Exam 1: Foundations of Biopsychology Flashcards
Biopsychology
Study of biology of behavior (psychology)
Behavior is product of 3 interactions
- Genetic endowment
- Experience
- Perception of current situation
2 dimensions among research approaches
- Subjects (human vs nonhuman)
2. Design (experiments vs nonexperiments)
6 divisions of biopsychology
- Physiological psychology
- Psycho-pharmacology
- Neuro-psychology
- Psycho-physiology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Comparative Psychology
Physiological psychology
Study of neural mechanisms of behavior by manipulating nervous system of nonhuman animals in controlled experiments
Strategy of physiological psych
Insert precisely a tool in the brain, use tool and observe behavior, use atlas and stereotaxic instrument
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Lesions, electrical stimulation, physiological recordings
Psychopharmacology
Study of effects of drugs on brain and behavior in nonhumans and humans
Strategy of psychopharmacology
Administer drugs to inc. or dec. effects of chemical messengers
Measuring chemical activity for psychopharmacology
- 2-Deoxyglucose: taken up by active cells, brain is removed/imaged
- Cerebral dialysis: implant tube, analyze chemicals found outside cells of behaving animals
Locating NTs for psychopharmacology
Immunoctochemistry and In situ hyrbridization
Neuropsychology
Study of psychological effects of brain damage in human patients
Strategy of neuropsychology
Assess the cognitive functions of neurologic patients using a test battery approach
Psychophysiology
Study of relation between gross physiological activity and psychological processes in human subjects by noninvasive physiological recording
Strategy of psychophysiology
Record physiological activity from surface of human body while a behavior is performed
5 most widely studied measures in psychophysiology
- Brain: EEG
- Muscle tension: EMG
- Eye movement: EOG
- Skin conductance
- Cardio: ECG
Cognitive neuroscience
Study of neural mechanisms of human cognition
Strategy of cognitive neuro
Use functional brain imaging techniques to identify parts of brain that mediate various constituent cognitive processes
-PET and fMRI
Comparative psychology
Study of evolution, genetics, and adaptiveness of behavior in laboratory species
Strategy of comparative psych
Use genetic manipulations and behavioral research methods to assess species-common behaviors (ex: eating, drinking, anxiety, aggression, sexual behavior), gene knockout/replacement, conditioning
Korsakoff’s Syndrome
Severe memory loss, commonly seen in alcoholics (Jimmie G), due to thiamine deficiency but accelerated by alcohol
Channel protein
Allows molecules to pass through, in membranes around cell
Signal proteins
Transfer signal to inside of neuron where particular molecules bind to them on outside of membrane, on surface
Golgi stain
Allows for visualization of individual neurons
Nissl stain
Selectively stains cell bodies, used to indicated the number of neurons in an area
Electron microscopy
Provides info about details of neuronal structure
Anterograde tract tracing
Trace axons projecting away from cell bodies
Retrograde tract tracing
Trace axons projecting into an area of cell bodies
Sensory neuron
Info from tissue/organs, unipolar in PNS
Interneuron
Integrates and intermediate, multipolar in CNS
Motor neuron
Information to effector cells, multipolar in PNS
Glia
Helper cells, outnumber neurons 5:1, provide structural/metabolic support to neurons, glial communication and modulatory effects of glia on neuronal communication
Oligodendrocytes
Extensions rich in myelin (myelinated many), create myelin sheaths in CNS
Schwann cells
Similar to oligodendrocytes, but in PNS, can guide axonal regeneration, need many because only one at a time
Microglia
Involved in response to injury or disease, ramified (non-activated), motile (activated), phagocytic, “WBC of CNS”)
Astrocytes
Largest glia, star-shaped, many functions:
- Form barrier
- Control blood flow to neurons
- Maintain proper chemical state/remove waste
- Surround synapses and modify neuronal signals
- Send nutrients (glucose) to neurons
- Digest old neuronal parts
- Secrete NTs and glial-transmitters
Resting membrane potential (value)
-70mv, said to be polarized
Inside vs outside ions
Inside: Potassium
Outside: Sodium & Chloride
Concentration gradient
Particles moving from an area with high concentration to area with low concentration
Electrical gradient
Formed by charge difference across membrane
Depolarizations
EPSPs, make membrane potential more positive
Hyperpolizations
IPSPs, make membrane potential more negative
PSP properties (3)
- Graded- amp proportional to intensity
- Rapid
- Decremental- decrease as they travel towards soma
Types of summation of PSPs (2)
- Spatial- different places
2. Temporal- different times
What causes absolute refractory period?
Voltage-gated Na+ channels closed (1 ms)
Relative refractory period
(2-4 ms) AP is possible for a stronger than normal stimulus to overcome fact that voltage-gated K+ channels still open
Orthodromic conduction
Natural direction, from cell body to terminal buttons
Antidromic conduction
Towards cell body
Saltatory conduction
In myelinated axons, APs “hop” from one node of Ranvier to the next
Directed synapse
Site of release and contact are in close proximity
Non-directed synapse
Site of release and contact are separated by some distance (e.g., hormones and neuromodulators)
Coexistence
Most neurons contain 2 NTs- one small in small vesicles; one large in larger vesicle
Ionotropic receptors
Associated with ligand-activated ion channels (fast and result in a PSP)
Metabotropic receptors
Associated with signal proteins and G proteins (slow and are longer-lasting, are varied)
Autoreceptors
Metabotropic receptors on pre-synaptic membrane, maintains appropriate level of NT release
Reuptake
Typical, scoop up and recycle NT
Enzymatic degradation
NT is broken down by enzymes
Steps in NT action (7)
- Synthesize NTs under influence of enzymes
- Store in vesicles
- Leaky NTs are destroyed by enzymes
- APs cause vesicles to fuse with presynaptic membrane and release NT
- Released NT bind with autoreceptors and inhibit more release
- NT bind to postsynaptic receptors
- NT deactivated by reuptake of enzymatic degradation
Gap junctions
Connects cytoplasm of 2 adjacent cells (between neurons and glia)
Tripartite synpase
Astrocytes wrap around synapses and connect to both pre- and post- synaptic cells
Small NTs (4)
- Amino acids
- Monamines
- Ach
- Unconventional NTs (ex: nitric oxide)
Large NT
Neuropeptides
Amino Acid NTs
- Glutamate and Aspartate: excitatory
- GABA and Glycine inhibitory
Monoamines
Catecholamines and indolamines, synapses tend to be nondirect (unusual for small NTs)
Achetylcholine receptors (2)
- Nicotinic- ionotropic, activates muscle, PNS
2. Muscarinic- metabotropic, memory, CNS
Soluble gases
Exist briefly, involved in retrograde transmission (regulate activity of presynaptic cells)
Endocannabinoids
Similar to THC (marijuana), exist briefly, inhibit release of NT
Agonists
Increase or facilitate activity
Antagonists
Decrease or inhibit activity
3 meninges
- Dura mater (superficial)
- Arachnoid mater (has CSF)
- Pia mater (deep)
Brain blood supply from 3 main arteries
- Anterior
- Middle
- Posterior cerebral arteries
Spinal cord blood supply from 3 main arteries
- Anterior
- Right
- Left posterior arteries
CNS: Blood barriers
BBB and BSCB, glucose is actively transported
Why is the blood barrier weak in some areas?
Allow monitoring of the chemical composition of blood
4 differences between CNS and PNS
- Skull
- Meninges
- CSF
- Blood barriers
5 major divisions in brain
- Telencephalon
- Diencephalon
- Mesencephalon
- Metencephalon
- Myelencephalon
Spinal cord segments
31 segments: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal
Spinal cord areas (2)
- Inner H-shape: grey matter (cell bodies)
2. Outer area: white matter (myelinated axons)
Sections of spinal cord
- Dorsal, afferent, sensory, unipolar
- Ventral, efferent, motor, multipolar
Somatic nervous system
Conscious, sensory and motor innervation, sensations we are aware of (light and pain), voluntary movements
Autonomic nervous system
Unconscious, regulates visceral (organ) functions that maintain homeostasis, 2 efferent components: symp. and parasymp.
ANS: second-stage neurons in sympathetic
Far from target
ANS: second-stage neurons in parasympathetic
Near target organ
Cranial nerves
- “On Occasion Our Trusty Truck Acts Funny, Very Good Vehicle Any How”
- “Some Say Marry Money, But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter Most”
Myelencephalon function
Serves as the connection between the higher levels of the brain and spinal cord and deals with basic autonomic functions
Dorsal column nuclei
In myelencephalon, receives ascending (sensory) info, sends to thalamus (contains cuneatus and gracilis)
Inferior olive
In myelencephalon, motor coordination, inputs to cerebellum
Metencephalon structures
Pons and cerebellum
Mesencephalon structures
Tectum (roof) and tegmentum
Tectum
Composed of two bumps: superior and inferior colliculi
Tegmentum
3 “colorful” nuclei:
- Periaqueductal gray
- Red nucleus
- Substantia nigra
Periaqueductal gray (cell bodies)
Pain modulation, defensive behavior, maternal behavior
Red nucleus (iron)
Motor coordination, receives output from cerebellum
Substantia nigra (melanin)
Movement planning, talks to pontine nuclei
Reticular Formation
Complex network of nuclei, sleep-wake transitions, attention/arousal (RAS), voluntary motor control, reward and addiction (VTA), mood (locus coeruleus, Raphe nuclei)
Diencephalon structures
Thalamus and hypothalamus
Thalamus functions
Process/relay info to cortex, consciousness, attention, sleep-wake, structure for ascending tracts
Parts of thalamus to know (3)
- VPN- receives from dorsal column nuclei, ascending somatosensory
- LGN: vision
- MGN: auditory
Hypothalamus functions
Links nervous system to endocrine system, controls activities of ANS
Telencephalon
Fissues (divides lobes), sulci, gyri, commissures
3 large gyri
- Precentral
- Postcentral
- Superior temporal
Telencephalon: neocortex
6 layers
Telencephalon: limbic system
Amygdala, hippocampus, (cingulate, fornix, septum, mammillary bodies); regulates emotional life and contributes to memory formation
Telencephalon: basal ganglia
Striatum (caudate and putamen), globus pallidus and substantia nigra; plays role in performance of voluntary motor responses
Phases of development
Ovum + sperm = zygote, cell division
Fertilized egg potency
Totipotent
Blastocyst potency
Pluripotent (can be anything in future, except placental cell)
What does the ectoderm become?
Outer layer of skin, hair, lining of nose and mouth, and NS
What does the endoderm become?
Digestive tract, respiratory tract, liver, and pancreas
What does the mesoderm become?
Muscles and skeleton
Neural plate
A patch of tissue on the dorsal surface of the embryo, induced by chemical signals from mesoderm (the “organizer”), ectoderm flattened
Radial migration
Proceeds from the ventricular zone in a straight line outward toward the outer wall of the tube, easier than tangential
Tangential migration
Occurs at a right angle to radial migration- parallel to tube’s wall
Aggregation
After migration, cells align themselves with other cells and form structures, form nuclei (CNS) and ganglia (PNS)
Growth cone
At the growing tip of each extension; extends and retracts filopodia as if finding its way
What is synapse formation process enhanced by?
Presence of glial cells, especially astrocytes
Necrosis
Cells crushed, not free will, microglia cleans up (like murder)
Apoptosis
Program cell death if neuron fails to obtain life-preserving chemicals (neurotrophins), clean, no inflammation,
Growth is a consequence of… (3)
- Synaptogenesis
- Myelination
- Dendritic branching
Neurogenesis
Growth of new neurons seen in olfactory bulb and hippocampus
Where are chloride channels located?
Dendrites
Where is the most glutamate located?
Vesicles
Where are microtubules located?
Axon
Where are reuptake transporters located?
Buttons
Where are G proteins located?
Dendrites
