CHAPTER EIGHT Flashcards
Anatomy
functions of the brain
Bio chemistry
effects or neurotrasmitters on teh brain
Types of nerves
Afferent nerves (cody to brain)
Efferent nerves ( brain to body)
Interneurons
Parts of nerves
Dendrites
Axons
Efferent nerves
send impulses and instructions from central nervous system to muscles, glands, and organs
Interneurons
organize and regulate transmissions between nerve cells. The brain is the biggest bundle of interneurons
Brain damage
Phineas Gage
Lesions
Brain activity and imaging
-Used to observe functioning directly
-Detect WHEN the brain is working
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Frontal cortex
large in size, divided into 2 lobes. Play a role in cognition such as ability to plan ahead and anticipate consequences, emotional experience, empathy, moral reasoning
EEG suggests the..
Left is more active when someone want to approach something pleasant and can inhibit responses to unpleasant stimuli It is said to promote good feelings and dampen bad ones
Right is associated with wanting to withdraw from something unpleasant or frightening
An especially active right brain is associated with the Big Five trait neuroticism
INNER ORGANS: Thalamus
small organ in the middle which regulates arousal and serves other functions
INNER ORGANS:Amygdala
has an important role in emotion, links perceptions and thoughts about the world and their emotional meaning.
People with PTSD tend to have an active amygdala all the time. Functioning is related to positive emotions such as social attraction and sexual responsiveness. After brain assesses situation, amygdala makes heartbeat faster, raises blood pressure, and releasing hormones like cortisol and epinephrine
INNER ORGANS: Hypothalamus
underneath thalamus near bottom of brain, above roof of mouth, and connect to everything else. It secretes hormones
INNER ORGANS: Hormones
biological chemicals that affect the entire body
The chemical that is released in response to stress and prepares the body for fight-or-flight is
epinephrine.
dopamine.
testosterone.
serotonin.
epinephrine.
The frontal lobes and neocortex seem to play a role in
social understanding and self-control.
emotions and decision making.
how people respond to pleasant and unpleasant stimuli.
all of the above.
all of the above.
The research methods used to study the brain
are essentially unchanged from methods that were used when people first started studying the brain.
provide completely reliable, objective, and indisputable evidence about how the brain is related to behavior.
make it possible to observe which parts of the brain are most active.
only work with animals.
make it possible to observe which parts of the brain are most active.
Plasticity traits, ability to adapt (extraversion, openness) associated with
dopamine
why is understanding the brain useful
Understanding the brain can help us understand behavior, but understanding behavior can also help us understand the brain.
Stability traits (emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness), associated with
serotonin
OXYTOCIN
Often referred to as the “love hormone,” oxytocin plays a key role in lowering anxiety and fostering emotional connection. It is crucial for mother-child bonding, with higher levels during pregnancy linked to better bonding with the child. Oxytocin also influences romantic attachment and sexual response.
Released by the hypothalamus, it circulates through both the body and brain via the bloodstream. Additionally, oxytocin levels increase during sexual activity and orgasm, making it closely tied to the stages of reproduction.
TESTOSTERONE
Testosterone, which is primarily found in males (with men having about 10 times more than women), plays a significant role in various physiological and behavioral processes. Synthetic versions of testosterone, known as anabolic steroids, are often used to enhance muscle growth and athletic performance. Testosterone is linked to traits such as aggressiveness, sexuality, and dominance. In women, lower levels of testosterone have been associated with reduced sexual interest.
Importantly, testosterone is not only a cause of certain behaviors, but also an effect; its levels can influence mood, motivation, and overall well-being.
Estrogen, on the other hand, is primarily found in females and is crucial for regulating the reproductive system and influencing secondary sexual characteristics. It plays a key role in menstrual cycles, fertility, and the development of female traits such as breast development and bone health.
Serotonin
is important in brain function, it helps ward off depression, also found in gut to regulate digestion
Fight or flight process
The levels of hormones rise in response to stress, then released into bloodstream, heart speeds up, digestion stops, muscles tense, adrenaline rush, brain full alert and concentrated on matter at hand
Females don’t always have the flight or fight response (more nurturing)
Tends to be tend-and-befriend
The more you are exposed to threats, the better you are able to deal with stress later on
EPINEPHERINE AND NOREPINEPHRNIE
Epinephrine (adrenaline) is found throughout the body, playing a vital role in the “fight or flight” response by preparing the body for stress or danger. It helps increase heart rate, elevate blood pressure, and enhance energy production. Norepinephrine (noradrenaline), on the other hand, is primarily concentrated within the brain, especially in the brainstem, and plays a crucial role in regulating arousal, attention, and alertness.
Both epinephrine and norepinephrine are important neurotransmitters in the body’s stress response, with epinephrine acting more peripherally and norepinephrine influencing the central nervous system
Cingulate
is a brain structure in the cortex on top of corpus callosum (connects the two halves of the brain)
Important for processing information about time and space and in reacting rapidly to threatening situations, while the anterior cingulate is important for the experience of normal emotion
Prefrontal leucotomy
mall areas of white matter behind each frontal lobe was deliberately damaged
Neurotransmitters
They travel across the synapse and cause a chemical reaction that has an excitatory or inhibitory effect
Monoamine oxidase enzyme (MAO)
regulates breakdown of neurotransmitters (dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin)
Cortisol
Released in response to stress
Chronically high levels in people with severe stress, anxiety, and depression
Low levels related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sensation seeking
What plays a role in communication between and stimlation of teh cells
neurotransmitters
hormones
It is responsible for respodning to reward and may b ethe basis of extaversion
Dopamine
it aids in reualting emotions
Serotonnin
a male sex hormorne
testosterone
teh love hormorne
oxyrocin
