Chapter 2 - Neuroscience and Behavior

Question 1

What is biological psychology?

Answer 1

the study of how the body systems and processes relate to behavior (also known as biopsychology or psychobiology)

Question 2

What is neuroscience?

Answer 2

the scientific study of the nervous system (central or peripheral

Question 3

What does the central nervous system consist of?

Answer 3

the brain and spinal chord

Question 4

What does the peripheral nervous system consist of?

Answer 4

any nerve outside of the brain and/or spinal chord

Question 5

What happens if you do not use a part of your brain?

Answer 5

it dies

Question 6

What is a neuron?

Answer 6

a highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical forms (nerve cell)

Question 7

Describe the nerve cell components and their functions.

Answer 7

Dendrites - receive information from other neurons and sensory receptors
Nucleus - contains chromosomes
Cell body - process nutrients and provides the neuron energy
Axon - carries information to other neurons, muscles and glands
Myelin Sheath - insulates axon with fat and increases communication speed
Nodes of Ranvier - gaps in the myelin sheath

Question 8

Resting potential

Answer 8

the state in which a neuron is prepared to activate and communicate its message if it receives sufficient stimulation
- includes ions, or charged particles located within and around the cell

Question 9

What charge do brain cells live at when resting?

Answer 9

-70 charge

Question 10

What are the four ions that take part in producing the resting potential?

Answer 10

Sodium (Na+) and Chloride (Cl-) - higher concentration outside the cell
Potassium (K+) and large proteins (A-) - higher concentration inside the cell

Question 11

Stimulus threshold

Answer 11

minimum level of stimulation required to activate a particular neuron

Question 12

The action potential

Answer 12

when a neuron is at resting state, it may be stimulated by another neuron

Question 13

Depolarization

Answer 13

when a cell goes from -70 to +30

Question 14

Repolarization

Answer 14

releases sodium which changes voltage

Question 15

Refractory Period

Answer 15

can’t fire again for a fraction of a millisecond

Question 16

Hyperpolarzation

Answer 16

dips beyond -70mV then comes back to -70

Question 17

Synapse

Answer 17

communication point between two neurons separated by synaptic gap (neurotransmitters are exchanged)

Question 18

Neurotransmitter and Receptor Sites

Answer 18

each neurotransmitter has a chemically distinct shape
- like a key in a lock, a neurotransmitter must perfectly fit the receptor site on the receiving neuron for its message to be communicated

Question 19

How do drugs affect synaptic transmission?

Answer 19

many drugs, especially those that affect moods or behavior, work by interfering with the normal functioning of neurotransmitters in the synapse
- can increase/decrease neurotransmitters
- can block neurotransmitters

Question 20

Central Nervous System

Answer 20

• central to all behavior and mental processes; protected by meninges and cerebral spinal fluid which surrounds the spinal cord and fills ventricles in the brain

Question 21

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 21

all nerves outside CNS
- somatic nervous system:communicates sensory information to CNS
- autonomic nervous system: either raises/lowers heart rate in response to an event

Question 22

The endocrine system

Answer 22

made up of glands that are located throughout the body and uses chemical messengers (hormones) to transmit information

Question 23

Hormones

Answer 23

triggered by hypothalamus and circulated by blood
- regulate physical processes and influence behavior
influence emotional and stress response

Question 24

Functional Plasticity

Answer 24

the brain’s ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas

Question 25

Structural Plasticity

Answer 25

the brain’s ability to change its physical structure in response to learning, active practice or environmental influences

Question 26

The hindbrain

Answer 26

connects the spinal cord with the rest of the brain
- medulla, pons, and cerebellum

Question 27

The midbrain

Answer 27

important relay station that contains centers involved in the processing of auditory and visual sensory information

Question 28

The cerebral cortex

Answer 28

the outer portion of the forebrain; is divided into two cerebral hemispheres (grey and white matter)
- temporal: primary auditory cortex
- occipital: primary visual cortex
- parietal: sensory cortex
- frontal: motor cortex

Question 29

Hypothalamus

Answer 29

links the brain and endocrine system; regulates hunger, thirst, sleep, and sexual behavior

Question 30

Thalamus

Answer 30

processes and integrates sensory information; relays sensory information to cerebral cortex

Question 31

Amygdala

Answer 31

involved in memory and emotion, especially fear and anger

Question 32

Hippocampus

Answer 32

involved in forming new memories