Chapter 3 Biological Psych Flashcards
Neuron
Nerve cell specialized for communication
Cell body (soma)
Central region, manufactures cell components
Dendrite
Portion of neuron that receives signal
Axon
Portion of neuron that sends signal
Synaptic vesicle
Spherical sac containing neurotrasmitters
Neurotransmitter
Chemical messengers specialized for communication from neuron to neuron
Synapse
Space between two connecting neurons through which messages are transmitted chemically
Synaptic cleft
Gap which neurotransmitters are released from axon terminal
Glial cell
Cells in nervous system that play role in formation of myelin/blood-brain barrier, responds to injury, removes debris, enhances learning/memory
Myelin sheath
Glial cells wrapped around axons that act as insulators of neuron’s signal
Resting potential
Electrical charge differences (-60 mv) across neuronal membrane when neuron not being stimulated/inhibited
Threshold
Membrane potential necessary to trigger an action potential
Action potential
Electrical impulse that travels down axon triggering release of neurotrasmitters
Absolute refractory period
Time during which another action potential is impossible; limits max firing rate
Graded potential
Postsynaptic potentials that can be excitatory/inhibitory depending whether positively/negatively charged participles flow across neuronal membrane/which direction they flow
Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
Graded potential in dendrite caused by excitatory synaptic transmission
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
Graded potential in dendrite caused by inhibitory synaptic transmission
Receptor site
Location that uniquely recognizes a neurotransmitter
Reuptake
Means of recycling neurotransmitters
Endorphins
Chemical in the brain that plays a specialized role in pain reduction
Psychoactive drugs
Drugs that interact with neurotransmitters
Agonists
Increase receptor site activity
Antagonists
Decrease receptor site activity
Plasticity
Ability of nervous system to change
Neuron changes (four)
- Growth of dendrites/axons
- Synaptogensis - formation of new synapses
- Pruning - death of no longer useful STUFFZ
- Myelination - insulation of axons with sheath
Stem cells
Cell often originating in embryos having capacity to differentiate into more specialized cell
Neurogenesis
Creation of new neurons in adult brain
Central nervous system
Part of nervous system containing brain/spinal cord that controls mind/behaviour
Peripheral nervous system
Nerves in body that extend outside CNS
Cerebral ventricles
Pockets in brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, which provide brain with nutrients/cushioning against injury
Forebrain
forward part of brain that allows advanced intellectual abilities
Cerebral hemispheres
Two halves of cerebral cortex, each serving distinct highly integrated fxns
Corpus callosum
Large band of fibres connecting two cerebral hemispheres
Cerebral cortex
Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing/higher brain fxns
Frontal lobe
Foreward part of cerebral cortex responsible for motor fxn, language, memory, planning
Motor cortex
Part of frontal lobe responsible for body movement
Prefrontal lobe
Part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, language
Broca’s area
Language area in prefrontal cortex that helps control speech production
Parietal lobe
Upper middle part of cerebral cortex behind frontal lobe, specialized for touch/perception
Temporal lobe
Prime site, lower part of cerebral cortex that plays role in hearing, understanding language, memory
Wernicke’s area
Part of temporal lobe involved in understanding speech (comprehension)
Occipital lobe
Back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision
Primary sensory cortex
Regions of cerebral cortex that initially process info from senses
Association cortex
Regions of cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions to perform more complex fxns
Basal ganglia
Structures in forebrain that help control movement
Limbic system
Emotional centre of brain that also plays roles in smell, motivation, memory
Thalamus
Gateway from sense organs to primary sensory cortex
Hypothalamus
Responsible for maintaing constant internal state (homeostasis)
Amygdala
Plays role in fear, excitement arousal
Hippocampus
Plays role in spatial memory
Brain stem
Between spinal cord/cerebral cortex that contains midbrain, pon, medulla
Midbrain
Part of brain stem, contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, reflexes triggered by sound
Reticular activating system
Brain area that plays key role in arousal
Hindbrain
Region below midbrain that contains cerebellum, pons, medulla
Cerebellum
Responsible for sense of balance
Pons
Connects cortex with cerebellum
Medulla
Involves basic fxns like heartbeat/breathing
Spinal cord
Thick bundle of nerves that conveys signals between brain/body
Interneuron
Neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby
Reflex
Automatic motor response to sensory stimulus
Somatic nervous system
Conveys info between CNS/body, controlling/coordinating voluntary movement
Autonomic nervous system
Controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs/glads, participates in emotion regulation
Sympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic, engaged during crises/after actions requiring fight/flight
Parasympathetic nervous system
Division of autonomic, controls rest/digestion
Endocrine system
System of glands/hormones that control secretion of blood-borne chemical messengers
Hormone
Chemical released into bloodstream that influences particular organs/glands
Pituitary gland
Master gland under control of hypothalamus, directs other glands of body
Adrenal gland
Located on top of kidneys, releases adrenalin/cortisol during emotional arousal
Phrenology
First attempt to map mind onto brain (Gall)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Uses magnetic fields to visualize brain structure
fMRI
Measures changes in blood oxygen levels in brain
Localization of function
Areas of brain active during specific psychological task over/above baseline rate of activity
Lateralization
Cognitive fxn that relies on one side of brain more than other
Split brain surgery
Involves severing corpus callosum to reduce spread of epileptic seizures
Genotype
Genetic makeup
Phenotype
Observable traits
Recessive gene
Gene expressed in absence of dominant gene
Fitness
Organism’s capacity to pass on their genes
Heritability
Percentage of variability in a trait across individuals that is due to genes
Family study
Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families
Twin study
Analysis of how traits differ in identical/fraternal twins
Adoption study
Analysis of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from biological relatives
Neurotransmitter: Glutamate
Most common excitatory; learning, development, deactivated by alcohol
Neurotransmitter: GABA
Most common inhibitory; alcohol increases sensitivity
Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine
Movement, memory, REM sleep
Neurotransmitter: Norepinephrine
Low level on mood disorders, increases attention to environment
Neurotransmitter: Dopamine
Movement, attention, learning, reinforcement; low levels –> Parkinson’s, high levels –> schizophrenia
Neurotransmitter: Seratonin
Low levels in mood disorders, regulation: mood, eating, sleep, arousal, pain
Three Rs of drugs affecting synaptic transmitters
- Stimulate/inhibit RELEASE of neurotransmitters
- Stimulate/bock postsynaptic RECEPTORS
- Inhibit REUPTAKE
Five fxnl regions of cerebral cortex
1. Primary motor cortex --> Action Primary sensory cortex --> Sensation 2. Somatosensory cortex 3. Visual cortex 4. Auditory cortex 5. Association cortex --> between sensation/action
Michael Gazzaniga
Mind is constructed of independent/semi-independent agents
Left hemisphere functions
Analysis - break down info
Serial behaviours - verbal, language, speech
Right hemisphere functions
Synthesis - put info together
Drawing, read maps, building, images, patterns
Phineas Gage
Damage to prefrontal cortex; major personality change to slow thoughts, loss of self awareness, emotion runs changed; intelligence/memory maintained
Broca’s area characteristics
Broken speech, labored but retains meaning, extensive damage –> agrammatism or comprehension problem possible
Wernicke’s area characteristics
Language comprehension trouble, world salad, problems recognizing spoken words/comprehension of word meaning
Pure word deafness
Only damage in Wernicke’s, can read/write, comprehension ok, can’t recognize speech sounds as speech
Isolation aphasia
Damage to angular gyrus, word salad, can repeat words but don’t understand, can’t read/write
Pure word deafness + isolation aphasia = ?
Wernick’s aphasia
Evolutionary psychology
How an organism’s evolutionary history contributes to the development of behavior patterns/cognitive strategies related to reproduction/survival during its lifetime
Heredity
All of traits/tendencies inherited from biological ancestors
