Chapter 3: Neuroscience and Behaviour Flashcards
What are the two parts of the nervous system?
Central and Peripheral
Central Nervous System
Brain, Spinal Cord, Optic Nerve, Retina
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Cranial Nerves
Spinal Nerves
Automatic Nervous system
Somatic Nervous System
Neurons
The basic unit of the nervous system, each composed of a cell body, dendrite, and axon.
Glial Cells
Non neuronal brain cells that provide structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain.
Soma
Cell body
Dendrites
Extentions of cell body what collects information to other neurons.
Axon
Tail of cell body conducting information to other neurons.
Axon Terminals
End of axon transmitting information to other neurons.
Synaptic Vessicle
Spherical sac on axon terminal containing neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitter
The chemical released from the presynaptic axon terminal that serves as the basis for communication between neurons.
Synapse
An intercellular site where fast, highly localized transmission of chemical and electrical signals occur.
Synaptic Cleft
A gap into which neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal.
What are the two type of Neurons?
Unipolar and Bipolar and Multipolar Neurons
Resting Potential
Difference in electrical charge (-70 milivolts) across the neuronal membrane, when the neuron is not being stimulated or inhibited.
Depolarization
The reduction of the membrane’s resting potential so that it becomes less negative. (The up after the stimulus)
Action Potential
Electrical impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of neurotransmitters.
Repolarization
Na+ channels close, K+ channels open, K+ efflux down electro-chemical gradient. (The down after the action potential)
Hyperpolarization
Overshoot of repolarization
Refractory Period
The time during which another action potential is impossible; limits the maximal firing rate of the neuron.
Postsynaptic Potential (PSP)
A voltage change at a receptor site on a postsynaptic cell membrane.
Excitatory PSP
A positive voltage shift that increases the likelihood that the post-synaptic neuron will fire action potentials . (closer to the threshold)
Inhibitory PSP
A negative voltage shift that decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will fire action potentials.
Reuptake
Reabsorption of neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane.
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Contribute to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory.
Agonist
A chemical that mimics the action of a neurotransmitter when it binds with the neurotransmitters receptor site.
Antagonist
A chemical that blocks the action of a neurotransmitter when it binds with the neurotransmitter receptor site.
Monoamines
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
(Happy hormones)
Dopamine
Circuits in the medial forebrain bundle characterized as “reward pathway”
Serotonin
Involved in regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, aggression.
Norepinephrine
Brain arousal, mood, hunger, sleep, sexual behaviour. Both a hormone and a neurotransmitter.
Amino Acids
GABA and Glutamate
GABA
The brain’s main inhibitory transmitter. Regulates anxiety and sleep.
Glutamate
Main excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system; participates in relay of sensory information and learning
Anandamide
Binds to the same receptor as the active ingredient in cannabis.
Endorphins
A natural occurring pain killer.
Endocrine System
Series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones.
Hormones
Slow chemical messenger released into the blood by endocrine glands.
Synaptogenesis
Formation of new synapses
Pruning
The removal of extra synapses to increase the efficiency of a neural network.
Myelination
The insulation of axons with myelin sheath.
Neural Plasticity Following Injury
Brain regions can sometime take over function previously performed by others.
Stem Cells
A cell, originating in embryos, which has the capacity to differentiate into a specialized cell.
Neurogenesis
Creation of new neurons in the adult brain.
Meninges
Three protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. (Dura Mater, Arachnoid Mater, Pia Mater)
Cerebral Ventricles
Pockets in the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid, which provide the brain with nutrients and cushion against injury.
Franz Joseph Gall
Brain consists of function regions, although the regions were not accurate.
The Cerebral Cortex
Outermost part of forebrain, responsible for analyzing sensory processing and higher brain functions
Cerebral Hemispheres
Two halves of the cerebral cortex, each of which serve distinct yet highly integrated functions
Corpus Callosum
Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres.
4 Parts of the Cerebral Cortex
Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital.
The Frontal Lobe
Performs functions that coordinate other brain areas, motor planning, language, and memory.
Primary Motor Cortex
Part of the frontal lobe responsible for bodily movement.
Prefrontal Cortex
Part of frontal lobe responsible for thinking, planning, and language.
Broca’s Area
Language area in the prefrontal cortex that helps to control speech production and some aspects of speech comprehension
The Parietal Lobe
Processes touch information, integrates vision and touch.
Primary Somatic Sensory Cortex
Regions of the cerebral cortex that initially process information from the senses.
The Temporal Lobe
Processes auditory information, language, and autobiographical memory.
Wernicke’s Area
Part of the temporal lobe involved in understanding speech.
Occipital Lobe
Back part of cerebral cortex specialized for vision.
Basal Ganglia
A group of nuclei located beneath the cerebral cortex. Involved in goal-directed motor control. Associated with reward and motivation.
The Limbic System
A loosely connected network of structures located roughly along the border between the cerebral cortex and deeper subcortical areas. (Thalamus, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus, Amygdala, Pituitary gland)
Thalamus
Gateway from the sense organs to the primary sensory cortex. All sensory information is relayed through the thalamus.
Hypothalamus
The part of the brain that regulates the pituitary gland and is responsible for maintaining a constant internal state. Body temp, hunger/thirst, sleep, emotional behaviour.
Hippocampus
Part of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory and may be necessary for the formation of new memories.
Amygdala
Part of the limbic system that plays key roles in fear, excite, and arousal.
The Brain Stem
Part of the brain between the spinal cord and cerebral cortex that contains the midbrain, pons, and medulla.
Midbrain
Part of the brain stem that contributes to movement, tracking of visual stimuli, and reflexes triggered by sound.
Medulla
Part of brain stem involved in basic functions, such as heartbeat and breathing.
Pons
Part of the brain stem that connects the cortex with the cerebellum and relays information between the two.
Cerebellum
Hindbrain structure responsible for smoothing and finessing fine motor control initiated by other brain regions.
Reticular Formation
A complex network of about 100 tiny nuclei that occupies the central core of the brain stem. Contains the Reticular activating system.
Reticular activating system
The hypothetical arousal system in the reticular formation. Responsible for arousal and consciousness.
Spinal Cord
Thick bundle nerves that conveys signals between the brain and the body.
Interneuron
Neuron that sends messages to other neurons nearby.
Reflex
An automatic motor response to a sensory stimulus.
The Somatic Nervous System
Part of the nervous system that conveys information between the CNS and the body, controlling, and coordinating voluntary movement.
Autonomic Nervous System
Controlling the involuntary actions of our internal organs and glands, which participates in emotion regulation.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Division of the autonomic nervous system engaged during a crisis or after actions requiring fight or flight.
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Division of autonomic nervous system that controls rest and digestion.
Phrenology
the shape one’s brain determines their personality.
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Records the brains’ electrical activity at the surface of the skull.
Computed Tomography (CT)
A scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct three-dimensional images.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Technique that uses strong magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure. Good for soft-tissues like turmors.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
An invasive imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like molecules, yielding a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brain.
Functional MRI (fMRI)
Technique that uses magnetic fields to visualize brain activity using the BOLD response. (Blood, Oxygenation Level Dependent).
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
A technique that applies strong and quickly changing magnetic fields to the surface of the skull that can either enhance or interrupt brain function.
Golgi Strain
A neural stain that completely darkens a few of the neurons in each slice of tissue, thereby revealing their silhouttes.
Nissl Stain
A neural stain that has an affinity for structures in neuron cell bodies.
Electron Microscopy
A microscopy technique used to study the fine details of cellular structure.
Chromosome
Threadlike structures inside a cell’s nucleus that carries genes.
Gene
The section of a chromosome that controls the synthesis of one protein.
Genome
Set of all types of genes distinguished by their locus and base sequence.
Allele
Any one of two or more genes that may occur alternatively at a given site on a chromosome.
Genotype
An organism genetic makeup
Phenotype
An organisms observable traits.
Dominant Gene
a gene that masks the effect of other genes.
Recessive gene
A gene that is expressed only in the absence of a dominant gene.
Polygenic Transmission
When a single phenotype trait is controlled by more than one pair of genes.
Epigenetics
The study of heritable changes in gene function that do not involve changes in DNA sequence.
Heritability
The extent to which the variation of a particular trait across individuals of a particular population is due to genes.
Heritability Coefficient
Estimates heritability.
Heredity
The passing of traits from parents to offspring by way of genes.
Concordance
The likelihood that two people share the same characteristic.
Designs in Behavioural Genetics
Family studies, twin studies, adoption studies.
Family studies
Analysis of how characteristics run in intact families.
Adoption Studies
An analysis of how traits vary in individuals raised apart from their biological relatives.
Reaction Range
The genetically influenced limits within which environmental factors can exert their effects on an organism.
Evolutionary Psychology
A discipline that applies Darwins’ theory of evolution to human and non-human animal behaviour.
