Intro to Psychology: Unit 1 Chapter 3

Question 1

What are Neurons and what are the most common Neurons?

Answer 1

They receive, process, and send information
Neurotransmitters

Question 2

What are Neurotransmitters?

Answer 2

Neurons/chemicals that communicate with other neurons and transmit info from one neuron to another.

Question 3

Parts of the Neuron: Soma

Answer 3

Soma is the Cell Body (contains the Nucleus)

Question 4

Parts of the Neuron: Dendrites

Answer 4

Branchlike Part of the neuron
RECEIVES info from other neurons

Question 5

Parts of the Neuron: Axon

Answer 5

SENDS Information

Question 6

Parts of the Neuron: Myelin Sheath

Answer 6

Fatty substance that surrounds the axon.
Acts as an insulater that allows messages to speed up.

Question 7

Parts of the Neuron: Terminal Buttons

Answer 7

Allows neurons to connect to multiple cells.
SECRETES chemicals.

Question 8

Parts of the Neuron: Synapse

Answer 8

Junction where info is transmitted from one neuron to another.

Question 9

Parts of the Neuron: Glia

Answer 9

Supplies neurons with nutrients, removing waste, and creating proper insulation.
Send and receive chemical messages.
Glial cells take up most of the space (10 cells for every neuron and take up about 50% of the brains volume)

Question 10

What are synaptic vesicles?

Answer 10

Small sacs within the buttons where neurotransmitters are stored.

Question 11

What’s postsynaptic potential?

Answer 11

The change in electrical charge in a neuron after it receives a signal from another neuron.

Question 12

What is Pics Disease?

Answer 12

A form of dementia where they slowly lose memory over time.
Loses the ability to make basic differentiations.

Question 12

During what process are most neurotransmitters reabsorbed into the presynaptic neuron?

Answer 12

The Reuptake process

Question 13

What is Reuptake?

Answer 13

Process where neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane.

Question 14

What are some disorders associated with neurotransmitters?

Answer 14

Alzheimers Disease - Low ACh
Parkinsons - Dopamine
Depression - Norepinephrine
Depression, OCD - Seratonin
These could all be dictated by EITHER biological OR environmental factors.

Question 14

What is the PNS and what does it consist of?

Answer 14

All the nerves that extend OUTSIDE the brain and spinal cord.
Consists of the Somatic & Autonomic Nervous System.

Question 15

What is the Somatic Nervous system?

Answer 15

Made up of nerves that connect to Voluntary skeletal muscles and sensory receptors.

Question 16

What is the Autonomic Nervous system?

Answer 16

Controls automatic, involuntary functions.
Contains Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous system.

Question 17

Research/specialized Techniques to investigate brain: Lesioning

Answer 17

Involved the destruction of a piece of the brain in order to observe what happens.

Question 18

Research/specialized Techniques to investigate brain: Electrical Stimulation

Answer 18

Sending a weak electrical current into the brain to stimulate it.

Question 19

Research/specialized Techniques to investigate brain: CT Scan or MRI

Answer 19

Magnetic Imaging to look inside and observe parts of the brain.

Question 20

Research/specialized Techniques to investigate brain: TMS

Answer 20

Magnetic Stimulation to enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain.

Question 21

What are some disorders that can be altered with TMS?

Answer 21

Depression, Parkinsons, Personality Disorders, Strokes

Question 22

What are the 3 parts of the Hindbrain and their functions?

Answer 22

Cerebellum , pons, and medulla.
The cerebellum is balance, fine motor skills, coordination
The pons regulates sleep and arousal.
The medulla controls the major/essential functions such as breathing circulation, maintaining, muscle tone, etc.

Question 23

What is the midbrain?

Answer 23

Releases dopamine, and processes visual & auditory signals.

Question 24

What formation runs through the midbrain and hindbrain?

Answer 24

The reticular formation.

Question 25

What does the reticular formation do?

Answer 25

Contributes to muscle reflexes, breathing, and the perception of pain.

Question 26

What's the Forebrain?

Answer 26

The largest region of the brain Includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.

Question 27

What is the Thalamus?

Answer 27

Relays sensory info.

Question 28

What is the Hypothalamus? (What are the four Fs?)

Answer 28

Maintains Homeostasis. Fighting, Fleeing, Feeding, Fornicating

Question 29

What is the Limbic System?

Answer 29

Memory & emotion. Our personality.

Question 30

What is the cerebrum?

Answer 30

In charge of higher cognitive processes such as reasoning, language, emotion, and voluntary movement.

Question 31

What side controls what in the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 31

Left Side of brain controls right side of body and vice versa.

Question 32

Function of the Occipital Lobe?

Answer 32

Vision

Question 33

Function of the Parietal Lobe?

Answer 33

Sensory functions & spatial recognition

Question 34

Function of the Temporal Lobe?

Answer 34

Hearing

Question 35

Function of the Frontal Lobe?

Answer 35

Higher thinking, decision-making, motor functions

Question 36

Which side of the brain controls our speech and language?

Answer 36

Left side of the Brain

Question 37

What does the Brocas area do?

Answer 37

Speech, language.

Question 38

What does the Wernickes area do?

Answer 38

Comprehension of Language

Question 39

What chemicals does the endocrine system secrete and what do they do?

Answer 39

Hormones. They control bodily function via the bloodstream.

Question 40

What controls the endocrine system?

Answer 40

The hypothalamus

Question 41

What is the pituitary glands function and what is unique about it?

Answer 41

It controls all other endocrine glands, and plays a significant role in developmental factors of life. (puberty, moods, growth, etc)