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PSYCH 101 > Exam 2; Neuroscience > Flashcards

Exam 2; Neuroscience Flashcards

1
Q

Neuroscience

A

the study of how the brain and nervous system affect our mental processes and behavior

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2
Q

Neurons

A

cells in the nervous system that transmit information

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3
Q

Myelin

A

a fatty, waxy substance that insulates portions of some neurons in the nervous system

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4
Q

Glia

A

brain cells that provide important support functions for the neurons and are involved in the formation of myelin

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5
Q

Cell body

A

the part of the neuron that contains the nucleus and DNA

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6
Q

DNA

A

chemical found in the nuclei of cells that contains the genetic blueprint that guides development in the organism

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7
Q

Dendrites

A

branchlike structures on the head of the neuron that receive incoming signals from other neurons in the nervous system

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8
Q

Axon

A

a long tail-like structure growing out of the cell body of a neuron that carries action potentials that convey information from the cell body to the synapse

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9
Q

Myelin sheath

A

the discontinuous segments of myelin that cover the segments of myelin that cover the outside of some axons in the nervous system

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10
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical messengers that carry neural signals across the synapse

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11
Q

Synapse

A

the connection formed between two neurons when the axon bulb of one neuron comes into close proximity with the dendrite of another neuron

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12
Q

Presynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that is sending the signal a synapse in the nervous system

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13
Q

Postsynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that is receiving the signal at a synapse in the nervous system

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14
Q

Ions

A

charged particles that play an important role in the firing of an action potentials in the nervous system

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15
Q

Resting potential

A

the potential difference that exists in the neuron when it is resting (~70mv in mammals)

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16
Q

Threshold of excitation

A

the potential difference at which a neuron will fire an action potential (55mv)

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17
Q

Action potential

A

a neural impulse fired by a neuron when it reaches 55mv

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18
Q

All-or-none law

A

all action potentials are equal in strength; once a neuron begins to fire an action potential, it fires all the way down an axon

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19
Q

Refractory period

A

a brief period of time after a neuron has fired an action potential during which the neuron is inhibited and unlikely to fire another action potential

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20
Q

Excitation

A

when a neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic cell more positive inside, it becomes more likely to fire an action potential

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21
Q

Inhibition

A

when a neurotransmitter makes the postsynaptic cell more negative inside, it becomes less likely to fire an action potential

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22
Q

Reuptake

A

the process through which neurotransmitters are recycled back into the presynaptic neuron

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23
Q

Neuromodulators

A

chemicals in the nervous system that affect neural signaling without directly changing the resting potential of the postsynaptic cell

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24
Q

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A

a neurotransmitter related to muscle movement and perhaps consciousness, learning, and memory

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25
Q

Aki’s dentist gave him a drug that froze the sodium ion channels along his neural axons. What is the likely effect of this drug?
A) Aki’s neurons will fire more action potentials than normal
B) Aki’s neurons will fire stronger action potentials
C) Aki’s neurons will fire weaker action potentials
D) Aki’s neurons will fail to fire action potentials

A

D) Aki’s neurons will fail to fire action potentials

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26
Q

Sabrina has contracted a disease that is destroying her myelin sheath. What effect would you expect this disease to have on the functioning of Sabrina’s nervous system?
A) it will speed up the neural signals traveling through her nervous system
B) It will slow down the neural signals traveling through her nervous system
C) it won’t affect the functioning of her nervous system in any measurable way
D) her nervous system will speed up and slow down in a random fashion

A

B) it will slow down the neural signals traveling through her nervous system

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27
Q

Sara hypothesizes that taking a drug that increases a neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the brain will decrease anxiety. Sara’s hypothesis would be best tested in a(n)_________.
A) naturalistic observation
B) experiment
C) correlational study
D) case study

A

B) experiment

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28
Q

Dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter that plays a role in reward, movement, motivation, learning, and attention

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29
Q

Serotonin

A

a neurotransmitter that plays a role in many different behaviors, including sleep, arousal, mood, eating, and pain perception

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30
Q

Norepinephrine (NOR)

A

a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating sleep, arousal, and mood

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31
Q

Gamma amino butyric (GABA)

A

the body’s chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, which plays a role in regulating arousal and pain

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32
Q

Glutamate

A

the chief excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, found at more than 50% of the synapses in the brain

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33
Q

Endorphins

A

neuromodulators that act as natural pain killers

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34
Q

Lakisha developed a disease that reduces the amount of dopamine in the brain. What symptoms would you expect Lakisha to have?
A) hallucinations
B) trouble with motor skills
C) loss of consciousness
D) seizures

A

B) trouble with motor skills

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35
Q

Jackson is a normal, healthy adult. Jackson’s brain likely contains more _______ than any other neurotransmitter.
A) glutamate
B) GABA
C) dopamine
D) acetylcholine

A

A) glutamate

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36
Q

ACh is thought to play a role in memory processing in the brain. Sasha has half her research participants drink an herbal tea that boosts the body’s ability to manufacture ACh. The other half of the participants drink warm water. Later, Sasha measures all participants’ memory. In this study, the type of drink is the ______ variable.
A) independent
B) dependent
C) control
d) confounding

A

A) independent

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37
Q

Nervous system

A

an electrochemical system of communication within the body that uses cells called neurons to convey information

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38
Q

CNS - central nervous system

A

brain and spinal cord

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39
Q

PNS - peripheral nervous system

A

all of the nervous system except the brain and the spinal cord

40
Q

Sensory neurons

A

neurons that transmit information from the sense organs to the CNS

41
Q

Motor neurons

A

neurons that transmit commands from the brain to the muscles of the body

42
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

branch of PNS that governs sensory and voluntary motor action in the body

43
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

branch of the PNS that primarily governs involuntary organ functioning and actions in the body

44
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

the branch of the autonomic nervous system most active turning times of normal functioning

45
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

the branch of the autonomic most active during times of danger or stress

46
Q

During a bad storm, Juanita saw what looked like a tornado forming in the sky above her home. Immediately after she saw the tornado, which division of the nervous system was most likely in control of Juanita’s internal organ functions?
A) parasympathetic
B) sympathetic
C) endocrine
D) spinal

A

B) sympathetic

47
Q

Moving your legs as you walk is an example of a behavior that is governed by which branch of the nervous system?
A) somatic nervous system
B) autonomic nervous system
C) sympathetic nervous system
D) parasympathetic nervous system

A

A) somatic nervous system

48
Q

The sensory neurons in your fingertips are part of the __________ nervous system?
A) central
B) peripheral
C) autonomic
D) sympathetic

A

B) peripheral

49
Q

Hindbrain

A

a primitive part of the brain that comprises the medulla oblongata, ponds, and cerebellum

50
Q

Forebrain

A

The brain structures, including the limbic system, thalamus, hypothalamus, and cortex, that govern higher-order mental processes

51
Q

Midbrain

A

the brain structure that connects the hindbrain with the forebrain

52
Q

Medulla oblongata

A

A part of the hindbrain that controls basic, life-sustaining functions such as respiration, heart rate, and BP

53
Q

Pons

A

a hindbrain structure that plays a role in respiration, consciousness, sleep, dreaming, facial movement, sensory processes, and the transmission of neural signals from one part of the brain to another

54
Q

Cerebellum

A

a hindbrain structure that plays a role in balance, muscle tone, and coordination of motor movements

55
Q

Reticular formation

A

a part of the midbrain that regulates arousal and plays an important role in attentions, sleep, and consciousness

56
Q

Limbic system

A

a system of structures, including the amygdala and hippocampus, that govern certain aspects of emotion, motivation, and memory

57
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

thin, wrinkled outer covering of the brain in which high-level processes such as thinking, planning, language, interpretation of sensory data, and coordination of sensory and motor information take place

58
Q

Cerebral hemispheres

A

the right and left sides of the brain that to some degree govern different functions in the body

59
Q

Amygdala

A

a part of the limbic system that plays a role in the emotions of fear and aggression

60
Q

Hippocampus

A

a part of the brain that plays a role in the transfer of information from short-to-long term memory

61
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

the nervous system’s ability to rewire its structures as a result of experience

62
Q

Thalamus

A

a part of the forebrain that functions as a sensory relay station

63
Q

Hypothalamus

A

a part of the forebrain that plays a role in maintaining homeostasis in the body, involving sleep, body temperature, sexual behavior, thirst, and hunger; also the point where the nervous system intersects with the endocrine system

64
Q

Homeostasis

A

an internal state of equilibrium in the body

65
Q

Frontal lobe

A

the cortical area directly behind the forehead that plays a role in thinking, planning, decision making, language, and motor movement

66
Q

Parietal lobe

A

the cortical area on the top and sides of the brain that play a role in touch and certain cognitive processes

67
Q

Occipital lobe

A

the cortical area at the back of the brain that plays a role in visual processing

68
Q

Temporal lobe

A

the cortical area directly below the ears that plays a role in auditory processing and language

69
Q

Broca’s area

A

a region in the left frontal lobe that plays a role in the production of speech

70
Q

Broca’s aphasia

A

a condition resulting from damage to Broca’s area of the brain that leaves the person unable to produce speech

71
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

a region of the left temporal lobe that plays a role in the comprehension of speech

72
Q

Wernicke’s aphasia

A

a condition resulting from damage to Wernicke’s area of the brain that leaves a person unable to comprehend speech

73
Q

Corpus callosum

A

a thick band of neurons that connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain

74
Q

Split brain

A

a brain with its corpus callosum severed; sometimes done to control the effects of epilepsy in people who do not respond to other therapies

75
Q

Association cortex

A

areas of the cortex involved in the association or integration of information from the motor-sensory areas of the cortex

76
Q

Primary motor area

A

A strip of cortex at the back of the frontal lobe that governs the execution of motor movement in the body

77
Q

Primary somatosensory area

A

a strip of cortex at the front of the parietal lobe that governs the sense of touch

78
Q

Primary visual area

A

a region of cortex found at the back of the occipital lobes that processes visual information in the brain

79
Q

Auditory cortex

A

a region of cortex found in the temporal lobe that governs the processing of auditory information in the brain

80
Q

Damage to which of the following brain structures would be most likely to cause locked-in-syndrome, such as seen in the case of Jean-Dominique Bauby?
a) occipital lobe
b) amygdala
c) pons
d) hippocampus

A

C) pons

81
Q

Billy had a stroke on the left side of his brain. Most of his left frontal lobe was destroyed. What symptoms would you most expect to see in Billy as a result of this damage?
a) paralysis on the right side of his body and an inability to speak
b) paralysis on the right side of his body and an inability to understand speech
c) paralysis of his left leg, partial deafness, and stuttering
d) paralysis on the left side of his body and an inability to understand speech

A

a) paralysis on the right side of his body and an inability to speak

82
Q

Isabel experienced a brain injury that left her with an inability to store new memories for events and concepts. Which part of her brain was most likely damaged?
a) hippocampus
b) hypothalamus
c) thalamus
d) pons

A

a) hippocampus

83
Q

Physicians and researchers often use EEGs on sleeping participants. What is this technology most likely to tell them about the participant’s brain?
a) it will tell them whether or not some of the brains structures are malformed
b) it will yield a highly detailed picture of the brains structures
c) it will tell them where blood flow is greatest in the brain
d) it will show them the patterns of electrical activity in the brains lobes

A

d) it will show them the patterns of electrical activity in the brains lobes

84
Q

Which of the following technologies for studying the brain is most invasive and therefore used only when absolutely necessary in humans?
a) fMRI
b) Brain stimulation
c) PET scans
d) CAT scans

A

b) brain stimulation

85
Q

Which of the following techniques for studying the brain does not yield information on the activity that is taking place in the brain?
a) MRI
b) fMRI
c) PET scan
d) EEG

A

a) MRI

86
Q

Endocrine

A

a chemical system of communication in the body that uses chemical messengers, called hormones, to affect organ function and behavior

87
Q

endocrine glands

A

the organs of the endocrine system that produce and release hormones into the blood

88
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers of the endocrine system

89
Q

pituitary gland

A

the master gland of the endocrine system the controls the action of all other glands in the body

90
Q

gonads

A

endocrine glands that directly affect sexual reproduction by producing sperm (testes) or eggs (ovaries)

91
Q

estrogens

A

a class of female sex hormones that regulate many aspects of sexuality and are found in both males and females

92
Q

androgens

A

a class of male hormones that regulate many aspects of sexuality and are found in both males and females

93
Q

adrenal medulla

A

the center part of the adrenal gland that plays a crucial role in the functioning of the sympathetic nervous system

94
Q

Adrenal cortex

A

the outside part of the adrenal gland that plays a role in the manufacture and release of androgens, and therefore influences sexual characteristics

95
Q

The ____ releases male sex hormones in the body.
a) adrenal cortex
b) adrenal medulla
c) hippocampus
d) ovary

A

a) adrenal cortex

96
Q

A malfunction in which of the following endocrine glands would be most disruptive to the overall functioning of the endocrine system?
a) ovaries/testes
b) thalamus
c) pituitary
d) adrenal

A

c) pituitary

97
Q

Alena was just frightened by a snake. Which of the following endocrine glands most likely played the biggest role in her response to stress?
a) testes
b) adrenal cortex
c) ovaries
d) adrenal medulla

A

d) adrenal medulla

PSYCH 101 (3 decks)

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