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PSYCH 111 > Chapter 3 > Flashcards

Chapter 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

Two major cell types in the brain

A

Glia and neuron

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2
Q

Function of glial cells

A

Glial cells serve many functions. For example, they supply nourishment to neurons, help remove neurons’ waste products, and provide insulation around many axons

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3
Q

Function of neurons

A

Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate, and transmit information

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4
Q

Soma

A

cell body that contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells

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5
Q

Dendrites

A

the parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information

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6
Q

Axon

A

a long, thin fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neurons or to muscles or glands

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7
Q

Myelin sheath

A

insulating material that encases some axons

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8
Q

Terminal buttons

A

Small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters

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9
Q

Synapse

A

a junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to another

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10
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

A microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron

The neurons send signals in this gap. The sender is called the presynaptic neuron and the receiver is called the post-synaptic neuron

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11
Q

Synaptic pruning

A

Old or less-active synapses withering away while new and often-used synapses stick around

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12
Q

Postsynaptic potential

A

Voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane

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13
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another

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14
Q

Excitatory PSP (postsynaptic potential)

A

Positive voltage shift that increases likelihood of postsynaptic neuron firing action potentials

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15
Q

Inhibitory PSP (postsynaptic potential)

A

Negative voltage shift that decreases likelihood of postsynaptic neuron firing action potential

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16
Q

Reuptake

A

Synapses absorbing neurotransmitters after they trigger a response. This allows the chemical to be recycled

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17
Q

Resting potential of a neuron

A

its stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive

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18
Q

Action potential

A

A very brief shift in a neuron’s electrical charge that travels along an axon

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19
Q

The absolute refractory period

A

The minimum length of time after an action potential, during which another action potential cannot begin. This “down time” isn’t very long, only 1 or 2 milliseconds.

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20
Q

All-or-none law

A

The neural impulse is an all-or-none proposition, like firing a gun. You can’t half-fire a gun

Even though the action potential is an all-or-nothing event, neurons can convey information about the strength of a stimulus by varying the rate at which they fire action potentials

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21
Q

What are nerves?

A

Nerves are bundles of neuron fibers (axons)

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22
Q

What is the central nervous system?

A

Brain and spinal cord

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23
Q

What are the parts of the hindbrain?

A

Includes the cerebellum, the medulla, and the pons

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24
Q

Functions of the cerebellum

A

Contributes to coordination and critical to the sense of equilibrium

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25
Q

Funciton of the Medulla

A

Controls breathing, maintaining muscle tone, and regulating circulation

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26
Q

Function of the pons

A

Connects the brainstem with the cerebellum

Contributes to sleep and arousal

27
Q

Functions of the midbrain

A

Concerned with integrating sensory processes such as vision and hearing

Running through both the hindbrain and the midbrain is the reticular formation. Situated at the central core of the brainstem, the reticular formation contributes to the modulation of muscle reflexes, breathing, and pain perception

28
Q

Parts of the forebrain

A

Thalamus, Hypothalamus, The Limbic System, Cerebrum

29
Q

Function of the thalamus

A

a structure in the forebrain through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex

30
Q

Function of the hypothalamus

A

involved in the regulation of basic biological needs

The hypothalamus communicates with, and exerts influence over, virtually every major subdivision of the central nervous system

31
Q

What is the Limbic System?

A

a loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas

Not well-defined

Deals with emotion processing

32
Q

What is the function of the cerebrum

A

It includes the brain areas that are responsible for our most complex mental activities, including learning, remembering, thinking, and consciousness itself

33
Q

What are the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex (outermost layer of the cerebrum)?

A

Occipital
Parietal
Temporal
Frontal

34
Q

What does the occipital lobe do?

A

Where visual signals are sent and first processed

35
Q

What does the parietal lobe do?

A

Processes touch and the body’s position in space

36
Q

What does the temporal lobe do?

A

Auditory processing

37
Q

What does the frontal lobe do?

A

Controls movement

38
Q

What is the corpus callosum?

A

Thick fibers that connect the cerebral hemispheres

39
Q

What is the Peripheral nervous system

A

All the nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord

40
Q

What are the two classes of the peripheral nervous system?

A

the somatic and automatic nervous systems

41
Q

What do the somatic nerves do?

A

Nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and sensory receptors

42
Q

What do afferent nerves/axons do?

A

Afferent nerves carry information from the peripheral system to the central system

43
Q

What do efferent nerves/axons do?

A

Efferent nerves carry information from the central system to the peripheral system

44
Q

Every somatic nerve has two types of what?

A

Every somatic nerve has afferent and efferent axons, making it a two way street

45
Q

What do the nerves in the Automatic nervous system do?

A

Nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands

46
Q

What are the two divisions of the automatic nervous system?

A

Sympathetic division and parasympathetic division

47
Q

What does the sympathetic division do?

A

Mobilizes the body’s resources for emergencies, like activating the adrenal gland which activates the flight-or-flight response

In an emergency, this slows digestion and drains blood from the periphery

48
Q

What does the parasympathetic division do?

A

Activates processes that conserve resources for the body, such as slowing the heart rate, reducing blood pressure, and promoting digestion

49
Q

What is brain plasticity/neuroplasticity?

A

the brain’s ability to adapt, reorganize, or grow neural networks

50
Q

What is the the endocrine system?

A

Consists of glands that secrete chemicals into the bloodstream that help control bodily functioning

51
Q

What are hormones?

A

The chemical substances released by the endocrine glands

52
Q

What part of the brain largely controls the endocrine system?

A

hypothalamus

53
Q

Which gland is essential to the function of most other glands?

A

Pituitary gland

54
Q

What are polygenic traits?

A

characteristics that are influenced by more than one pair of genes

55
Q

What are family studies?

A

researchers assess hereditary influence by examining blood relatives to see how much they resemble one another on a specific trait. If heredity affects the trait under scrutiny, researchers should find trait similarity among relatives

56
Q

What are twin studies?

A

researchers assess hereditary influence by comparing the resemblance of identical twins and fraternal twins with respect to a trait

57
Q

What are adoption studies?

A

Studies that assess hereditary influence by examining the resemblance between adopted children and both their biological and their adoptive parents. If adopted children resemble their biological parents on a trait, even though they were not raised by them, genetic factors probably influence that trait

58
Q

Why is it difficult to pinpoint what genes determine intelligence, behavior, personality, musical talents, or other psychological tendencies?

A

Many different genes have a varying level of influence on these thigns.

59
Q

What is Epigenetics?

A

The study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve modifications to the DNA sequence. This science shows that some traits are not fully expressed due to environmental influences.

60
Q

What does “fitness” relate to in evolutionary theory?

A

The reproductive success (number of descendants) of an individual organism relative to the average reproductive success in the population

61
Q

What is natural selection?

A

“Survival of the fittest” leads to the prevalence of more useful traits in a population, leading to evolution.

62
Q

What is an adaptation?

A

an inherited characteristic that increased in a population (through natural selection) because it helped solve a problem of survival or reproduction during the time it emerged

63
Q
A

PSYCH 111 (14 decks)

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