Chapter 3: Biological Psychology Flashcards
biological psychology
the science of the biological processes underlying or influencing mind + behavior
phrenology
-“bumpology”
-assumed that enlargements of the skull corresponded to brain enlargements, + that these brain enlargements were linked directly to different psychological capacities
electroencephalogram (EEG)
measures electric potentials across the brain to assess narcolepsy, late-stage Alzeimer’s, or seizure disorders
computed tomography (CT or CAT Scan)
use stacks of x-rays + computer processing to inspect 2D organ structure + composition
MRI
brain structural details, detecting tumors
PET
change in brain activity in response to stimuli, injection of radioactive glucose-like molecules (cancer activity)
fMRI
change in blood oxygen level, neural activity (cancer activity)
MEG
uncommon
-similar to EEG in recording neuronal activity but has a greater spatial + temporal resolution by measuring magnetic instead of electrical field
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
improving brain function in cases like depression, migraine, OCD, + nicotine use
deep brain stimulation (DBS)
treats tremors, Parkinson’s, + OCD
localization of function
-many parts of the brain contribute to each specific task
-because brain areas pariticpate in multiple functions, many cognitive functions cannot be neatly localized
Broca’s area
produces speech
Wernicke’s area
understanding + processing speech
temporal lobe
hearing + memory
left hemisphere function
-fine-tuned language skills
-actions
right hemisphere function
-coarse language skills
-visuospatial skills
what do action potentials do?
action potentials carry electrical current through neurons via axonal projections
what do electrical events do?
transmit information within neurons
what do chemical events do?
chemical events triggered by neurotransmitters orchestrate communication among neurons
where do neurotransmitters bind?
to receptor sites along dendrites
how can neurotransmission be halted?
by the reuptake of the neurotransmitter back into the axon terminal, reabsorbed by the synaptic vesicle
role of neurotransmitters
may excite or inhibit the nervous system or inhibit the nervous system, play a role in movement, pain perception, thinking, + emotion
neurotransmitters
-dopamine
-acetylcholine
-adrenaline (epinephrine)
-serotonin
-norepineprhine
-met- enkephalin (an endorphin)
-GABA
-glutamate
-histamine
-anandamide (an endocannabinoid)
which neurotransmitter is an endocannabinoid?
anandamide
