Chapter 3 : biological basis of behaviour(4)

Question 1

What is Peripheral nervous system? What can it be further subdivided into?

Answer 1

The peripheral nervous system is made up of all the nerves that lie outside the brain and spinal cord.

The peripheral nervous system can be subdivided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system

Question 2

What is the somatic nervous system?

Answer 2

The somatic nervous system is made up of nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles and to sensory receptors.

Question 3

What is the function of the SNS?

Answer 3

SNS carries information from receptors in the skin, muscles, and joints to the central
nervous system and carry commands from the CNS to the muscles.

Question 4

What are the 2 types of nerve fibres responsible for the fucntions of the SNS?

Answer 4

Afferent nerve fibres are axons that carry information inward to the CNS from the periphery of the body.

Efferent nerve fibres are axons that carry information outward from the CNS to the periphery of the body.

Question 5

What is the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 5

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is made up of nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles, and glands.

Question 6

What is the function of the ANS?

Answer 6

The ANS controls automatic, involuntary, visceral functions that people don’t normally think about, such as heart rate, digestion, and perspiration

The autonomic nervous system mediates much of the physiological arousal that occurs when people experience emotions(fight or flight).

Question 7

What are is the ANS divided into?

Answer 7

The sympathetic division is the branch of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body’s resources for emergencies. It creates the fight-or-flight response.

In contrast, the parasympathetic division
is the branch of the autonomic nervous system that conserves bodily resources. This system can be thought of as the “rest and digest” system

Question 8

What is the CNS?

Answer 8

Brain and spinal cord

Question 9

What is the protective sheath covering the CNS?

Answer 9

Meninges.

Question 10

What are the holes in our brain?

Answer 10

The hollow cavities in the brain that are filled with CSF are called ventricles

Question 11

What is the spinal cord and what is its function?

Answer 11

The spinal cord connects the brain to the rest of the body through the peripheral nervous system.

Houses bundles of axons that carry the brain’s commands to peripheral nerves so we can move, and it relays sensations from the periphery of the body to the brain.

Question 12

What are the invasive methods people have used to study the brain?

Answer 12

1. Case study : studying subjects that already have brain damage. (HM)
2. Lesioning : Lesioning involves destroying a piece of the brain.
3. Electrical stimulation( ESB) : electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB), where a weak electric current is sent into a brain structure to stimulate (activate) it. The current is delivered through an implanted electrode.

Question 13

What are the limitations of Case study method for the brain?

Answer 13

1. The subjects aren’t plentiful
2. We cannot control the location or severity of the damage.
3. The patients all have various histories which would be a scope for extraneous variables meaning we can’t do case and effect relationships.

Question 14

What is CT scan?

Answer 14

CT (computerized tomography) scan is a computer-enhanced X-ray of brainstructure. X-rays are taken from many angles, and the computer combines these images to create vivid pictures of cross
sections of the brain. (2D)

Question 15

What is MRI ?

Answer 15

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan uses magnetic fields, radio waves, and computerized enhancement to map out brain structures with more detail than a
CT scan, and they are 3D.

Question 16

What is EEG?

Answer 16

The electroencephalograph (EEG) is a device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time to show the functioning of the brain

Question 17

What is a PET scan?

Answer 17

PET scans use radioactive markers to map chemical activity in the brain over time.

Question 18

What is fMRI?

Answer 18

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which consists of new variations of MRI technology that monitor blood flow and oxygen consumption in the brain to identify areas of high activity.

Question 19

What is transcranial magnetic stimulation?

Answer 19

(TMS) is a technique that permits scientists to temporarily enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain.

Question 20

What does the hindbrain consist of?

Answer 20

The hindbrain includes the cerebellum and 2 structures found in the lower part of the brainstem: the medulla and the pons.

Question 21

Whats the function of the medulla and pons?

Answer 21

The medulla, which ttaches to the spinal cord, is in charge of unconscious but vital
functions, including circulating blood, breathing, maintaining muscle tone, and regulating reflexes such as sneezing, coughing, and salivating.

The pons also contains several clusters of
cell bodies involved with sleep and arousal

Question 22

What are the functions of the little brain(cerebellum)?

Answer 22

The cerebellum is involved coordinating movement and is critical for our sense
of equilibrium, or physical balance.

Provides accuracy and precision to our movements.

Brain circuits from the cerebellum are involved in attention, planning and visual perception.

Question 23

What are the functions of the midbrain?

Answer 23

The midbrain contains a region that integrates sensory processes, including vision and hearing.

Neurons that release dopamine orginate in the midbrain.

Question 24

What is the function of the reticular formation?

Answer 24

The reticular formation helps with the modulation of muscle reflexes, breathing, and pain perception.

It is best known for its role in the regulation of sleep and arousal.

Question 25

What does the forebrain consist of?

Answer 25

The thalamus, hypothalamus, and limbic system form the core of the forebrain.

Question 26

What is the function of the thalamus?

Answer 26

The thalamus is a structure in the forebrain
through which all sensory information (except smell) must pass to get to the cerebral cortex. (relay station)

Question 27

What is the function of the hypothalamus?

Answer 27

• Regulation of basic biological needs ( the 4fs -food,fight,flight and mating)
  -Controls ANS
• Communicates and exerts influence over the CNS.

Question 28

What is the purpose of the hippocampus?

Answer 28

The hippocampus and adjacent structures play a role in memory processes, converts information into durable memories.

Question 29

What is the purpose of the amygdala?

Answer 29

The amygdala may play a central role in the learning of fear responses and the processing of other basic emotional responses.

Question 30

What is the role of the limbic system?

Answer 30

The limbic system also appears to contain “pleasure centres”—parts of the brain
that are involved in pleasure.

Question 31

Where is the heaviest concentration of pleasure?

Answer 31

The medial forebrain bundle. The medial forebrain bundle is rich in dopamine releasing neurons.

Question 32

What is the function of the cerebrum?

Answer 32

It is responsible for the most complex mental activities, including learning, remembering, thinking, and consciousness.

Question 33

What seperates the two hemispheres in the brain?

Answer 33

Corpus Callosum.

Question 34

What are the 4 lobes present in each of the hemispheres?

Answer 34

1. Occipital lobe
2. Temporal lobe
3. Parietal lobe
4. Frontal lobe

Question 35

What is the function of the Occipital and Parietal lobe?

Answer 35

The occipital lobe, where most visual signals are sent and visual processing is begun.

The parietal lobes consists of the primary somatosensory cortex which registers sense of touch. + visual input and monitoring the body’s position.

Question 36

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

Answer 36

The temporal lobe contains an area devoted to auditory processing, called the primary auditory cortex.

Question 37

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Answer 37

It contains the principal areas that control the movement of muscles, the primary motor cortex. It is given to parts we have fine control over like fingers, lips etc.

Question 38

What are mirror neurons?

Answer 38

Mirror neurons are neurons that are activated by performing an action or by seeing another animal perform the
same action.