Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is the path that sounds take from the inner ear into the brain?
The inner ear converts sound into electrical signals and the auditory nerves carry these signals through the brain stem and into the thalamus.
Which part of the brain processes incoming sounds and recognizes them as language?
Wernicke’s area
What does the parietal lobe do?
It detects where objects are located in a given space.
Which area of the brain is responsible for planning out the motions your body will make to say words?
The Broca’s area
What does transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) do?
It examines neuronal functioning following brain-injuring events.
What is the axon?
The part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body toward other cells.
Research suggests that decline in memory is due to what kind of deficiency?
Acetylcholine deficiency
What is the temporal lobe responsible for?
Processing affect/emotions, language, and certain aspects of visual perception
The cell body contains the ________, which directs the manufacture of substances that a neuron needs for growth and maintenance
Nucleus
Molly’s natural hair color is brown, but she has had it dyed blonde. Molly changed her
Phenotype
A team of researchers collected DNA from a group of people with a particular form of cancer and compared it to DNA from a group of people who do not have the disease. They are hoping to determine whether certain genetic variations occur more frequently in those with the disease and, therefore, where on the human genome the disease-causing problem exists. Which of the following is true of the researchers?
The researchers are molecular geneticists
Plasticity best reflects which of the following characteristics of the nervous system?
Adaptability/capacity for change
Which of the following refers to tiny spaces between neurons?
Synapses
The ________ is the outermost part of the cerebral cortex, making up 80 percent of the human brain’s cortex.
Neocortex
In the context of brain tissue implants, what is unique about stem cells?
They can develop into most types of human cells.
Katy was in a car accident and sustained serious brain damage. Since the accident, Katy can speak only one word. This is an example of
Aphasia
The brain and spinal cord make up the ______
central nervous system (CNS)
After finishing a psychology test, you try to relax by engaging in some meditation techniques. Doing these exercises should increase the response of the ________ nervous system, which results in a slower heart and respiration rate and less muscular tension.
Parasympathetic
Matthew, a behavioral psychologist, studies the hunting ability of dogs. He controls the mating of dogs so they exhibit a particular characteristic of hunting. In this scenario, which of the following genetic methods is Matthew most likely using for his study?
Selective breeding
What is the parietal lobe responsible for?
Spatial location, attention, and motor control
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Visual perception, including color, form and motion
What is the frontal lobe responsible for?
Voluntary movement, expressive language and for managing higher level executive functions
What are the two primary divisions of the human nervous system?
The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Where are 99% of all our nerve cells located?
the central nervous system (CNS)
What is the function of our peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
It connects the brain and the spinal cord to other parts of the body. It functions by bringing information to and from the brain/spinal cord and carry out the commands of the CNS to muscular/glandular activities
What are the two major divisions of the PNS?
The somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
What is the function of the somatic nervous system?
The sensory nerves convey information from the skin/muscles to the CNS to tell us when we are in pain, etc.
The motor nerves function by telling our muscles what to do.
What is the function of the autonomic nervous system?
It takes messages to AND from the body’s internal organs to process functions such as breathing, heart rate and digestion.
What is the difference between afferent and efferent?
Afferent nerves carry information TO the brain and spinal cord.
Efferent nerves carry information FROM the brain and spinal cord.
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic & parasympathetic nervous system
What is the sympathetic nervous system responsible for?
It arouses the body to mobilize it for action; involved in the function of stress.
What is the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for?
It calms the body
The spinal cord is generally responsible for your ______
Reflexes
What are the Glial Cells?
the cells in the body that mainly provide support and nutritional benefits.
What is a Myelin Sheath?
A layer of fat cells that encases and insulates most axons
What are dendrites?
Tree-like fibers projecting from a neuron, which receive information and orient it toward the cell body.
What is Resting Potential?
The stable, negative charge of an inactive neuron
How do neurons creates electrical signals?
The move positive and negative ions back and forth through the outer membrane
What is the action potential?
The brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the axon.
What is the all or nothing principle?
Once an electrical impulse reaches a certain level of intensity, it fires and moves down the axon without losing its intensity.
What are neurotransmitters?
They are chemical substances stored in tiny sacs within the neuron’s terminal buttons that are involved in transmitting information across a synaptic gap.
What is Acetylcholine?
It is the neurotransmitter that causes your muscles to move. It is also involved in learning and memory.
What is Glutamate?
A neurotransmitter that is involved in learning and memory as well as many psychological disorders.
What is GABA?
A neurotransmitter that helps to control the precision of the signal being carried from one neuron to another, and is also linked to anxiety (higher levels - more anxiety)
What is Norepinephrine?
A neurotransmitter that is stimulated by stress and helps control alertness.
Too little = depression
Too much = manic
What is Dopamine?
A neurotransmitter that controls voluntary movement and affects sleep, mood, attention, learning and the recognition of rewards.
What is Serotonin?
A neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, mood, attention and learning. Low levels are associated with depression. Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter to maintaining the brain’s neuro-plasticity.
What are Endorphins?
Natural opiates that stimulate the firing of neurons and shield from pain
What do PET scans measure?
Consumption of energy (glucose)
What do MRI’s measure?
Brain anatomy
What do fMRI’s measure?
the function AND the brain anatomy/structure
What are the 3 main categories of the organization of the brain?
- Hindbrain
- Midbrain
- Forebrain
What are the 3 main parts of the Hindbrain?
- The medulla
- The cerebellum
- The pons
Where is the Hindbrain located?
It’s the lowest part of the brain, located at the skull’s rear
What is the function of the medulla
Control vital functions and reflexes
What is the function of the cerebellum
Coordinates leg and arm movements and has a role in social thinking and social behavior
What is the function of the pons
Connects the cerebellum and brain stem and helps with sleep and arousal
The pons is considered the most ______ part of the brain
ancient
What are the 2 main parts of the midbrain?
- reticular formation
- A small group of neurons are key with dopamine, serotonin and epinephrine
Where is the reticular formation located?
Located from the spinal cord to the thalamus
What is the forebrain and where is it located?
It is the brain’s largest division and the most forward part
What are the 3 main structures of the forebrain?
- Limbic system
- Amygdala
- Hippocampus
What is the limbic system?
Central to emotion, memory and reward processing
Contains amygdala and hippocampus
What is the Amygdala?
Involved in the discrimination of objects necessary for survival
What is the hippocampus?
Special role in storage of memories
Processes consciousness and our explicit memories
Decreases in size and function with age
If you don’t have a hippocampus, you have no new memories of facts and events
What is the Thalamus?
Located in the forebrain. It transmits replies to the medulla and cerebellum and serves as an important relay station
What is the hypothalamus?
It is located in the Forebrain. It is key for bodily maintenance like hunger, thirst, temperature, sexual behavior and rewards.
What is the basal ganglia?
Basal Ganglia
Works with cerebellum and cerebral cortex to control and coordinate voluntary movements
