Chapter 4: Biological Psychology Flashcards
an Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures
-electrical activity
-cortical activity
-changes in brain activity
-large scale activity
-tells us when something in the brain is happening
A Computed Technology (CT Scan) uses
XRAYS to get 3 dimensional images
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) measures
- magnetic fields to visualize brain structure
-spinning of hydrogen atoms
A Functional MRI (FMRI) measures
-structure and location
-blood flow
-change in blood oxygen level
-visualizes brain activity
A Poistron Emission Tomography (PET) measures
-glucose-like molecules
-structure and location
-changes in the brains activity in response to stimuli
-carotid artery
A Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measures
-tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain
-millisecond by millisecond
A Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
-treats disorders
-manipulates the brain
-implants battery powered electrodes within the brain
A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
-applies strong and quick magnetic fields to the skull that can enter, enhance or interrupt brain function
-manipulates the brain
-a direct and noninvasive technique that allows us to infer causation
ENDOGENOUS means neurotransmitters that are..
made inside the body ex. glutamate, monamines
EXOGENOUS means neurotransmitters that are…
made outside the body ex.nicotine, advil, tylenol
AFFECTS OF GLUTAMATE AND GABA
-most common, associated with memory and learning
-toxic in high doses
-Glutamate; excitatory, increases the chances for neurons to communicate
-GABA; inhibitory, contributes to some mental disorders
AFFECTS OF ACETYLCHOLINE
-influences arousal, attention, sleep and memory
-triggers movement
AFFECTS OF ANANDAMINES
-influences eating and motivation
-memory and sleep
AFFECTS OF MONOAMINES
-Norepinephrine; arousal, hunger, mood, sleep
-Dopamine; reward
-Seretonin; mood, regulates temp, aggression, sleep, contain 1 amino acid
AFFECTS OF NEUROPEPTIDES
-short strings of amino acids
-Endorphins(endogenous); relieves pain
-Synthetic Opioids (exogenous); reduce and relieve pain
-made in cell body
The Cell Body (soma) refers to the
center of the neuron
The Dendrites refer to the
ranch-like extensions, receive info from other neurons
Axons refer to
thin tails, send messages to other neurons, synaptic vesicles travel down the axon towards the axon terminal, where info is exchanged between 2 neurons, consists of a synaptic cleft where neurotransmitters are released
the nervous systems ability to change
Plasticity
Neuron Stages of Development
- Growth of Dendrites and Axons
- Synaptogenesis (formation of new synapses)
- Pruning (death of some neurons and the retraction of useless axons)
- Myelination (insulation of axons w an myelin sheath)
Neurogenesis is the
generation of new neurons
Neurogenesis occurs in the
adult brain (as we get older plasticity decreases and we can only recover partially from brain injury)
what can help prevent plasticity decrease and hard recovery
Stem cells (have the capacity to create any cells)
What factors can help increase Neurogenesis?
learning, sex, aging, running, good diet
What factors decrease Neurogenesis?
sleep, sleep deprivation
The Corpus Callosum collects
left and right hemispheres
cutting into the corpus callosum to reduce the spread of epileptic seizures
Split Brain Surgery
cognitive function that relies more on one side of the brain than the other
Lateralization
The Central Nervous System include:
-Cortex
-Basal Ganglia
-Limbic System
-Cerebellum
-Brain Stem
-Spinal Cord
The components of the Cortex include?
Frontal Cortex, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Occipital Lobe
which part of the cortex controls motor planning, language, reasoning, memory
Frontal Lobe
which part of the cortex controls auditory info, autobiographical memory, language
Temporal Lobe
which part of the cortex controls vision, touch, and spatial perception
Parietal Lobe
which part of the cortex controls visual info
Occiptal Lobe
the Basal Ganglia controls
movement and motor planning
the Limbic System includes;
Thalmus, Hypothalmus, Amygdala, and Hippocampus
the Cerebellum controls
balance and coordination
The parts of the Brain Stem include;
Cerebellum, Midbrain, Pons, and Medulla,
the Midbrain tracks
visual stimuli and sound reflexes
Pons send info between/ connects
the cortex and cerebellum
the medulla controls
breathing, heartbeats
the spinal cord conveys info between the
brain and the rest of the body
the spinal cord is protected by the
meninges, the cerebral ventricles and a clear fluid called cerebral spinal fluid (provides nutrients)
Important Areas of the Cortex include
- Motor Cortex
- Central Cortex
- Prefrontal Cortex
- Broca’s Area
- Visual Cortex
- Wernicke’s Area
- Somatosensory Cortex
- Visual Association Cortex
- Auditory Association Cortex
- Primary Auditory Cortex
the Motor Cortex controls
body parts
the Prefrontal Cortex controls
thinking, planning, memory
the Brocas area is the region of the prefrontal cortex that is
crucial in language
the Visual Cortex is located
in the occipital lobe
the Wernickes area is the
language part of the temporal lobe
What happened to Phineas Gage
Iron exploded into his head, destroying his left prefrontal cortex resulting in remarkable behavior changes that changed him
Amygdala controls
fear, excitement, arousal
the Hippocampus controls
spatial memory
damage to the Hippocampus can cause
inability to form new memories
the Hypothalmus regulates
internal body states, influences hormones and sex
the Thalmus sends info from
sensory organs to primary sensory cortex
the limbic system is the __________ center of the brain
emotional
when sensory info enter the brain it first goes to the
Primary sensory cortex than to the Association cortex
Cerebellum means little brain and is the miniature version of the
cortex
the brainstem contains
the midbrain, pons and medulla
T or F: Both females and males have both testosterone and estrogen(females and males just have more of one)
True
the practice that makes adoption studies problematic refers to
selective placement
The Peripheral Nervous System breaks down into the
Autonomic Nervous System and Somatic Nervous System
Sensory Nerves are nerves that
carry info from the body to the brain
Motor Nerves are nerves that
carry info from the brain to body
the spinal cord is a
thick, bundle of nerves conveying signals between the brain and body
the spinal cord contains interneurons that allow for
reflexes to occur
What part of the Peripheral Nervous System controls involuntary actions and controls our internal environment
Autonomic Nervous System
What part of the Peripheral Nervous System conveys info from the CNS to the muscles, controls voluntary actions and interacts with our external environment
Somatic Nervous System
The Autonomic System breaks down into the
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Systems
The Sympathetic System controls
flight or flight responses
The Parasympathetic System controls
rest and digest responses
The reticular activating system plays a role in
arousal
The system that
-controls the secretion of blood-borne chemicals
-regulates emotions
-influenced by homes
is known as..
Endocrine System
The Pituitary Gland functions..
-controlled by hypothalamus
-releases hormones that influence growth and blood pressure
-releases oxytocin (essential for maternity and romantic love)
-responsible for reproductive functions
Adrenaline triggers..
heart contraction, blood vessel constriction, the opening of bronchioles, the breakdown of fat into fatty acids, breakdown of glycogen into glucose, opening of pupils
The adrenal glands manufacture the hormones..
adrenaline and cortisol
cortisol increases in response to
physical and psychological stress
a technique used for mapping areas of the brain is known as
Phrenology
regions associated with spontaneous thoughts, daydreaming, mind wandering are known as
the default mode network (DMN)
when we identify brain areas that are particularly active during a specific task
localization of function
neurons are the brains
communicators
Astrocytes (found in the blood-brain barrier) are gilal cells that
communicate closely with neurons, increase their accuracy, help to control blood flow to the brain, play a role in the development of an embryo
Two types of gilal cells are called
Astrocytes and Oligondendrocyte
Obligondendrocytes are gilal cells that
promotes new connections, produces a wrapper around axons called a myelin sheath (insulates axons)
the gaps all the way along the axons are called
Nodes
there are no neurotransmitters acting on the neuron, the neuron isn’t doing anything, there are more negative particles inside that neuron
Resting Potential
the electrical charge inside the neuron reaches a high enough level relative to the outside , causes an action potential to be triggered
Threshold of Excitation
neurons communicate through
action potentials
a massive change in charge across a membrane we refer to a neuron as
firing
the “all or none” rule is
the ability for a neuron to fire or not
each action potential is followed by a brief period in time during in which another action potential cannot occur, this is known as
absolute refractory period
drugs that interact with the neurotransmitter systems are called
psychoactive
a drug that functions as an antagonist
blocks or decreases the effect of a neurotransmitter
a drug that functions as an agonist
increases or mimic the effect of a neurotransmitter
what is the largest component of the cerebrum/forebrain, that helps with reasoning and language, and consists of two hemispheres that are connected by the corpus callosum
cerebral cortex
the corpus callosum allows
both hemispheres to talk
the central sulcus separates the
frontal lobe from the rest of the cortex
the temporal lobe is separated from the rest of the cortex by the
lateral fissure
the frontal brains oversee other brain functions through a process called
executive functioning
chronic traumatic encephalopathy is caused by
repeated head injuries
