Intro to Psychology: Unit 1 Chapter 3 Flashcards
What are Neurons and what are the most common Neurons?
They receive, process, and send information
Neurotransmitters
What are Neurotransmitters?
Neurons/chemicals that communicate with other neurons and transmit info from one neuron to another.
Parts of the Neuron: Soma
Soma is the Cell Body (contains the Nucleus)
Parts of the Neuron: Dendrites
Branchlike Part of the neuron
RECEIVES info from other neurons
Parts of the Neuron: Axon
SENDS Information
Parts of the Neuron: Myelin Sheath
Fatty substance that surrounds the axon.
Acts as an insulater that allows messages to speed up.
Parts of the Neuron: Terminal Buttons
Allows neurons to connect to multiple cells.
SECRETES chemicals.
Parts of the Neuron: Synapse
Junction where info is transmitted from one neuron to another.
Parts of the Neuron: Glia
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)
What are synaptic vesicles?
Small sacs within the buttons where neurotransmitters are stored.
What’s postsynaptic potential?
The change in electrical charge in a neuron after it receives a signal from another neuron.
What is Pics Disease?
A form of dementia where they slowly lose memory over time.
Loses the ability to make basic differentiations.
During what process are most neurotransmitters reabsorbed into the presynaptic neuron?
The Reuptake process
What is Reuptake?
Process where neurotransmitters are sponged up from the synaptic cleft by the presynaptic membrane.
What are some disorders associated with neurotransmitters?
Alzheimers Disease - Low ACh
Parkinsons - Dopamine
Depression - Norepinephrine
Depression, OCD - Seratonin
These could all be dictated by EITHER biological OR environmental factors.
What is the PNS and what does it consist of?
All the nerves that extend OUTSIDE the brain and spinal cord.
Consists of the Somatic & Autonomic Nervous System.
What is the Somatic Nervous system?
Made up of nerves that connect to Voluntary skeletal muscles and sensory receptors.
What is the Autonomic Nervous system?
Controls automatic, involuntary functions.
Contains Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Nervous system.
Research/specialized Techniques to investigate brain: Lesioning
Involved the destruction of a piece of the brain in order to observe what happens.
Research/specialized Techniques to investigate brain: Electrical Stimulation
Sending a weak electrical current into the brain to stimulate it.
Research/specialized Techniques to investigate brain: CT Scan or MRI
Magnetic Imaging to look inside and observe parts of the brain.
Research/specialized Techniques to investigate brain: TMS
Magnetic Stimulation to enhance or depress activity in a specific area of the brain.
What are some disorders that can be altered with TMS?
Depression, Parkinsons, Personality Disorders, Strokes
What are the 3 parts of the Hindbrain and their functions?
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.
What is the midbrain?
Releases dopamine, and processes visual & auditory signals.
What formation runs through the midbrain and hindbrain?
The reticular formation.
What does the reticular formation do?
Contributes to muscle reflexes, breathing, and the perception of pain.
What’s the Forebrain?
The largest region of the brain
Includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, and cerebrum.
What is the Thalamus?
Relays sensory info.
What is the Hypothalamus? (What are the four Fs?)
Maintains Homeostasis.
Fighting, Fleeing, Feeding, Fornicating
What is the Limbic System?
Memory & emotion.
Our personality.
What is the cerebrum?
In charge of higher cognitive processes such as reasoning, language, emotion, and voluntary movement.
What side controls what in the cerebral hemispheres?
Left Side of brain controls right side of body and vice versa.
Function of the Occipital Lobe?
Vision
Function of the Parietal Lobe?
Sensory functions & spatial recognition
Function of the Temporal Lobe?
Hearing
Function of the Frontal Lobe?
Higher thinking, decision-making, motor functions
Which side of the brain controls our speech and language?
Left side of the Brain
What does the Brocas area do?
Speech, language.
What does the Wernickes area do?
Comprehension of Language
What chemicals does the endocrine system secrete and what do they do?
Hormones.
They control bodily function via the bloodstream.
What controls the endocrine system?
The hypothalamus
What is the pituitary glands function and what is unique about it?
It controls all other endocrine glands, and plays a significant role in developmental factors of life. (puberty, moods, growth, etc)
