Chapter 3-Biosychology

Question 1

What is the nervous system, and what are the two
basic cell types that make up this system?

Answer 1

Nervous System - an extensive network of
specialized cells that carry information to
and from all parts of the body
1) Glial cells
2) Neurons

Question 2

What are glial cells and how do they function?

Answer 2

 provide support for the neurons to grow on
and around
 deliver nutrients to neurons
 produce myelin to coat and protect axons
 clean up waste products and dead neurons

Question 3

What are neurons, what are the different parts of a
neuron, and how does each part function?

Answer 3

The basic cell that makes up the nervous system and sends and receives messages
◦ Dendrites – input sites where signals are
received from other neurons
◦ Soma -maintains the life of the
cell
◦ Axon - sends signals
to other neurons
◦ Myelin sheath – coats the axon and acts
like an insulation, increasing the speed at
which signals travel

Axon terminals
 Synaptic vesicles - contains chemicals
 Neurotransmitters - chemical when released, has an effect on the
next cell
 Synapse/synaptic gap - fills the space between cells
 Receptors/Receptor sites - Receives specific neurotransmitters

Question 4

How do neurons communicate and what are the
specific processes involved?

Answer 4

Neurons communicate through ions.
1) they start at resting potential
2)Then moves to action potential where they have the ability to release the neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical
charge within the axon (allows positive ions to enter the cell)
3) return to resting potential

Question 5

What are psychotropic medications, and how do they
affect neuronal communication?

Answer 5

drugs used to treat psychological disorders by helping to restore neurotransmitter balance.
they can enhance a neurotransmitters effect or can reduce or prevent activity from a neurotransmitter

Question 6

What are neurotransmitters, and how are specific
neurotransmitter used by neurons to communicate
with the body?

Answer 6

Neurotransmitters are molecules of substances (chemicals) found in
the synaptic vesicles of dendrites
neurotransmitters tell the neuron when to turn on and off

Question 7

What are the major subdivisions of the nervous
system?

Answer 7

Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system

Question 8

What is the somatic nervous system, and how does it
interact with its surroundings?

Answer 8

Division of the PNS consisting of nerves that carry information from the senses to the CNS and from the CNS to the voluntary muscles of the body.

Question 9

What is the autonomic nervous system, and how does
it react to stress?

Answer 9

Division of the PNS consisting of nerves that control all of the “involuntary muscles,” organs, and glands sensory pathway nerves coming from the
sensory organs to the CNS consisting of sensory neurons.
Fight or flight response

Question 10

What is the “fight-or-flight” response?

Answer 10

An instinctual reaction that every animal possesses
sudden release of epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine and dozens of other hormones causes changes in the body

Question 11

What is the central nervous system, and how do the
brain and spinal cord interact within this system?

Answer 11

Part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
The spinal cord reacts quickly and sends fast life saving messages to the brain

Question 12

How do the following neurons (nerves) interact within
the spinal cord:
sensory neurons, motor neurons,
interneurons?

Answer 12

Sensory neuron -carries information from the senses to the spinal cord
Motor neuron-carries info from the spinal cord to the muscles and glands of the body
Interneurons -receives information from the sensory neurons and sends commands to the muscles through the motor neurons

Question 13

What are the primary structures of the brain that
make up the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, and
how do those structures function and interact?

Answer 13

the forebrain (includes the cerebral cortex and the structures under the cortex, including the limbic system and the thalamus); it is the largest part of the brain
◦ the midbrain (contains the reticular formation, substantia nigra, and ventral tegmental area, or “VTA”)
◦ the hindbrain (includes the medulla, pons, and cerebellum)

Question 14

How does the left side of the brain differ from the
right side?

Answer 14

 Left side of the brain:
◦ seems to control language, writing, logical thought, analysis, and mathematical abilities,
◦ processes information sequentially,
◦ can speak,
◦ controls right side of body.
 Right side of the brain
◦ controls emotional expression, spatial perception, recognition of faces, patterns, melodies, and emotions,
◦ processes information globally,
◦ cannot speak,
◦ controls left side of body.

Question 15

What are the four lobes of the brain and how do they
function?

Answer 15

Occipital lobe - section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere containing the visual centers of the brain
 Parietal lobes - sections of the brain located at the top and back of each cerebral hemisphere containing the centers for touch, taste, and temperature sensations
 Temporal lobes - areas of the cortex located just behind the temples containing the neurons responsible for the sense of hearing and meaningful speech
 Frontal lobes - areas of the cortex located in the front and top of the brain, responsible for higher mental processes and decision making as well as the production of fluent speech

Question 16

Who is Phineas Gage, and how did his case assist in
the study of the frontal lobe?

Answer 16

Phineas Gage was working for the railroad when a rod peirced through his head. He was still conscious but as time went on ppl noticed that his personality changed since his frontal lobe was damaged.

Question 17

What are “association areas” and how do they
function?

Answer 17

areas within each lobe of the cortex responsible for the coordination and
interpretation of information, as well as higher mental processing

Question 18

What are the functions of the thalamus and the limbic
system (including the hippocampus, amygdala, and
hypothalamus)?

Answer 18

Limbic system - a group of several brain structures located under the cortex and involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation
Thalamus - located in the center of the forebrain, this structure relays sensory information from the lower part of the brain to the proper areas of the cortex and processes some sensory information before sending it to its proper area
Hypothalamus - small structure in the brain located below the thalamus and directly above the pituitary gland, responsible for motivational behavior such as sleep, hunger, thirst, and sex
 Hippocampus - curved structure located within each temporal lobe, responsible for the formation of long-term memories and the storage of memory for location of objects.
 Amygdala - brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for fear responses and memory of fear

Question 19

Who is Henry Gustav Molaison, and how did his case
assist in the study of the hippocampus?

Answer 19

27-year-old man who experienced
seizures removed his Hippocampus which helped the seizures but he lost the ability to produce new memories.

Question 20

What is the brainstem, and how is it associated with
the midbrain and the hindbrain?

Answer 20

is a section of the brain that connects directly to the spinal cord and regulates vital functions such as breathing, the heart, reflexes and level of alertness includes structures from both the midbrain and hindbrain

Question 21

What are the functions of the following midbrain and
hindbrain structures: reticular formation, medulla,
pons, and cerebellum?

Answer 21

Reticular formation (RF) - an area of neurons running through the middle of the medulla and the pons and slightly beyond that is responsible for selective attention.
 Medulla - the first large swelling at the top of the spinal cord, forming the lowest part of the brain, which is responsible for life-sustaining functions such as breathing, swallowing, and heart rate.
Pons - the larger swelling above the medulla that connects the top of the brain to the bottom and that plays a part in sleep, dreaming, left–right body coordination, and arousal.
 Cerebellum - part of the lower brain located behind the pons that controls and coordinates involuntary, rapid, fine motor movement.

Question 22

What are five common methods that are used to study
the brain and how it works?

Answer 22

Computed tomography (CT)
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Functional MRI (fMRI)
Positron emission tomography (PET)

Question 23

What is the endocrine system, how does it relate to
the production of hormones, and what are the major
glands that make up the system to produce
hormones?

Answer 23

series of glands that secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the
bloodstream
1)Pituitary gland
2)Pineal gland
3)Thyroid gland
4)Adrenal glands
5)Pancreas
6) Gonads

Question 24

How do hormones differ from neurotransmitters?

Answer 24

Neurotransmitter
1)Passed along to the receiving neuron
2)Take effect more quickly
3)Tend to be shorter lasting
Hormones
1)Secreted directly into the bloodstream; more widespread
2)Slower to take effect
3)Tend to be longer lasting