Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

PSY 100- Psychology > Exam 1/Chapter 2- Biological Perspectives > Flashcards

Exam 1/Chapter 2- Biological Perspectives Flashcards

1
Q

The nervous system is a network of ____ ____.

A

Specialized Cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

The nervous system carries information ____ __ ____.

A

around the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is neuroscience?

A

Study of the NS relating to behavior and mental processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Neuron

A

Basic cell of the NS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the parts of a neuron?

A
  1. Dendrites
  2. Soma
  3. Axon
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the function of dendrites?

A

receive messages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of axons?

A

transmits messages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the some also known as?

A

the cell body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the two types of neurons?

A
  1. Sensory Neurons (Afferent)

2. Motor Neurons (Efferent)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the major difference between the two types of neurons?

A

Direction of activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the function of sensory neurons?

A

Sense organs to CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the function of motor neurons?

A

CNS to body (muscles & glands)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Glial cells are ___ ___ cells.

A

Grey Fatty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are 4 functions of glial cells?

A
  1. Provide support
  2. Deliver nutrients
  3. Produce myelin
  4. Cleans up (waste (e.g., dead neurons))
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

During resting potential, the ions inside neurons are ______ charged.

A

Negatively

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

During resting potential, the ions outside neurons are ______ charged.

A

Positively

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Action potential is generally the ____ ___.

A

neural impulse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Action potential works on the ___-__-__ principle.

A

All-or-none

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Action potential occurs when what enters the cell?

A

Sodium ions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Steps in the neural impulse (very general):

  1. Resting potential
  2. Action potential
  3. _____________
A

Returns to resting potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

When sodium ions enter the cell during action potential, the inside is briefly now ___ ____.

A

Positively charged

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

When the sodium ions enter the cell during action potential this is called what?

A

Depolarization

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

After the action potential, what happens?

A

A refractory period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Can another action potential fire during the refractory period?

A

No

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is happening during the refractory period?

A

The neuron is re-polarizing to its resting potential state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Describe specifically what happens when 2 neurons communicate.

A
  1. AP shoots down the axon of first neuron
  2. Neurotransmitters are released into the synapse between the first and second neurons, thus changing the membrane potential of the dendrite of the second neuron
  3. If the depolarization is strong enough it will spread down the dendrite and across cell body of the second neuron
  4. If the threshold is reached, the cell fires shooting an action potential down the axon of the second neuron
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What does an excitatory neurotransmitter do?

A

Tells next cell to FIRE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What does an Inhibitory neurotransmitter do?

A

Tells next cell to STOP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Chemical substances can act as ______ neurotransmitters.

A

“fake”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Chemical substances that are agonist do what?

A

mimic or enhance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Chemical substances that are antagonist do what?

A

block or reduce

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What are the 3 ways agonist chemical substances affect synaptic transmission?

A
  1. Drug induces increase in synthesis of NT
  2. Drug increases release of NT
  3. Drug activates receptors that normally respond to NT (literally is imitating the NT)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the 3 ways antagonist chemical substances affect synaptic transmission?

A
  1. Drug interferes with the release of NT
  2. Drug acts as false NT occupying receptor sites normally sensitive to NT
  3. Drug causes leaking of NT from the synaptic vesicles it is stored in
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is the NT Acetylcholine involved in?

A
  1. Muscle action
  2. Learning
  3. Memory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What is the NT dopamine involved in?

A
  1. Movement
  2. Attention
  3. Learning
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is the NT serotonin involved in?

A
  1. Regulation of mood
  2. Regulation of sleep
  3. Regulation of arousal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is the NT norepinephrine involved in?

A

Control of alertness & wakefulness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is the NT GABA involved in?

A
  1. Major inhibitory NT

2. Associated w/ sleep & eating disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What is the NS divided into?

A

CNS & PNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What is the CNS divided into?

A

Brain and Spinal Cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is the PNS divided into?

A
  1. Autonomic NS

2. Somatic NS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What is the ANS divided into?

A
  1. Sympathetic division (fight or flight)

2. Parasympathetic division

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

The somatic NS is the division of the PNS that is involved with ______ actions.

A

Voluntary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

The autonomic NS is the division of the PNS that is involved with ______ actions.

A

Involuntary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

List what the parasympathetic division of the ANS does to the body.

A
  1. Constricts pupils
  2. Inhibits tear glands
  3. Slows heart rate
  4. Increases salivation
  5. Constricts bronchi
  6. Increases digestive functions of stomach, pancreas, and intestines
  7. Allows bladder contraction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

List what the sympathetic division of the ANS does to the body.

A
  1. Dilates pupils
  2. Stimulates tear glands
  3. Increases heart rate
  4. Decreases salivation
  5. Dilates bronchi
  6. Decreases digestive functions of stomach, pancreas, and intestines
  7. Inhibits bladder contraction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What techniques are used in clinical studies of the brain?

A
  1. Deep lesioning
  2. Electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)
  3. Human brain damage
48
Q

What are 5 brain imaging techniques?

A
  1. Electroencephalograph (EEG)
  2. Computed tomography (CT)
  3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  4. Functional MRI (fMRI)
  5. Positron emission tomography (PET)
49
Q

The brain stem includes what structures?

A
  1. Medulla oblongata
  2. Pons
  3. Reticular formation (RF) (this isn’t true, but it’s in lecture)
  4. Cerebellum (this isn’t true, but it’s in lecture)
50
Q

What is the medulla oblongata involved in?

A

life-sustaining functions

51
Q

What is the pons involved in?

A
  1. alertness
  2. coordination
  3. arousal
52
Q

What is the reticular formation (RF) involved in?

A

selective attention

53
Q

What is the cerebellum involved in?

54
Q

What is the limbic system involved in?

A
  1. Learning
  2. Emotion
  3. Memory
  4. Motivation
55
Q

What structures of the brain are considered to be a part of the limbic system?

A
  1. Thalamus
  2. Olfactory bulbs
  3. Hypothalamus
  4. Hippocampus
  5. Amygdala
56
Q

In the limbic system, what is the function of the thalamus?

A

relay station

57
Q

In the limbic system, what is the function of the olfactory bulbs?

A

receptors of smell

58
Q

In the limbic system, what is the function of the hypothalamus?

A
  1. Motivational behavior

2. Controls the pituitary gland (master endocrine gland).

59
Q

In the limbic system, what is the function of the hippocampus?

60
Q

In the limbic system, what is the function of the amygdala

A

Emotional center of fear (fear responses and fear memory)

61
Q

What is the cerebral cortex responsible for?

A
  1. Higher thought processes

2. Interpretation of sensation

62
Q

Describe corticalization.

A

Wrinkling of the cortex, to increase it’s surface area (because it can’t make our head bigger, our skull is not elastic, so it has to fold)

63
Q

What are the right and left cerebral hemispheres connected by?

A

The corpus callosum

64
Q

The occipital lobe houses the _______ centers of the brain.

65
Q

Within the occipital lobe there is the what?

A
  1. Primary visual cortex (processes visual input)

2. Visual association cortex

66
Q

The parietal lobes houses the centers for what?

A
  1. Touch (including tactile sensations)
  2. Taste
  3. Temperature
67
Q

Within the parietal lobe there is what cortex(s)?

A

Somatosensory cortex

68
Q

The temporal lobes are responsible for what?

A

Hearing and meaningful speech (processing hearing)

69
Q

Within the temporal lobes there are what cortex(s)?

A
  1. Primary auditory cortex

2. Auditory association cortex

70
Q

The frontal lobe are responsible for what?

A
  1. Complex mental processes and decision making
  2. Producing fluent speech
  3. Movement
71
Q

Within the frontal there is what cortex(s)?

A

Motor cortex

72
Q

The occipital lobe processes ______.

73
Q

What area of the brain is the Broca’s area located in?

A

Frontal lobe

74
Q

What is the Broca’s area responsible for?

A

Production of speech

75
Q

What area of the brain is the Wernicke’s area located in?

A

Temporal lobe

76
Q

What is the Wernicke’s area responsible for?

A

Meaningfulness of speech

77
Q

Someone suffering from Broca’s aphasia would be experiencing what symptoms?

A
  1. Unable to speak fluently
  2. Mispronounce words
  3. Speak haltingly
  4. (Telegraphic speech)
78
Q

Someone suffering from Wernicke’s aphasia would be experiencing what symptoms?

A
  1. Unable to UNDERSTAND language

2. Unable to PRODUCE MEANINGFUL language

79
Q

What is spatial neglect?

A

Damage to an association area (right side)

80
Q

What does spatial neglect cause?

A

neglect or inability to identify information/ objects

81
Q

What is an example of something that can cause spatial neglect syndrome?

A

Stroke in the right hemisphere

82
Q

If someone had a stroke in their right hemisphere, and thus suffered from spatial neglect syndrome, and were asked to draw a picture, which side of the picture would they probably ignore/not recognize? Why?

A
  1. Left side

2. Because our brain controls opposite side of body

83
Q

Define lateralization.

A

Division of functions between right and left hemispheres

84
Q

A patient suffering from life threatening epilepsy would have what done to them? What are these patients called?

A
  1. Corpus callosum cut

2. Split-brain patients

85
Q

What 3 things does split brain research involve?

A
  1. Study of patients with severed corpus callosum
  2. Involves sending messages to only one side of the brain.
  3. Demonstrates right and left brain specialization
86
Q

The left hemisphere controls the _____ visual field.

87
Q

The right hemisphere controls the _____ visual field.

88
Q

In a normal person, an image in the left visual field would appear in the _____ hemisphere when looking straight ahead.

89
Q

Would a split brain patient be able to describe something in the left visual field?

90
Q

In a normal person, an image in the right visual field would appear in the _____ hemisphere when looking straight ahead.

91
Q

Would a split brain patient be able to describe something in the right visual field?

92
Q

Is the left hemisphere the verbal or non-verbal hemisphere?

A

Verbal (can speak)

93
Q

Is the right hemisphere the verbal or non-verbal hemisphere?

A

Non-verbal (cannot speak)

94
Q

The left side of the brain seems to control what?

A
  1. Language
  2. Writing
  3. Logical thought
  4. Analysis
  5. Mathematical abilities
95
Q

The right side of the brain seems to control what?

A
  1. Emotional expression
  2. Spatial perception
  3. Recognition of faces
  4. Patterns
  5. Melodies
96
Q

The left side of the brain processes information ______.

A

Sequentially

97
Q

The right side of the brain processes information ______.

98
Q

What are endocrine glands?

A

Glands that secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream

99
Q

What are two functions of hormones?

A
  1. Affect behavior and emotions

2. Control muscles and organs

100
Q

What are 6 general endocrine glands?

A
  1. Pituitary gland
  2. Pineal gland
  3. Thyroid gland
  4. Pancreas
  5. Gonads
  6. Adrenal glands
101
Q

What are the gonads? What are the 2 “divisions”?

A
  1. Sex glands

2. Ovaries (female)/Testes (male)

102
Q

What can the adrenal glands be split into?

A
  1. Adrenal cortex (outer)

2. Adrenal medulla (inner)

103
Q

What controls the pituitary gland?

A

Hypothalamus

104
Q

What does the thyroid gland control?

A

Metabolic rate

105
Q

What does the pancreas do?

A
  1. Controls insulin/glucagon levels

2. Regulates sugar metabolism

106
Q

What does the adrenal cortex do?

A

Regulates carbohydrate and salt metabolism

107
Q

What does the adrenal medulla do?

A

Prepares the body for action (fight or flight)

108
Q

What do the testes affect in males?

A
  1. Physical development
  2. Reproductive organs
  3. Sexual behavior
109
Q

What do the ovaries affect in females?

A
  1. Physical development
  2. Reproductive organs
  3. Sexual behavior
110
Q

What is the pituitary gland responsible for?

A
  1. Regulates growth
  2. Controls the thyroid, ovaries/testes, pancreas, and adrenal cortex
  3. Regulates water and salt metabolism
111
Q

What hormone does the pituitary gland stimulate the adrenal glands to secrete?

A

Adrenaline

112
Q

What hormone does the pituitary gland stimulate the thyroid glands to secrete?

113
Q

What hormone does the pituitary gland stimulate the testes to secrete?

A

Testosterone

114
Q

What hormone does the pituitary gland stimulate the ovaries to secrete?

A
  1. Progesterone

2. Estrogens

115
Q

What is the function of the pineal gland?

A

The pineal gland secretes a hormone called melatonin, which helps track day length (and seasons) and essentially controls the circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycle)

PSY 100- Psychology (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions