Intro to Neurobiological Approach (#1-158) Flashcards
1
Q
synapse
A
The gap between one neuron and another.
2
Q
myelin
A
A fatty white substance that surrounds the axon of some nerve cells. It is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
3
Q
dendrites
A
The branched fibers of neurons that receive incoming signals.
4
Q
axon
A
The extended fiber of a neuron through which nerve impulses travel from the soma to the terminal buttons.
5
Q
medulla
A
The region of the brainstem that regulates breathing, waking, and heartbeat.
6
Q
neurons
A
A cell in the nervous system specialized to receive, process, and/or transmit information to other cells. aka Brain cells.
7
Q
materialism
A
A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.
8
Q
dualism
A
The division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided. Mind and body are distinct.
9
Q
reductionism
A
Attributing an ability to a specific part of the brain.
10
Q
bad reductionism
A
Assuming (wrongly) a certain part of the brain is the only part responsible for a specific function.
11
Q
localization of function
A
The idea that different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions.
12
Q
pineal gland
A
A pea-sized gland near center of brain that produces melatonin (sleep hormone).
13
Q
frontal lobes
A
Region of the brain located above the lateral fissure and in front of the central sulcus (forehead); involved in motor control and cognitive activities. It is the last part of brain to develop. Concerned with reasoning, planning, parts of speech and movement (motor cortex), emotions, and problem-solving.
14
Q
parietal lobes
A
Region of the brain behind the frontal lobe and above the lateral fissure; contains somatosensory cortex. Concerned with perception of stimuli such as touch, pressure, temperature and pain.
15
Q
temporal lobes
A
Region of brain found below the lateral fissure; contains auditory cortex. Concerned with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli (hearing) and memory (hippocampus).
16
Q
occipital lobes
A
Rearmost region of the brain; contains primary visual cortex. Concerned with many aspects of vision.
17
Q
central nervous system (CNS)
A
The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
18
Q
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
A
The part of the nervous system composed of the spinal and cranial nerves that connect the body’s sensory receptors to the CNS and the CNS to the muscles and glands. Contains somatic and autonomic nervous systems.
19
Q
autonomic nervous system (ANS)
A
The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s involuntary motor responses by connecting the sensory receptors to the central nervous system (CNS) and the CNS to the smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands. Contains sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
20
Q
somatic nervous system
A
Part of peripheral nervous system. Controls Voluntary Movement. The subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles and skin.
21
Q
sympathetic nervous system
A
Stress. The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that deals with emergency response and the mobilization of energy. Relaxation.
22
Q
parasympathetic nervous system
A
Relax. The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system that monitors the routine operation of the body’s internal functions and conserves and restores body energy.
23
Q
cerebellum
A
The region of the brain attached to the brainstem that controls motor coordination, posture, and balance as well as the ability to learn control of body movements. Implicit memory. How-to memories.
24
Q
anterior cerebellum
A
The portion of the cerebellum responsible for mediating unconscious proprioception (a sense of self and perception of outside world). Nonverbal communication.
25
limbic system
The region of the brain that regulates emotional behavior, basic motivational urges, and memory, as well as major physiological functions. PHHAT(
26
hypothalamus
The brain structure that regulates motivated behavior (such as eating and drinking) and homeostasis. Regulates 4 F’s, fight, flight, feast, love.
27
lateral hypothalamus
Makes you feel hungry. If removed, rat will never eat, then starve.
28
ventromedial hypothalamus
Makes your feel full. If removed, rat will never stop eating, it will become extremely obese.
29
hippocampus
The part of the limbic system that is involved in the acquisition of explicit memory. factual memory.
30
anterior hippocampus
encodes memory. In McGuire study, it was smaller in London taxi drivers, but bigger in normal people.
31
posterior hippocampus
retrieves memory. It's responsible for navigational memory. It is inversely related to anterior hippocampus size. In McGuire study, posterior hippocampus was significantly bigger in London taxi drivers.
32
medial hippocampus
Full function unknown. Something to do with memory, part of what was removed from H.M.'s brain.
33
amygdala
The part of the limbic system that controls emotion, aggression, and the formation of emotional memory. frequently immature in adolescents, boys.
34
reticular formation
The region of the brain stem that alerts the cerebral cortex to incoming sensory signals and is responsible for maintaining consciousness and awakening from sleep.
35
pons
The region of the brainstem that connects the spinal cord with the brain and links parts of the brain to one another.
36
corpus callosum
The mass of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the cerebrum. What was severed to stop Sperry's seizures.
37
angular gyrus
A region of the inferior parietal lobe of the brain that is involved in the processing of auditory and visual input and in the comprehension of language.
38
fusiform gyrus
Area in the temporal lobe thought to be important in facial recognition, color processing, and word recognition.
39
myelin sheath
A wrapping of myelin around certain nerve axons, serving as an electrical insulator that speeds nerve impulses to muscles and other effectors. a white, lipoid (fatty) material in casing many neuron fibers and enables faster transmission of an impulse.
40
mirror neurons
A neuron that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. Thus, the neuron "mirrors" the behavior of the other, as though the observer were itself acting. 2 types: empathy and motor.
41
motor cortex
The region of the cerebral cortex that controls the action of the body's voluntary muscles.
42
left motor cortex
Part of motor cortex
43
prefrontal cortex
This brain region has been implicated in planning complex cognitive behavior, personality expression, decision making, and moderating social behavior.
44
telomeres
Caps on end of chromosomes that protect the chromosomes fro fraying. They shorten faster with chronic stress causing faster aging.
45
allele
A variant form of a gene, two alleles per gene, one from each parent.
46
5-HTT
The serotonin transporter protein, associated with both depression and autism.
47
cerebral cortex
The outer surface of the cerebrum. 80% of weight of human brain; 70% of CNS's neurons; wrinkled outer portion of un-myelin aided cells (cerebrum) covering both hemispheres; processes thought, vision, language, memory, and emotions; most recently of all part of nervous system… grey matter.
48
pituitary gland
Located in the brain, the gland that secretes growth hormone and influences the secretion of hormones by other endocrine glands. "Master Gland".
49
parathyroid
Small endocrine glands in the neck, usually located within the thyroid gland, which produce parathyroid hormone. he sole purpose of the parathyroid glands is to regulate the calcium level in our bodies within a very narrow range so that the nervous and muscular systems can function properly. also controls phosphate levels (which influence levels of excitability)
50
hemispherectomy
Surgical procedure in which one cerebral hemisphere (half of the brain) is removed, disconnected, or disabled.
51
neuroplasticity
The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Opposes lateralization of function.
52
pruning
When brain prunes or gets rid of excess and unused connections and brain cells in brain. related to use it or lose it , ages 2-3 and 13-17.
53
ESB
Electrical Stimulation Brain. Delgado used invasive form of this technique on bull.
54
CAT scan
A really sophisticated x-ray of the brain. It gives us a 3D picture of the brain which is great for locating tumors, but it does NOT show brain activity or function. Computerized tomography.
55
PET scan
Brain video produced by a device that obtains detailed pictures of activity in the living brain by recording the radioactivity emitted by cells during different cognitive or behavioral activities. best way for us to see activity in the brain. Positron Emission Tomography.
56
EEG
Measures brain waves. If you are awake it measures what we call alpha waves (short active waves) and when you are asleep it measures other waves like delta waves (long inactive waves). It is used commonly in sleep research. Electroencephalogram
57
MRI
Gives us the most detailed picture of the brain. There is no radiation so the procedure is safe, but once again it only gives us an idea of structure and not function. Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
58
fMRI
A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
59
neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers released from neurons that cross the synapse from one neuron to another, stimulating the postsynaptic neuron.
60
glucocorticoids
3rd responder stress hormone. Stress hormones secreted by the outer parts of adrenal glands. Helps with long term healing and stamina.
61
neuropeptides
Small protein-like molecules (peptides) used by neurons to communicate with each other. hormone neurotransmitter.
62
epinephrine
```
1st responder stress hormone (neurotransmitter). aka adrenaline. Activates a sympathetic nervous system by making the heart beat faster, stopping digestion, enlarging pupils, sending sugar into the bloodstream, preparing a blood clot faster.
aka adrenaline (hormone).
```
63
norepinephrine
2nd responder stress hormone. Noradrenaline, a chemical which is excitatory, similar to adrenaline, and affects arousal and memory; raises blood pressure by causing blood vessels to become constricted, but also carried by bloodstream to the anterior pituitary which relaxes ACTH thus prolonging stress response.
64
dopamine
Chemical that influences voluntary movement, learning, pleasure, memory,-is implicated in Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia; in Parkinson's disease a causes tremors, muscle spasms, increasing muscular rigidity; recently implicated in ADHD
65
acetylcholine
The first neurotransmitter to be identified. It is a chemical transmitter in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) in many organisms including humans. involved in muscular contraction.
66
serotonin
The "mood molecule", a chemical that affects regulation asleep, dreaming, mood, hunger, pain, and aggressive behavior; and attaches to many receptors (receptor sites).
67
endorphins
A chemical inhibiting the transmission of pain, often experienced during exercise, i.e. "runner's high"; discovered in 1970s when trying to find out how opiates were (morphine, heroin); "endorphins" is a pharmacological (drug/med) term
68
cortisol
The Stress Hormone. secreted from the adrenal cortex, aids the body during stress by increasing glucose levels and suppressing immune system function; stress hormone.
69
testosterone
The male sex hormone, secreted by the testes, that stimulates production of sperm and is also responsible for the development of male secondary sex characteristics.
70
estrogen
The female sex hormone, produced by the ovaries, that is responsible for the release of eggs from the ovaries as well as for the development and maintenance of female reproductive structures and secondary sex characteristics.
71
oxytocin
The love hormone (pituitary). stress-moderating hormone associated with pair-bonding animals and released by cuddling, massage, and breast-feeding in humans.
72
prolactin
The tear hormone(pituitary), breastfeeding hormone. Far more in women than in men.
73
melatonin
The sleep hormone (Pituitary gland), it controls circadian rhythm of sleep wake cycle.
74
SSRI’s
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (or SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants prescribed for depression and anxiety disorders. They work by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
75
GAS
Hans Selye's concept of the body's adaptive response to stress in three stages---alarm, resistance, exhaustion
76
fight or flight
The "acute stress response" first described by Walter Cannon (1920s) as a theory that animals react to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system.
77
phrenology
Early attempt at localization of function. Bumps on skull were supposed to be linked to personality.
78
heritability
The proportion of variation among individual that we can attribute to genes. The extent to which genetic individual differences contribute to individual differences in observed behavior
79
concordance rates
how similar twins are (identical > fraternal) (monozygotic > dizygotic)
80
monozygotic
twins that came same egg, identical same gender
81
dizygotic
fraternal twins
82
PNI
Psychoneuroimmunology, study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body. Mind state -> stress -> immune system.
83
split brain operation
An operation in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them, this prevents any connection between the two brains.
84
lobotomy
A surgical operation involving incision into the prefrontal lobe of the brain, formerly used to treat mental illness.
85
Wada test
aka the intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure (ISAP) establishes cerebral language and memory representation of each hemisphere. half brain asleep what can it do and not do, tests basic left v. right brain functions.
86
invasive techniques
Medical procedure in which the body is "invaded" or entered by a needle, tube, device or scope. Invasive procedures can include anything from the simple needle prick for a blood test or shot, to inserting a tube, device or scope, to major surgeries.
87
amnesia
A failure of memory caused by physical injury, disease, drug use, or psychological trauma.
88
anterograde amnesia
Lack of ability to create new memories after an event
89
retrograde amnesia
Loss of old memories
90
Korsakoff’s syndrome
Long term memory loss. chronic memory disorder caused by severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B-1). Korsakoff syndrome is most commonly caused by alcohol misuse. causes problems converting short term memories into longterm.
91
encephalitis
Irritation or swelling of the brain usually caused by infection.
92
epilepsy
Seizures
93
Alzheimer’s
A chronic organic brain syndrome characterized by gradual loss of memory, decline in intellectual ability, and deterioration of personality.
94
polymorphism
Genes can change shape
95
agnosia
Inability to remember/recognize common/simple objects
96
anosagnosia
Inability to realize you have a problem/ disorder.
97
prosopagnosia
Inability to recognize faces
98
traumatic encephalopathy
Repeated head trauma
99
Minnesota Twin Study
A longitudinal study of twins conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It seeks to identify the genetic and environmental influences on the development of psychological traits.
100
Rene Descartes
Dualist
101
Paul Broca
Studied tans brain, broca's area (speech center of brain)
102
Carl Wernicke
Discovered wernicke’s area; for spoken language comprehension
103
Jose Delgado
ESB bulls brain, invasive techniques
104
Roger Sperry
Split brain researcher, severed corpus callosum to stop seizures
105
Michael Gazzaniga
Current split brain researcher
106
Genie
Girl found in extremely impoverished environment, (13 years). Her left brain was very underdeveloped and her right took over many functions of the left, plasticity.
107
Wilder Penfield
ESB on humans
108
James Olds
Discovered pleasure center. invasive procedures on mice to cross electrical grid for more pleasure.
109
Walter Cannon
Stress response is part of a unified mind-body system. Fight or flight.
110
Hans Selye
made GAS = ARE. General Adaptation Syndrome, Alarm Resistance Exhaustion.
111
H.M.
Henry Molaison. Doctors accidently removed entire hippocampus. Had both anterograde and retrograde amnesia (89,90) also lost medial hippocampus.
112
Clive Wearing
Damaged hippocampus from encephalitis (92). Suffered both anterograde and retrograde amnesia (89,90).
113
Franz Gall
Pioneer in the study of the localization of mental functions in the brain, came up with phrenology.
114
Phineas Gage
Railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality and behavior; case played a role in the development of the understanding of the localization of brain function.
115
Robert Sapolsky
Baboons, keekorak tribe, rank v. stress.
116
Marmot
Whitehall study, social hierarchy relating to stress. british social services because they have universal healthcare.
117
Carol Shively
macack monkeys social hierarchy on dopamine and body fat, clogged arteries. dopamine in hierarchy
118
Tessa Roseboom
Dutch hunger winter, chronic stress hormones affect fetuses.
119
Bruce McEwen
Mice, can stress make you stupid, shortened dendrites
120
Elizabeth Blackburn
Telomeres unravel in stress, chronic stress, faster aging, telomerase heals/lengthens telomeres, from oxytocin.
121
Shelly Taylor
Tend and befriend, oxytocin.
122
James Pennebaker
PNI. health and writing style, TAT creator, expressive writing.
123
Robert Ader
Father of PNI. Placebo on rats, ladder. demonstrated mind-body connection.
124
Marion Diamond
Enriched/impoverished environment, rat experiment, longer life and more cortical thickness.
125
Abigail Baird
Teen v adult decision making. Teenagers make decisions based on emotion and cognitive information. adults-automatic decision; teens-effort,slow, only frontal lobe decision. good/bad idea PFC.
126
Jay Giedd
Teenage IQ study.
127
Chris Nowinski
Harvard/Football/Wrestling - Concussion research.
128
David Snowden
Nun study, early stress on rest of life.
129
John Money
One of the first scientists to study the psychology of sexual fluidity and how the societal constructs of “gender” affect an individual. His work has been both celebrated for its innovation and criticized, particularly in regard to his involvement with the sex-reassignment of David Reimer and his eventual suicide.
130
David Reimer
Canadian man born biologically male but reassigned as a girl and raised female following medical advice and intervention after his peniswas accidentally destroyed during a botched circumcision in infancy.
131
London Taxi Drivers
Posterior Hippocampus growth. right handed males w/ at least 18 months experience.
132
Late Bloomers
Jay Giedd, dramatic frontal lobe growth spurt from 17-20, late growth
133
“Use it or Lose it”
If you don't continue to practice or use an ability, you might lose that ability, when brain prunes excess cells and connections.
134
Whitehall Study
Marmot- Hierarchy in human society, used british civil service because everyone has access to same health care.
135
Diathesis-stress
In-born predisposition to stress.
136
implicit memories
Cerebellum - "how to"
137
explicit memories
Hippocampus - "factual"
138
core executive functions
PFC: inhibition, memory, mental flexibility/creativity
139
chi
Chinese way of looking at life, life force energy.
140
Andrea Yates
Crazy lady who drowned her children. Postpartum depression, lack of social support, brain issues ran in family.
141
etic
Universal
| Everyone has an attic
142
emic
Cultural
143
V.S. Ramachandran
Guy who talked about mirror neurons
144
Tan
Victor Louis LaBourne (1861) had a neurosyphilitic lesion in one side of the brain (broca's area) which controlled speech. could only say “tan”, could write normally, died soon after. Good example of localization of function.
145
Gabrielle Giffords
Congresswoman who got shot in the left side of the brain and lived. took 7 years to recover. extreme plasticity, right brain usage only.
146
schizophrenia
Too much dopamine + asymmetrical ventricles. Brain disorder.
147
Simon LeVay
Studied HIV positive deceased brains (post-mortem study). Gay men's hypothalamus smaller than usual, resembles a women's.
148
HPA-axis
Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland, Amygdala. Limbic system, depression.
149
CRF
Fluid found in depressed people's brains.
150
ACTH
Adrenal corticonal, releases glucocorticoids.
151
Julien LeMettrie
when the body is sick, you don't think straight. Materialist
152
“tend & befriend”
A response to stressors that is hypothesized to be typical for females; stressors prompt females to protect their offspring and join social groups to reduce vulnerability.
153
homeostasis
Constancy or equilibrium of the internal conditions of the body. return to normal
154
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
A projective test in which pictures of ambiguous scenes are presented to an individual, who is encouraged to generate stories about them.
155
Broca's Area
Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.
156
Wernicke's Area
Controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.
157
Teritogens
Agents, such as chemicals and viruses, that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm. (Tessa Rosebloom)
158
Longitudinal Study
Research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period.
159
Stress
The process by which we perceive & respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or a challenge.
160
Cuddy
Studied effects of cortisol and testosterone.
161
Adler
“Feeling poor = bad health in being
| pood… ladder… subjunctive objective.
162
Anterior cerebellum
nonverbal communication
163
PFC
Part of brain involved with inhibition. Explanation for late bloomers. Last part of brain to develop.
164
aphasia
Impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke's area (impairing understanding). Speech difficulty
165
3 hormone stress response
adrenaline, testosterone, cortisol.
