rhythms
- receives direct signals from retina for coordination with sunlight
Basal Ganglia
(1. 4)
- coordinates muscle movement as they receive info from cortex and relay this info to brain and spinal cord
- helps make our movements smooth and posture steady
- plays a role in Parkinson’s disease
- may also play a role in schizophrenia and OCD