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General Psychology > Chapter 3: Neuroscience and behavior > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Neuroscience and behavior Flashcards

1
Q

neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that communicate with each other to perform information processing tasks.

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2
Q

cell body

A

part of the neuron that coordinates the information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive.

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3
Q

Dendrites

A

parts of the neuron that receive information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body.

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4
Q

Axon

A

part of the neuron that carries information to other neurons, muscles, and glands.

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5
Q

myelin sheath

A

an insulating layer of fatty material.

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6
Q

glial cells

A

support cells found in the nervous system.

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7
Q

synapse

A

junction or region between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of another.

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8
Q

Types of neurons

A

sensory- receive info. from the external world and convey this information to the brain via the spinal cord.
motor- carry signals from the signals from the spinal cord to the muscles to produce movement.
interneurons- connect sensory neurons, motor neurons, or other interneurons.

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9
Q

resting potential

A

the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neurons cell membrane.
(K+) (A-) are abundant in the cell
(Na+) abundant outside.
Cells are slightly negative.

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10
Q

action potential
what sets it off?

A

an electric signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron’s axon to a synapse.
when an electric shock reaches a certain threshold.

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11
Q

When an action potential occurs, there’s saltatory conduction. What is it?

A

The electric current seems to “jump” quickly from node to node.

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12
Q

What is the refractory period?

A

the cooldown period after an action potential occurs where the cell replenishes its slightly negative charge.

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13
Q

terminal buttons
Where are they found

A

knoblike structures at the end of an axon.

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14
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receiving neurons dendrites.

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15
Q

receptors

A

parts of the cell membrane that receive neurotransmitters and either initiate or prevent a new electrical signal.

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16
Q

how do neurotransmitters leave the synapses?

A
  1. reuptake: absorbed by terminal buttons or glial cells
  2. broken down by enzymes
  3. diffusion: drift out of the synapse
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17
Q

autoreceptors

A

Detect how much of a neurotransmitter has been released and may stop it from releasing more.

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18
Q

Types of Neurotransmitters:

A

A- ACh- Attention
G- Glutamate (improves transmission between neurons) and GABA (prevents neurons from firing)
N- Norepinephrines- Nervous
E- Endorphins- Exercise high
S’- Serotonin- sleepy
D- Dopamine- drive

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19
Q

Agonists

A

drugs that increase the action of a neurotransmitter
L-dopa: Dopamine (Treats Parkinsons)
Amphetamine: Alert, Transmission increase
Opioids: endorphins: exercise

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20
Q

Antagonists

A

drugs that diminish the function of a neurotransmitter.

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21
Q

Nervous System

A

network of neurons that conveys info throughout the body.

22
Q

central nervous system

A

composed of the brain and spinal cord

23
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

connects the central nervous system to the body’s organs and muscles.

24
Q

somatic nervous system

A

a set of nerves that coveys info between voluntary muscles and the central nervous system.

25
Q

Automatic nervous system

A

a set of nerves that carries into,utary and automatic commands that control blood vessels, body organs, and glands.

26
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

a set of nerves that prepares the body for action sin challenging or threatening situations.

27
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

helps the body return to a normal resting state.

28
Q

spinal reflexes
What nervous system is it found in?

A

simple pathways in the nervous system that rapidly generate muscle contractions.
Central nervous system

29
Q

Hindbrain, what does it consist of

A

an area of the brain that coordinates information coming into and out of the spinal cord
Medulla: extension of spinal cord into the skill that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration
Reticular formation: sleep, wakefulness, and levels of arousal
cerebellum: fine motor skills
pons: relays info from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

30
Q

Midbrain, what does it consist of

A

tectum: orients to the environment, receives stimulus from sensory organs
tegmentum: movement and arousal

31
Q

Forebrain, what does it consist of

A

controls complex cognitive, emotional, sensory, and motor functions.
Cerebral cortex and subcortical structures

32
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

Squiggly part of the brain divided into hemispheres and lobes.

33
Q

subcortical structures

A

basal ganglia- intentional movement
thalamus- filters info from cerebral cortex
hippocampus- creating memory
amygdala- emotional processes
hypothalamus- body temp, hunger, thirst, sexual desire
pituitary gland- releases hormones that direct glands

34
Q

endocrine system

A

a network of glands, run by the pituitary gland, that produce and secrete into the bloodstream chemical messages known as hormones, and influences many things: metabolism, growth, and sexual development

35
Q

cerebral cortex

A

corpus callosum: connection between the two hemispheres.
Occipital lobe (very back of the head)- visual processing information
Temporal lobe (sides of the head)- hearing and language
Parietal lobe (crown of the head)- processing touch sensations. Somatosensory cortex (headphone thingy that controls different parts of the body and face)
frontal lobe- (front of the head)- movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement

36
Q

association areas

A

neurons tasks with making sense of info in the cortex. Visual in the occipital.

37
Q

Mirror neurons

A

ability to perform the same behavior that was just watched

38
Q

Brain plasticity

A

ability to adapt to change.

39
Q

Genes

A

major unit of hereditary transmission

40
Q

Chromosomes

A

strands of DNA wound around each other that make up a gene

41
Q

Epigenetics

A

study of environmental influences that determine how and if genes are expressed, without altering DNA sequences.

42
Q

Case of Phineas Gage

A

damaged his frontal lobe. His personality changes significantly

43
Q

split-brain procedure

A

Severing the corpus callosum to alleviate seizures.

44
Q

EEG

A

a device used to record electrical activity in the brain

45
Q

CT scan

A

X-ray photos from different angles that show density in tissue

46
Q

MRI

A

strong magnetic field to line up the nuclei of specific molecules in the brain tissue.

47
Q

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

A

visualize the white matter pathways.

48
Q

PET scan

A

radioactive substance injected into the bloodstream and shows where blood goes during certain tasks. This shows what parts of the brain are used during certain tasks.

49
Q

fMRI

A

detects oxygenated vs. deoxygenated hemoglobin and where it goes.

50
Q

TMS

A

magnetic pulse that temporary stops neurons from firing. It shows what is necessary for certain tasks.

General Psychology (8 decks)

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