Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is biopsychology?
analyzes how our biology influences behavior, thoughts, and emotions
what is neuroscience?
the structure or function of the nervous system and brain
What is a neuron?
the basic unit of the human nervous system; its job is to receive, integrate, and transmit info in the nervous system
what is the function of the nucleus?
the chemical factory of the neuron
what are dendrites?
short, extensions of cell body; receive signals from other neurons
What is the axon?
once information is integrated, electrical impulses are transmitted along axon
What is the myelin sheath?
fatty cells whose insulation makes fast neuro communication; and protects the axon
What are the nodes of ranvier?
gaps between the myelin sheath
What are the terminal buttons?
knoblike structures where neurons communicate by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters
what is the synapse?
where communication occurs between neurons
what are ions?
electrically charged chemicals that can go through the semipermeable membrane of the neuron
what is depolarization?
the first movement of the actions potential
what happens at the resting state?
electrical charge inside the neuron is more negative than the charge outside the neuron.
What is the action potential?
electrical signal responsible for communication that travels down an axon; the neuron either fires or it doesn’t
what are sensory neurons?
carry information from sense receptors to brain
what are interneurons?
transmit impulses between neurons; relay messages from sensory neurons to other neurons
what are motor neurons?
send messages away from the brain
what is the job of glial cells?
they nourish and clean up neurons
what is the refractory period?
the neuron returns to resting state; recharging state
what are neurotransmitters?
chemicals that carry information from neuron to neuron
what is reuptake?
the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by presynaptic neuron
what is acetylcoline?
- motor control over muscles
- attention, memory, learning, and sleeping
examples of conditions related to acetylcholine:
- botox
- low acetylcholine (ACH producing neurons deteriorate): Alzheimer’s Disease
- nicotine enhances memory
what is the purpose of norepinenphrine?
-arousal and alertness
what happens if you have an under supply of norepinephrine?
it can depress the mood
what is the function of serotonin?
-emotional states and impulse control
- dreaming
what does SSRI stand for?
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
how do SSRIs work?
they raise serotonin levels by blocking reuptake; leaving more serotonin in the synapse
what is the purpose of dopamine?
- reward and motivation
- learning, and emotion
- motor control over voluntary movements
what happens if there is too much dopamine?
you get schizophrenia
how does Parkinson’s Disease happen?
neurons that produce dopamine die off
what is GABA?
inhibition of action potentials; slows your brain
what neurotransmitter reduces anxiety?
GABA
what happens if there is an under supply of GABA?
seizures, tremors, and insomina
what is glutamate
enhancement of action potentials
-learning and memory
what happens if there is excessive Glutamate?
it can destroy neurons and cause migraines and seizures
what is the purpose of endorphins?
they are natural painkillers
what is a genotype?
an organism’s genetic makeup; what we inherit
ex. recessive and dominant traits
what is the phenotype?
an organism’s physical appearance
ex. hair color, eye color, skin color, shapes
how many chromosomes do humans have?
23 chromosomes
- each consists of tightly coiled chain of DNA
what two systems work together to make humans function and think
the nervous system and the endocrine system
what are the heredity units
genes
what are agonists?
drugs that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters
ex. nicotine
what are antagonists?
drugs that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters
ex. opioids
how much does the brain weigh and what is the oldest part of the brain?
the brain weighs 3 Ibs, and the brain stem is the oldest
what is the purpose of the peripheral nervous system?
it sends information from different parts of the body to the central nervous system
what does the central nervous system include?
the brain and the spinal cord
what is the purpose of the somatic nervous system?
controls voluntary movement via skeletal muscles
what is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system?
controls bodily functions such as breathing, the heartbeat, and the digestive process
what is the purpose of the sympathetic nervous system?
accelerates heartbeat, constricts blood vessels, and raises blood pressure; “fight or flight”
what is the purpose of the parasympathetic nervous system?
calms a person down, slows heartbeat, increases gland activity; “rest and reset”
what is the function of the brain stem?
controls arousal, attention, and basic body functions
what three parts are in the brain stem?
pons, medulla oblongata, and midbrain
what is the function of the cerebellum?
important in balance and motor coordination
what is the function of the corpus callosum?
band of nerve fibers that connect the left and right hemispheres
what is the function of the hippocampus?
part of limbic system that plays role in memory, spatial navigation, learning and emotions (memory center
what is the function of the hypothalamus?
maintains homeostasis; controls temperature, blood pressure, salt balance, body weight; lets a person know when they are hungry or thirsty
what is the purpose of the limbic system?
includes the hippocampus and amygdala which regulates emotion, behavior, memory; instincts and mood
what is the function of the thalamus?
relay center for sensory and motor information; except for smell
what is the function of the pons?
relay signals to cerebellum; sleep, respiration, swallowing
what is the function of the medulla?
life-support functions like breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, works automatically
what is the olfactory system?
sensory system used for smelling; goes directly to the brain
what are mirror neurons?
fire when we watch others; that’s how we learn; remember basketball player breaking leg and others reacting
what is neuroplasicity?
ability of the brain to adapt to changes in the environment
what is the function of broca aphasia
comprehensible spoken language; talking (near the mouth, front)
what is the function of wernicke aphasia?
how a person understands language (near the ear, back)
what is coup-contra-coup?
baby shaking syndrome
what is the function of the cerebral cortex?
thin layer of interconnected neural cells on the outer brain; higher-level thinking, reasoning, consciousness (thinking cap)
what is the function of the frontal lobe?
higher level thinking, motor skills, reasoning, expressive language
what is the function of the parietal lobe?
processes sensory info, touch, pressure, pain
what is the function of the occipital lobe?
the visual cortex, processes sight
what is the purpose of the temporal lobe?
auditory, language, sound
what side is speech on?
the left side of the brain
what side is facial recognition on?
the right side of the brain
what is the function of the amygdala?
emotional center, creates emotion based memories since it’s close to the hippocampus
what is myelination?
the process of acquiring a myelin sheath; can be negative because it covers the frontal lobe last so it affects decision-making
how does myelination occur?
from back to front
