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Biological Psychology > Chapters 1 & 2 > Flashcards

Chapters 1 & 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

biological psychology

A

study of biological bases of psychological processes & behavior
- also called “behavioral neuroscience,” which is the study of the nervous system and how it affects behavior
- can help understand brain disorders and devise treatments
+ 1 in 5 people suffer from some form of neurological or psychiatric disorder
+ important to maintain both clinical and laboratory approaches

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2
Q

neuroscience basic units

A
  • neuron: also called “nerve cell,” the basic unit of the nervous system
  • synapse: area where neurons make contact with each other
  • axon & dendrite: specialized extensions of neurons that, respectively, send and receive information from neurons
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3
Q

brain fun facts

A
  • 0 pain receptors
  • 2% body weight but consumes 20% of body’s oxygen
    + in turn, produces a lot of carbon dioxide -> exercise to enhance metabolism and circulate system
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4
Q

major perspectives of behavioral neuroscience

A
  1. description - describes and quantifies behavior (action, process, function, etc.)
  2. evolution - looks at the evolution of behaviors to judge similarities and differences in various species
  3. development - observe changes and characteristics of behavior over life span
  4. mechanisms - study the inner working of behavior processes on different levels (neural, molecular, etc.)
  5. applications - study how to apply biological psychology in real life (e.g. learn about dysfunctions of human behavior)
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5
Q

6 stages of neural development

A
  1. neurogenesis
  2. cell migration
  3. cell differentiation
  4. synaptogenesis
  5. neuronal cell death
  6. synapse rearrangement
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6
Q

3 main approaches to studying the neuroscience of behavior

A
  1. somatic intervention: alteration of structure or function to see how behavior is altered
    - e.g. inject hormone -> observe changes in mating behavior
  2. behavioral intervention: intervention in a behavior to see how structure or function is altered
    - e.g. put males in presence of females -> observe changes in hormone levels
  3. correlation: measures how much a body measure varies with a behavioral measure
    - does NOT imply causation
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7
Q

levels of analysis

A

scope of experimental approaches
- biological psychology uses many:
+ social level (individuals interacting) - organ levels - neural system level - brain region level - circuit level - cellular level - synaptic level - molecular level
- reductionism: breaks system down into smaller part to understand it

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8
Q

type of behavior (ranked in complexity)

A
  1. instinctive/innate: stereotyped/fixed action pattern behavior that remains unmodified by experience
    - e.g. smile = same motor sequences across the universe, even blind people can smile without learning through modeling
  2. reflex: needs only 3 neurons - sensory, motor, and interneurons, immediate and does not go to brain
    - e.g. knee jerk
  3. complex: involves millions of neurons
    - e.g. play chess
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9
Q

2 major types of cells in nervous system

A
  • neurons: aka nerve cells, transmit information

- glial cells: provide support and nourishment

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10
Q

similarities and differences between neurons and other cells

A
  • similarities: all cells have a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, organelles (e.g. Golgi bodies) and carry out energy production
  • differences: neurons have special extensions & structures that communicate with each other through electrochemical process
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11
Q

anatomy of neuron cell

A
  1. dendrites: receive information from other cells -> INPUT ZONE
  2. cell body/soma: combines and transforms inputs -> INTEGRATION ZONE
  3. axon: transmits electrical impulse away from cell body -> CONDUCTION ZONE
  4. axon terminals: transmit neural activity to other cells at synapses -> OUTPUT ZONE
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12
Q

neuron type by shape

A
  • multipolar: one axon, many dendrites; located in brain
  • bipolar: one axon, one dendrite; located in sensory systems
  • unipolar: single extension that branches into two (receptive and output zones)
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13
Q

neuron type by size

A

large neurons:

  • location: cortex
  • have more complex inputs and outputs
  • cover greater distances
  • convey information more rapidly
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14
Q

neuron type by function

A
  • motor: stimulates muscles and glands; governs movement
  • sensory: responds to environmental stimuli; carries information from periphery to spinal cord and brain
  • interneuron: receives, processes, and transmits information to other neurons
    => NEURONS PROCESS AND TRANSMIT INFORMATION
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15
Q

information transmission in neurons

A
  • through synapses, aka junctions between neurons

- information flow: presynaptic neuron (axon terminal) to postsynaptic neuron (dendrite)

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16
Q

synapse structure

A
  • presynaptic membrane: on axon terminal of presynaptic neuron
  • postsynaptic membrane: on dendrite or cell body of postsynapic neuron
  • synaptic cleft: gap that separates membranes
  • synaptic vesicles: small spheres in presynaptic axon terminals
    + contain neurotransmitters (e.g. dopamine), chemical signal substances that get released in response to electrical activities
    + neurotransmitters bind with receptors in postsynaptic membrane of dendritic spines
17
Q

glial cells

A

non-neuron brain cells that surround neurons and provide support to the brain
- myelination: process in which glial cells wrap axons with fatty myelin sheaths to insulate and speed conduction
+ nodes of Ranvier: gaps between sections of myelin where neuron is exposed
+ multiple sclerosis: demyelinating disease

18
Q

2 divisions of the nervous system

A
  1. peripheral nervous system (PNS): all parts of the nervous system found outside the skull and spinal column
    - receives stimuli to send signals
  2. central nervous system (CNS): brain and spinal cord
    - controls body functions
19
Q

nerves in PNS

A
  • nerves = a bundle of axons
  • types:
    + cranial: connected to the brain; control motor and sensory systems of the head and neck
    + spinal: connected to spinal cord; carry sensory (dorsal root) and motor (ventral root) messages from PNS to spinal cord
    + autonomic nervous system: controls glands and internal organs
20
Q

autonomic nervous system’s structures

A
  1. sympathetic nervous system: prepares body for action (e.g. increase heart rate)
  2. parasympathetic nervous system: relaxes body (e.g. decrease heart rate)
21
Q

communication in CNS

A
  • CNS = commanding center of body
  • nucleus: collection of neurons
  • tract: bundle of axon
  • cortical regions communicate with one another via tracts
22
Q

brain structure

A
  • two cerebral hemispheres
    + cerebral cortex: outermost layer
    + gyrus: raised portion
    + sulcus: furrow
    + hemispheres control opposite side of body
    + R: controls sense of spatial recognition
    + L: controls language and dexterity of right hand
  • corpus callosum: bundles of axons that connect hemispheres and facilitate inter-hemisphere communication
    + e.g. typing with 2 hands requires coordination
23
Q

3 planes of brain section

A
  1. sagittal: left and right halves
  2. coronal: front (anterior) and back (posterior) regions
  3. horizontal: upper and lower parts
24
Q

4 lobes of cerebral hemispheres

A
  • frontal: most anterior region; controls movement and high-level cognition (logic, decision making, etc.)
  • parietal: between the frontal and occipital lobes; controls spatial recognition and language
  • occipital: posterior region; center of visual processing
  • temporal: lateral region; center of auditory processing
25
Q

brainstem

A
  • pons: attached to cerebellum, contains motor and sensory nuclei; control cranial nerves
  • medulla: contains cranial nerve nuclei and transitions from brain to spinal cord; controls heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure
  • midbrain processes visual, auditory, and motor information
    + basal ganglia: motor control
    + substantia negra: error correction for motor learning
26
Q

cerebellum

A

controls motor coordination and learning

27
Q

diencephalon

A
  • contains epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus, ventral thalamus, and third ventricle
  • thalamus & hypothalamus regulate Circadian rhythm and control autonomic functions
28
Q

cerebral cortex

A
  • in charge of advanced functions like learning, memory, language, decision-making, etc.
  • pyramidal cells: most prominent neurons in cerebral cortex with lots of dendrites to process information
29
Q

white vs gray matter

A
  • white: mostly axons, with white myelin sheaths -> transmits information
  • gray: mostly cell bodies and dendrites, without myelin sheaths -> processes information
    + grows rapidly in a limited space (skull) so becomes constrained by white matter -> creates folds
    + folded brain = greater surface, more neurons, and greater processing power
30
Q

limbic system

A

processes and controls learning, memory, and emotions

  • amygdala: emotional regulation
  • hippocampus: learning and memory
31
Q

protective membrane

A

consists of meninges aka membranes that surround brain + spinal cord; insulate and protect

32
Q

ventricular system

A

series of chambers filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

  • stores brain and lightens weight
  • provides shock absorption as cushion -> support and protect
  • acts as exchange medium between blood and brain
  • cleans waste
  • provides nutrition
33
Q

blood supply

A
  • carotid arteries: direct from heart

- blood provides nutrients and cleans waste from brain (gives oxygen, takes carbon dioxide

34
Q

brain imaging techniques

A
  • CAT/CT: maps tissue density using X-ray
  • MRI: more detailed brain structure
  • PET: shows brain activity during specific functions
  • fMRI: identifies neural activity in specific brain areas
  • MEG & EEG: shows neural activity, high temporal but low spatial resolution
  • dfMRI: demonstrates brain in two people involved in same behavioral situation

Biological Psychology (9 decks)

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