Exam 3 SHORT ANSWER Flashcards
Explain/diagram which areas of hypothalamus respond to high & low core body temperatures
and which physiological responses to cold and heat are used to regulate body temperature
o High Core Temperature: The preoptic area (POA) of the hypothalamus responds to high body temperatures by initiating cooling mechanisms like sweating and vasodilation (widening of blood vessels).
o Low Core Temperature: The posterior hypothalamus responds to cold by initiating warming mechanisms such as shivering, vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels), and increasing metabolic rate.
Physiological Responses:
o Heat: Sweating, vasodilation, and reduced activity.
o Cold: Shivering, vasoconstriction, increased metabolism (through brown adipose tissue activation).
Where are orexigenic and anorexigenic neurons found and what is their role in appetite and
feeding behavior?
o Orexigenic Neurons: Located in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus, these neurons release neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) to stimulate appetite and food intake.
o Anorexigenic Neurons: Also in the arcuate nucleus, these neurons release pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) to reduce appetite and promote satiety.
Explain why “pulling an all-nighter to cram for an exam” is associated with poor performance on
the exam.
o Lack of sleep impairs memory consolidation, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, reducing performance on exams.
Based on the fMRI studies discussed in class, explain the difference in the process of retrieving a
memory before and after the memory is consolidated in long-term memory
o Before consolidation, memory retrieval relies heavily on the hippocampus, while after consolidation, retrieval is more dependent on cortical areas, such as the prefrontal cortex.
Describe the effects retrieving a memory from long-term memory has on the stability of the
memory? What is reconsolidation
- Retrieval of memories can make them malleable, and reconsolidation refers to the process of modifying or updating memories during this retrieval phase, often making them susceptible to change or distortion.
