Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

psych > chapter 3. - biological bases of behaviour > Flashcards

chapter 3. - biological bases of behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

Neurons

A

Specialized cells that make up the nervous system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Parts of a neuron

A

Cell body (Soma)
Dendrites
Axon
Axon terminals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Cell body (soma) functions

A

Keep the cell alive.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Dendrite functions

A

Receive signals from the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Axon functions

A

Bring signals to the axon terminals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Axon terminal functions

A

Send the signals to other cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Glial Cells

A

Hold the cells in place and they make and store the nutrients for the cell. They also make the myelin sheath

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

Insulation and protective layer around the cell that is created by the glial cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Functions of Neurons

A
  1. Generate Electricity
  2. Release Chemicals
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Steps of a Neural Impulse

A
  1. Cells at rest have electrical resting potential
  2. Electrical charge passes through a stimulated cell and produces an action potential
  3. Returns to rest
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Resting Potential

A

Cell is at rest with electrical resting potential → -70mV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Action Potential

A

(nerve/neural impulse)
1. K inside, Na outside
2. Na channels open, inside becomes positive (depolarization)
3. potassium open, outside of cell, becomes more neg (repolarization)
4. overshoot (hyper polarization)
5. triggers next, acts like a wave down axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Restoring Resting Potential

A

When the distribution of ions is restored, so the cell can rest again.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Absolute Refractory Period

A

The time after an action potential when a cell cannot fire again.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

All-or-None Law

A

An action potential either happens or it does not, there are not different levels of action potentials.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Nodes of Ranvier

A

The part of the cell without a myelin sheath where an action potential can occur.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Synapses

A

Where axon terminals meet dendrites. Functional connections between neurons and their targets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Synaptic Cleft

A

The gap between cells where they communicate. (neuron –> neuron)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messages that carry messages across the synapses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

5 Stages of Neurotransmitter (chemical comminucation)

A
  1. Synthesis - Make the neurotransmitters in the axon terminals.
  2. Storage - Store the neurotransmitters in the synaptic vesicles.
  3. Release - Release into the synapse.
  4. Binding - Attach to receptor cites (lock and key)
  5. Deactivation - Broken down and recycled
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

A

Makes resting potential more negative (hyper polarization)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

A

Makes resting potential more positive (depolarization)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Specialized Neurotransmitters

A

There are specific neurons for different brain systems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Three types of Neurons

A
  • Sensory neurons
  • Motor neurons
  • Interneurons
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Sensory Neurons
Bring messages from sense organs to the nervous system.
26
Motor Neurons
Bring messages from the nervous system to muscles and organs.
27
Internerons
The most common type of neuron; they send messages from neuron to neuron.
28
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Nerves that are not a part of the spinal cord and the brain.
29
Somatic Nervous System
Responsible for voluntary movements from sensory and motor neurons. bring information from the sensory receptors and sends information to muscles. (PNS)
30
Autonomic Nervous System
Regulates internal environment and involuntary functions like respiration, circulation, and digestion. Made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. (PNS)
31
Sympathetic Nervous System
A part of the autonomic nervous system. Responsible for fight or flight response. It acts as a unit and is responsible for activation and arousal.
32
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Acts much slower than the sympathetic. Calms the body down; rest and digest. (ANS)
33
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Nerves that make up the spinal cord and the brain.
34
Spinal Cord
Connects the PNS and the brain.
35
Spinal Reflexes
Simple stimulus-response sequences like reflexes.
36
The Brain
A complex structure that is made up of protein, fat, and fluid.
37
Three Brain Planes
Horizontal plane → birds eye view (forehead split) Coronal plane → front to back (fish) Sagittal plane → side view (middle face)
38
Forebrain (cerebum)
Large pink part that has numerous functions.
39
Midbrain
Middle part of the brain responsible for reflex actions and voluntary movements.
40
Hindbrain
Lower and back part of the brain responsible for vital functions and coordinating movements.
41
Cerebral Cotrex
Outer layer of the brain that is responsible for thinking and mental processes and thinking specifically personality, vision, sensations, and hearing. Made up of the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.
41
Basal Ganglia
Collection of motor neurons responsible for movement.
42
Limbic System
Made up of the hippocampus, amyglada, nucleus accumbens, thalamus, and hypothalamus. (forebrain)
43
Thalamus
Relays incoming sensory information through groups of neurons that project to the appropriate region in the cortex. Switch board/middle man. (forebrain)
44
Hypothalamus
Regulate basic biological drives and makes hormones. (forebrain)
45
Hippocampus
memory (limbic)
46
Amygdala
Emotional response. (hippocampus)
47
Nucleus Accumbens
Reward centre. (hippocampus)
48
Reticular Formation
Involved in regulation of consciousness; regulates sleep, wakefulness, and attention. (midbrain)
49
Superior Colliculi
Involved in vision and visual reflexes (ex. dialating pupils) (midbrain)
50
Inferior Colliculi
Involved in hearing.(midbrain)
51
hindbrain (brainstem)
Made up of the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.
52
Medulla
Keeps you alive. (brainstem)
53
Pons
Relays signals between the different levels of the nervous system. It regulates sleep and dreaming. (brainstem)
54
Cerebellum
Is the little brain. It is responsible for coordination, balance, and muscle tone. (brainstem)
55
Motor Cortex
Voluntary movements. (cerebrum)
56
Somatic Sensory Cortex
Receives sensations of temperatures and feeling (touch). (cerebrum)
57
Primary Auditory Cortex
temporal lobe. (cerebrum)
58
Primary Visual Cortex
Occipital lobe. (cerebrum)
59
Wernicke's Area
Language comprehension → temporal lobe
60
Broca's Area
Speech production → frontal lobe
61
Association Cortex
It is in all parts of the cerebral cortex (cerebrum) , and it makes up most of the brain. Combines information and makes the big picture.
62
Right Hemisphere
MORE responsible for feeling, intuition, and humour. More creative hemisphere.
63
Left Hemisphere
MORE analytical and logical. Responsible for speech, language, and time.
64
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Measures electrodes to see electricity in brain to see activity. Can see everything in real time. Cheaper.
65
Computer Tomography (CT)
Is basically a x-ray for your brain to look at structure. Cheaper
66
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Builds a picture using radioactive material. Maps functional processes in the brain in a very general way. Cheap.
67
Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Builds a picture of brain using a strong magnetic field. Gives a high definition picture of the structures and features of the brain. Very expensive and takes a long time.
68
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Detects a change in blood oxygenation. Combines MRI with blood flow. Expensive.
69
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
Builds a picture of water movement in the brain using an MRI scanner. Can observe blood flow along specific neural tracts.
70
Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)
Shines light through skull to make a very inaccurate picture.
71
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Can turn off a part of the brain. Way to use electrical activity and manipulate activity in human brains without lasting effects. Not expensive.
72
Blood-Brain Barrier
Barrier created by the glial cells that keeps blood away from neurons.
73
Left and Right Visual Field
Left goes to right brain Right goes to left brain
74
Corpus Callosum
The bridge between the two hemispheres.
75
Split-Brain
When the bridge is broken between the two hemispheres. (can be used to treat seizures)
76
Postmortem Studies
Looking at the brain of a dead person to study structure.
77
studying Living Non-Human Animals
Looking and testing on animal brains.
78
studying Live Human Brains
Surgical techniques only if needed. Imaging techniques.

psych (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions