Exam #1 Chapter 2: The Biological Perspective

Question 1

What are the two main nervous systems?

Answer 1

• Central Nervous System: Is comprised of the brain and spinal chord, This division is well-protected, but is less likely to re-grow after damage, Functions as the command center, processing information and making decisions on interacting with the outside world
• Peripheral Nervous System: Contains all other nerves and is chiefly divided into two subsystems

Question 2

What are the subsystems of the Peripheral Nervous System and what are the subsystems of those?

Answer 2

• The Somatic Division: Control of voluntary systems

 The Autonomic Division: Also contains two subsystems

• The Sympathetic (fight or flight)

 The Parasympathetic (rest and digest) systems

Question 3

What is the function and anatomy of neurons?

Answer 3

• Cell Body(Soma): the cells life support center
• Dendrites: receives messages from the other cells
• Axon: passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands
• Neural impulse: electrical signal traveling down the axon
• Myelin sheath: covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

• Terminal branches of axon: form junctions with other cells

Question 4

What is the process of INTRANEURONAL communication?

Answer 4

• Resting potential
• Depolarization to threshold results in an Action Potential (is a electrical process)
• All or None Phenomenon
• Refractory Periods

Question 5

Describe of INTERNEURONAL communication?

Answer 5

• Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that traverse the space between neurons, Binds to receptor sites on the receiving neuron in a lock-n-key fashion, Diffusion, reuptake and enzymatic breakdown
• Excitatory neurotransmitter - causes receiving cell to fire
• Inhibitory neurotransmitter - causes receiving cell to stop firing

o Agonists mimic/enhance neurotransmitter effect on receptor sites

o Antagonists block/reduce cell’s response to other neurotransmitters

Question 6

What is the function of Acetylcholine?

Answer 6

Involved in memory learning and controls muscles

Question 7

What is the function of Dopamine?

Answer 7

Involved in controlling movement and sensations of pleasure

Question 8

What is the function of GABA?

Answer 8

Involved in sleep and inhibits movements (Alcohol as an agonist which can impede motor and other functions)

Question 9

What is the function of Serotonin?

Answer 9

Involved in mood sleep and appetite

Question 10

What are the major structures and functions of the Hindbrain?

Answer 10

• The Cerebellum: the “little brain” attached to the rear of the brainstem, helps coordinate voluntary movement including balance, accuracy and timing of movements
• Medulla: non-conscious bodily functions, located at the base of the brainstem, vital functions such as breathing and heart-rate
• Pons- important for states of consciousness as well as a highway for sensory and motor information

Question 11

What are the major structures and functions of the Forebrain?

Answer 11

• Thalamus: Main relay station for a majority of sensory information
• Hypothalamus: Plays a crucial center for modulating and regulating a large number of behaviors; from eating to sleeping

Question 12

What is the Limbic System?

Answer 12

loosely defined group of structures involved with emotion and learning

Question 13

What are the major structures and functions of the Limbic System?

Answer 13

• Hippocampus - memory, damage results in failure to create new memories, famous case of H.M.
• Amygdala - regulates aspects of anger, aggression and fear responses (Amygdala Abnormalities Can Lead to Irrational Violence)

 Capgras Delusion: The Amygdala also appears to play a role in emotional tagging of memories

Question 14

What are the major structures and functions of the Cortical Lobes?

Answer 14

• The Temporal Lobe: Processing sound and language, Recognition of visual objects, Storing of new memories
• The Occipital Lobe: Contains roughly 30 areas for processing visual information, damage can result in partial or complete blindness, or other visual deficits
• The Parietal Lobe: Shifting of our attention, damage may result in unilateral neglect, somatosensory strip, registration of sensations on the body
• Frontal Lobe: Contains primary motor cortex, involved with expressive speech, also plays a crucial role in planning and impulse control, the story of Phineas Gage (had a pipe lodged in his brain through his skull)

Question 15

What is the Split Brain procedure?

Answer 15

a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them

Question 16

What area is destroyed and what is it?

Answer 16

Corpus Callosum: large band of neural fibers, connects the two brain hemispheres, carries messages between the hemispheres.