Chapter 1 - Biology & Behavior Flashcards
Franz Gall
‣ Doctrine of phrenology ➡ measure bumps on skull to predict mental traits
‣ False, but prompted research on brain functions
Pierre Flourens
‣ Studied functions of major brain parts
‣ Removed parts of the brain for animals to study the effects ➡ brain has specific functions
William James
‣ Father of American psychology
‣ Functionalism = how mind functions to help ppl adapt to envt
John Dewey
Study organisms as a whole in relation to their envt
Paul Broca
‣ Observed ppl w/ brain damage to examine their behavioral deficits
‣ 1st person to show that brain impairments can be linked with specific brain lesions
‣ Broca’s area = lesion here could impair speech
Hermann von Helmholtz
‣ 1st to measure the speed of a nerve impulse
‣ Transition of psychology ➡ natural sciences
Sir Charles Sherrington
‣ 1st inferred that synapses exist
‣ Thought that synaptic transmission was electrical, but we know it’s mainly a chemical process
Sensory neurons
‣ Aka afferent neurons (ascend in cord towards brain)
‣ Transmit sensory info from receptors ➡ brain & spinal cord
Motor neurons
‣ Aka efferent neurons (exit cord on way to rest of body)
‣ Transmit motor info from the brain & spinal cord ➡ muscles & glands
Interneurons
‣ Found btw other neurons & mainly w/in the brain & spinal cord
‣ Most abundant of 3 neuron types & usually linked to reflexes (e.g. reflex arcs)
Central nervous system (CNS)
Brain + spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
‣ Nerve tissue & fibers outside brain + spinal cord
‣ Connects the CNS to the rest of the body & can be separated into somatic & autonomic nervous systems
Somatic nervous system
‣ Sensory & motor neurons distributed throughout the skin, joints, and muscles
‣ Transmit info via afferent fibers
Autonomic nervous system
‣ Regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretions
‣ Manages involuntary muscles associated w/ many internal organs
‣ Sympathetic & parasympathetic subdivisions (antagonistic)
Parasympathetic nervous system
‣ Conserve energy, rest & digest, Ach
‣ Resting & sleeping states ➡acts to reduce HR & constrict bronchi
‣ Manages digestion via more peristalsis & exocrine secretions
Sympathetic nervous system
‣ Activated by stress, “fight or flight” response
Limbic system
‣ Neural structures mainly associated w/ emotion & memory
‣ Aggression, fear, pleasure, and pain
Cerebral cortex
Associated w/ language processing, problem solving, impulse control, long-term planning
Hindbrain
‣ Controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, sleeping, and waking
‣ Manages vital survival functions
Medulla oblongata
Regulates breathing, HR , and BP
Pons
Has sensory and motor pathways between the cortex and the medulla
Midbrain
‣ Gets sensory and motor info from the rest of the body
‣ Associated w/ involuntary reflex responses triggered by visual or auditory stimuli
Forebrain
‣ Associated w/ complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes
‣ Emotion and memory