Chapters 1 & 2 Flashcards
biological psychology
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
neuroscience basic units
- 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
brain fun facts
- 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
major perspectives of behavioral neuroscience
- description - describes and quantifies behavior (action, process, function, etc.)
- evolution - looks at the evolution of behaviors to judge similarities and differences in various species
- development - observe changes and characteristics of behavior over life span
- mechanisms - study the inner working of behavior processes on different levels (neural, molecular, etc.)
- applications - study how to apply biological psychology in real life (e.g. learn about dysfunctions of human behavior)
6 stages of neural development
- neurogenesis
- cell migration
- cell differentiation
- synaptogenesis
- neuronal cell death
- synapse rearrangement
3 main approaches to studying the neuroscience of behavior
- somatic intervention: alteration of structure or function to see how behavior is altered
- e.g. inject hormone -> observe changes in mating behavior - 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 - correlation: measures how much a body measure varies with a behavioral measure
- does NOT imply causation
levels of analysis
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
type of behavior (ranked in complexity)
- 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 - reflex: needs only 3 neurons - sensory, motor, and interneurons, immediate and does not go to brain
- e.g. knee jerk - complex: involves millions of neurons
- e.g. play chess
2 major types of cells in nervous system
- neurons: aka nerve cells, transmit information
- glial cells: provide support and nourishment
similarities and differences between neurons and other cells
- 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
anatomy of neuron cell
- dendrites: receive information from other cells -> INPUT ZONE
- cell body/soma: combines and transforms inputs -> INTEGRATION ZONE
- axon: transmits electrical impulse away from cell body -> CONDUCTION ZONE
- axon terminals: transmit neural activity to other cells at synapses -> OUTPUT ZONE
neuron type by shape
- 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)
neuron type by size
large neurons:
- location: cortex
- have more complex inputs and outputs
- cover greater distances
- convey information more rapidly
neuron type by function
- 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
information transmission in neurons
- through synapses, aka junctions between neurons
- information flow: presynaptic neuron (axon terminal) to postsynaptic neuron (dendrite)
synapse structure
- 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
glial cells
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
2 divisions of the nervous system
- peripheral nervous system (PNS): all parts of the nervous system found outside the skull and spinal column
- receives stimuli to send signals - central nervous system (CNS): brain and spinal cord
- controls body functions
nerves in PNS
- 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
autonomic nervous system’s structures
- sympathetic nervous system: prepares body for action (e.g. increase heart rate)
- parasympathetic nervous system: relaxes body (e.g. decrease heart rate)
communication in CNS
- CNS = commanding center of body
- nucleus: collection of neurons
- tract: bundle of axon
- cortical regions communicate with one another via tracts
brain structure
- 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
3 planes of brain section
- sagittal: left and right halves
- coronal: front (anterior) and back (posterior) regions
- horizontal: upper and lower parts
4 lobes of cerebral hemispheres
- 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
brainstem
- 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
cerebellum
controls motor coordination and learning
diencephalon
- contains epithalamus, thalamus, hypothalamus, ventral thalamus, and third ventricle
- thalamus & hypothalamus regulate Circadian rhythm and control autonomic functions
cerebral cortex
- 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
white vs gray matter
- 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
limbic system
processes and controls learning, memory, and emotions
- amygdala: emotional regulation
- hippocampus: learning and memory
protective membrane
consists of meninges aka membranes that surround brain + spinal cord; insulate and protect
ventricular system
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
blood supply
- carotid arteries: direct from heart
- blood provides nutrients and cleans waste from brain (gives oxygen, takes carbon dioxide
brain imaging techniques
- 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
