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Behavioral Neuroscience > Exam 1: Chapters 1-3 > Flashcards

Exam 1: Chapters 1-3 Flashcards

1
Q

Physiological psychology

A

The scientific study of the relationship between biology and behavior/mental processes

I.e. How your behavior and mental processes relate to the biology of your body

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2
Q

What is the mind-body problem?

A

Does the body control the mind or does the mind control the body?

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3
Q

Dualism main concepts - Rene Descartes

A

The mind and body are separate entities…but they can interact.

  • the mind is unique to humans…a gift from God
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4
Q

Free will vs. Reflexes

A
  • Free will is controlled by the mind (voluntary)

- Reflexes are controlled by the body (involuntary)

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5
Q

What is Monism?

A

The mind is the brain

  • Based on the concept of determinism (the way you think, feel, and behave is determined by the laws of physics)
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6
Q

Goals of Scientific Research (4)

A
  1. Describe
  2. Explain
  3. Predict
  4. Control
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7
Q

What is generalization?

A

Drawing general conclusions based on many observations of similar phenomena

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8
Q

What is reduction?

A

Describing a phenomenon in terms of the more elementary processes that underlie it

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9
Q

What is some evidence that the mind is a product of the brain?

A

Split-brain studies: the cerebral hemispheres are cut at the corpus callosum.

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10
Q

What are the effects of a split-brain surgery?

A

Briefly after surgery, behavioral side effects occur, which is due to the hemispheres acting differently. One hemisphere appears to work at an unconscious level.

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11
Q

Example of split-brain study effects

A

A woman smelled something with her right nostril and chose the object with her left hand. She chose the right object but was not aware of what it was until her blindfold was taken off.

  • This supports the idea that your consciousness is interrupted when the physical communication of the brain is interrupted
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12
Q

Two categories of historical psychology

A
  1. Philosophy- Descartes (dualism), Empiricists

2. Biology- Descartes (reflexes), Galvani, Mueller, Hemholtz, Darwin

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13
Q

Types of models

A

Descartes- hydraulic statues as models for reflexes

Animal models & computer models

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14
Q

What is a limitation of using a computer as a model?

A

Serial versus parallel processing

Serial (computer) - one piece of information at a time

Parallel (humans) - much more complicated

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15
Q

What is the doctrine of specific nerve energies and who is responsible for this finding?

A

Mueller (1800s)

Although all nerve fibers carry action potentials, our perception of these messages depends on the particular nerve fibers that are active

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16
Q

What is Darwin’s Theory of Evolution?

A

A gradual change in the physiology of an organism that results in development of different and often more complex organisms

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17
Q

Explain Natural selection

A

Mutations that confer a selective advantage are more likely to be passed onto future generations

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18
Q

Explain functionalism

A

We can better understand a physical or behavioral/mental trait by understanding its function for the organism

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19
Q

What are some ethical issues in research with animals?

A
  • research should be humane and worthwhile

- there are many guidelines to be followed when using animals in research

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20
Q

What are some fields related to biopsychology?

A
  1. Neuroscience
  2. Neurology
  3. Neuropsychology

Either need a Ph.D or M.D. (Experimental vs clinical)

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21
Q

What is basic research?

A

Research conducted not because you want to use that information but to discover how something works or just answer a question

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22
Q

What is applied research?

A

Conducting a study with a particular goal in mind that somehow improves life

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23
Q

What are the two major types of cells in the nervous system?

A
  1. Neurons

2. Glia

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24
Q

About how many neurons are in the human brain?

A

Approximately 100-1000 billion neurons in the human brain

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25
Why are brain injuries so dangerous?
Neuronal reproduction is relatively rare...they cannot be replaced
26
What is the basic structure of a neuron? Please draw and label the parts.
A neuron is composed of a soma (cell body), dendrites, an axon, and axon terminals.
27
Types of neurons (based on function) (3) and functions
1. Sensory neurons - detect changes in the environment and send this information to the CNS 2. Motor neurons- controls the contraction of muscles 3. Interneurons- transmit information between other neurons (between sensory & motor)
28
Types of neurons (based on structure) (3)
1. Unipolar- neurons that have one fiber that acts as both an axon and a dendrite 2. Bipolar- neurons that have two processes (one axon and one dendrite) 3. Multipolar- neurons that have multiple processes (one axon, multiple dendrites)
29
What is the "wall" of a cell called?
The cell membrane
30
What is the fluid inside the cells that contains organs?
Cytoplasm
31
Which part of the cell makes ATP?
Mitochondria
32
Which part of the cell contains the chromosomes, genes, and DNA?
Cell nucleus
33
Which part of the cell provides a support structure and serves as a "transportation system?"
The cytoskeleton
34
Important aspects of the cell membrane
1. It is semipermeable 2. It is a lipid bilayer 3. It contains embedded functional proteins
35
What are glia? What types are there?
They are the support cells of the nervous system. 1. Astrocytes 2. Microglia 3. Oligodendrocytes 4. Schwann cells
36
What are the functions of each glia?
1. Astrocytes provide support and help form the BBB. 2. Microglia are phagocytes; they destroy foreign invaders and debris. 3. Oligodendrocytes produce myelin for CNS neurons. 4. Schwann cells produce Myelin for the PNS neurons.
37
What is the resting potential of a neuron?
-70 mV
38
What types of ions are involved in an action potential?
1. Protein anions (A-) 2. Potassium ions (K+) 3. Sodium ions (Na+) 4. Chloride ions (Cl-)
39
Where is the majority of concentration of protein anions?
Inside the cell
40
Where is the majority of concentration of potassium ions?
Inside the cell
41
Where is the majority of concentration of sodium ions?
Outside the cell
42
Where is the majority of concentration of chloride ions?
Outside the cell
43
Explain diffusion
The tendency for molecules to move from areas of high concentration to areas of lower concentration
44
Explain electrostatic pressure
The force generated by charged particles (ions)
45
Cations are positive or negative?
Postivive
46
Anions are positive or negative?
Negative
47
What is the sodium potassium pump?
A protein embedded into the cell membrane that works to push ions against their concentration gradients
48
When does an action potential occur?
When there is a change in the neuron's resting potential
49
What are the results of a change in electrical potential of cell?
Depolarization = excitation Hyper-polarization = inhibition
50
Characteristics of an action potential
1. Always excitatory 2. All-or-none phenomenon 3. Non-decremental 4. Unidirectional 5. Has refractory periods
51
What does decremental mean?
It means that the quantity of something decreases in time
52
Know the action potential graph. Explain it.
Check picture in book
53
What is the difference between the absolute refractory period and relative refractory period?
An absolute refractory period means there will be NO chance of another action potential firing. A relative refractory period refers to the possibility of another action potential firing being slim but possible (it would take an extra 'oomph' to get it to fire).
54
Purpose of myelin sheath
It allows for the conduction of the action potentials to be faster due to saltatory conduction.
55
What are post-synaptic potentials?
Passive signals that usually begin on dendritic spines near synapses
56
What are the main components of post-synaptic potentials?
1. The can be excitatory OR inhibitory (EPSPs vs IPSPs) 2. They are graded- coming in different sizes 3. Decremental 4. Multidirectional 5. Do NOT have refractory periods
57
What are the two types of receptors?
1. Ionotropic receptors | 2. Metabotropic receptors
58
Ionotropic receptors
They are neurotransmitter-dependent (chemically-gated) ion channels. Their effects can be direct, immediate, short-lived and localized.
59
Metabotropic receptors
Linked to g-proteins that alter the cell's metabolism. The effects are indirect, delayed, diffuse, and long-lived.
60
Where does neural integration (summation) occur?
At the axon hillock
61
What are the two major divisions of the nervous system?
The Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System
62
What comprises the CNS?
1. Brain | 2. Spinal cord
63
Branches of the PNS?
1. Somatic Nervous System | 2. Autonomic Nervous System
64
What is the Somatic nervous system?
It is the part of the PNS responsible for voluntary movements.
65
What is the autonomic nervous system?
It is the part of the PNS that is associated with involuntary control.
66
What are the branches of the autonomic nervous system?
1. Sympathetic nervous system | 2. Parasympathetic nervous system
67
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
It is part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the "fight or flight" response
68
What is the parasympathetic nervous system?
It is the part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for the "rest and digest" functions of the body which include slowing heart rate, increasing intestinal/gland activity, and relaxing sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal tract
69
Anterior
Front
70
Rostral
Situated or occurring near the front end of the body, especially in the region of the nose and mouth
71
Posterior
Back
72
Caudal
At or near the tail or posterior part of the body
73
Superior
Above
74
Dorsal
Of, on, or relating to the upper side or back of an animal
75
Inferior
Below
76
Ventral
Of, on, or relating to the underside of an animal
77
Lateral
Toward the sides
78
Ipsilateral
On the same side
79
Contralateral
On opposite sides
80
Medial
Toward the midline
81
Afferent
Toward the CNS
82
Efferent
Away from the CNS
83
Sagittal
Running parallel from the front to back of the head
84
What are meninges?
They cover and protect the brain
85
List the meninges from outside in
1. Dura mater 2. Arachnoid mater 3. Pia mater
86
Where does CSF reside?
In the subarachnoid apace inbetween the arachnoid membrane and pia mater.
87
What are ventricles?
Four cerebrospinal fluid filled cavities deep in the brain
88
What is the general term for the first two ventricle?
Lateral ventricles
89
Explain the development of the CNS
1. Neural tube > ventricular zone > progenitor stem cells
90
What is gray matter?
PNS - ganglia | CNS - nuclei
91
What is white matter?
PNS- nerves | CNS- tracts
92
What helps increase surface area in the brain?
Gyri and sulci/fissures
93
Are gyri grooves and sulci bumps?
No, gyri are bumps and sulci are grooves.
94
What is the corpus callosum?
It allows for communication between the two halves of the brain.
95
Subcortical
Beneath the brain's outer cortex
96
What are the four lobes of the cortex?
1. Frontal lobe 2. Parietal lobe 3. Temporal lobe 4. Occipital lobe
97
Function of frontal lobe?
Movement
98
Function of parietal lobe?
Somatosensation
99
Function of the temporal lobe?
Audition
100
Function of the occipital lobe?
Vision
101
What does it mean to say that the brain is "cross-wired?"
The hemispheres control it's contralateral sides

Behavioral Neuroscience (2 decks)

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