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General Psychology > Chapter 2: Biology & Behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 2: Biology & Behavior Flashcards

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1
Q

2 Main Components with the Nervous System

A

1- Central Nervous System (CNS)
2- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

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2
Q

Central Nervous System includes

A

the brain and the spinal cord

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3
Q

Peripheral Nervous System includes

A

nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

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4
Q

Sensory neurons

A

receive information about the environment from the sensory system and convey it to the brain for processing

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5
Q

Motor neurons

A

carry information from the CNS to move; provide mechanism regulated by the spinal cord and brain

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6
Q

Interneurons

A

reside in the brain and spinal cord; act as bridges connecting sensory and motor neurons

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7
Q

Types of Neurons

A

sensory=>interneurons=>motor

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8
Q

What are the 2 functional branches of the PNS?

A

1- somatic nervous system
2- autonomic nervous system

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9
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

includes sensory and motor nerves; controls the skeletal muscles responsible for voluntary movement

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10
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

controls involuntary processes; has 2 divisions that help us respond to and recover from stressful or crises:
1- Sympathetic Nervous System
2- Parasympathetic Nervous System

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11
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

“fight or flight”

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12
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

calm down when danger has passed

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13
Q

Know the structures of the neuron

A
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14
Q

Dendrite

A

receives messages from other cells

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15
Q

Axon

A

carries messages to other cells

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16
Q

Synaptic gap

A

fluid-filled space between end of axon terminals and surface of the next cell

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17
Q

Soma

A

responsible for nutrients

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18
Q

Myelin sheath

A

coats and insulates the axon

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19
Q

Axon terminal

A

branches at the end of the axon

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20
Q

Action Potential

A

if the neuron is stimulated by neighboring cells, channels in its membrane begin to open up, starting at the dendrites; an influx of Na+ changes the voltage from -70mV to -55mV (threshold potential); the voltage then rises rapidly, increasing from -55mV to +30mV

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21
Q

Resting Potential

A

the electrical potential of a neuron “at rest”; concentration of Na+ outside the cell is much greater than the inside; -70mV

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22
Q

Excitatory Signals

A

if enough sending neurons signal the receiving neuron to pass along the message, their combined signal becomes excitatory and fires

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23
Q

Inhibitory signals

A

inhibit neuron from releasing a signal through the axon

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24
Q

All-or-None

A

a neuron either fires or doesn’t

25
Q

Acetylcholine

A

involved in the action of muscles, learning, and memory; low levels in the brain are linked to Alzheimer’s disease

26
Q

Serotonin

A

regulates mood, sleep and attention; linked to depression and anxiety symptoms

27
Q

Dopamine

A

controls voluntary movement, attention, learning, and rewards

28
Q

Endorphins

A

natural opiate; shields the body from pain, elevates feelings of pleasure

29
Q

What structures are involved in the limbic system?

A
  • thalamus
  • hypothalamus
  • amygdala
  • hippocampus
30
Q

Thalamus

A

relays sensory information to the appropriate places of the cortex

31
Q

Hypothalamus

A

sleep, wake cycle; appetite; sexual behavior

32
Q

Amygdala

A

“aggression” and fear

33
Q

Hippocampus

A

formation of new memories

34
Q

Structures of the brainstem/hindbrain

A
  • pons
  • medulla
  • cerebellum
  • midbrain
35
Q

Pons

A

sleep, wake cycle

36
Q

Medulla

A

life-sustaining processes- breathing, heart beat, digestion

37
Q

Cerebellum

A

responsible for muscle coordination and balance; Latin for “little brain”

38
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

muscle coordination/movement

39
Q

4 lobes of the brain

A

1- parietal
2- occipital
3- frontal
4- temporal

40
Q

Parietal lobe

A

integration of sensory information like touch and temperature

41
Q

Occipital lobe

A

processing of visual information

42
Q

Frontal lobe

A

higher-level cognitive activities like language, emotions, and decision making

43
Q

Temporal lobe

A

hearing and language comprehension

44
Q

Corpus callosum

A

the thick band of nerve fibers connecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres; allows the left and right sides of the brain to communicate and work together to process information

45
Q

Left hemisphere

A

language

46
Q

Right hemisphere

A

sight

47
Q

What are hormones?

A

chemical signals that travel throughout the blood

48
Q

Glutamate

A

excitatory neurotransmitter; plays a central role in learning and memory; too much= strokes and too little= symptoms of schizophrenia

49
Q

Norepinephrine

A

helps prepare the body for stress; regulating arousal and sleep

50
Q

GABA

A

inhibitory neurotransmitter; plays a role in controlling sleep and wakefulness

51
Q

Main organs involved in the endocrine system

A
  • pancreas
  • pineal gland
  • pituitary gland
  • adrenal glands
52
Q

Pancreas

A

controls the level of sugar in the blood

53
Q

Pineal gland

A

secretes melatonin

54
Q

Pituitary gland

A

master gland, secretes human growth hormone and regulates other endocrine glands

55
Q

Adrenal glands

A

located on top of each kidney, helps us deal with stress

56
Q

Microglia cells

A

defend the brain from infection and inflammation

57
Q

Astrocyte cells

A

restore the barrier between the brain and blood and support communication between neurons

58
Q

Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells

A

provide the myelin sheath enveloping the axons of some neurons

General Psychology (6 decks)

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