Chapter 2: The Biological Perspective Flashcards
Who is Phineas Gage?
His brain was severely damaged in a accident, he could still walk, talk, and have emotions.
What is the soma of a neuron?
The cell body which contains the nucleus.
What does the nucleus of the neuron control?
Metabolic function
What do dendrites of the neuron do?
Receive information from other neurons
What does the axon do?
Information travels down the axon from dendrites
What is myelin and what does it do?
A fatty substance that protects/speeds up electrical impulses
What are axon terminals?
Branches at the end of the axon
What is the synaptic knob?
The rounded area on end of axon terminals
What are synaptic vesicles?
Saclike structures that hold neurotransmitters in synaptic knobs.
What is the synapse?
The space between the knob of one neuron and dendrites of another, neurotransmitters go across the synapse.
What is action potential?
Electrical signal sent down axon, a neuron firing
What is the threshold on excitation?
Degree of stimulation which must be reached for the neuron to fire
What is the all or none principle?
Threshold is reached and neurons fire at full strength
What is a neurotransmitter?
Chemical released from vesicles when action potential arrives, triggering affect of next neuron
What do neurotransmitters travel across?
The synapse
How do neurotransmitters work?
The molecules bind with receptors on dendrites and cause electrical change
What is reuptake?
NT’s are absorbed back into vesicles
What is an example of reuptake?
SSRI stops reuptake of serotonin so it cures depression and/or makes the person happy
What is a sensory neuron?
Information from senses to spinal cords
What is a interneuron?
Transmits info between neurons (middle man)
What is a motor neuron?
Transmits info to muscles (motor, movement, big muscles!)
What is the sympathetic system?
Activates body into fight or flight
What is the parasympathetic system?
Calms body down by allowing it to eat, drink, and rest
What is an MRI?
Magnetic field imaging, use of H+ atoms
What is a PET scan?
Radioactive glucose (pets have glucose)
Function of medulla
Involuntary functions like breathing
Function of pons
Controls sleep
Function of cerebellum
Balance (ballerina)
Function of basal ganglia (bg)
Slow movements like walking (Baby Girl learns to walk)
Function of thalamus
Relays sensory information to brain centers (touch, the HUB)
Function of hypothalamus
Basic biological functions, being hungry, thirsty, full
Function of amygdala
Emotions (Amy is emotional)
What does the frontal lobe do?
Controls personality, problem solving
What does the temporal lobe do?
Auditory, hearing (think temples by ears)
What does the parietal lobe do?
Somatosensory (pain, cold/warm)
What does the occipital lobe do?
Visual, the ability to see
What is the left hemisphere in control of?
Language
What is Broca’s area?
Severe impairment to speech
What is Wernicke’s area?
Inability to produce speech (Getting milk out of fridge)
What is the right hemisphere in control of?
Spatial patterns, relationships, seeing faces
How would we describe something as a split brain patient?
We describe right side figure always
Function of pituitary gland
The master gland, growth hormones
Function of pineal gland
Sleep, melatonin
Function of thyroid gland
Regulates metabolism and growth (dad’s surgery)
Function of adrenal gland
Regulates fight or flight/sympathetic system (adrenaline rush)
