Introduction and History Flashcards
Module 1.1 and 1.2
define biological psychology
study of physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behaviour and experience
define neuron
conveys messages to one another and to muscles and glands, vary in size, shape and function. receiving info and transmitting it to other cells
define glia
smaller than neurons, and have many function but do not convey information over a great distance. known as glue that holds neurons together
what are the 3 main points to remember?
- perception occurs in the brain
- mental activity and certain types of brain activity are inseparable (monism and dualism)
- people differ from one another in many ways and many of these differences can be traced back to the brain
define physiological explanation
relates a behaviour to the activity of the brain and other organs
define ontogenetic explanation
describes how something developes
define evolutionary explanation
reconstructs history of a structure of behaviour
define functional explanation
describes why a structure or behaviour evolved as it did
what is the surface of a neuron cell called and what is its function?
semipermeable membrane, it is a structure that is used to separate the inside and outside environments. most things cannot cross this but we use protein channels/pumps to help import and control certain chemicals inside the cell.
what structure contains all the chromosomes?
nucleus
what structure synthesizes new protein molecules?
ribosomes, some float freely in the cell but other attach to the endoplasmic reticulum, which is a network of thin tubes to transport these newly created proteins to specific locations
define mitochondria
performs all metabolic activity and providing the cell with all its necessary energy
what structures do all neurons have?
cell body, dendrites, axon and presynaptic terminals
define motor neuron
its cell body is contained in the spinal cord, and it receives excitation through its dendrites which go on to create an impulse through the axon to a muscle, creating movement
define sensory neuron
one end of this neuron is highly sensitive to touch. the dendrites lead directly from receptors into the axon and the tiny cell body is slightly separate from the axon
define dendrites
branching fibres lined with specialized synaptic receptors, where it receives information. most contain dendrite spines, that increase the surface area available for synapses
define cell body
contain nucleus, ribosomes, and mitchondria
define axon
thin fiber of constant diameter that conveys the impulse from the neuron to another
defone myelin sheath
insulating material convering the axon, not all neurons have this
define node of Ranvier
interruption in the myelin sheath, this si where the activity/ion transfer occurs
define presynaptic terminals
where the axon releases chemicals to cross to another cell
what is the difference between afferent and efferent axons?
afferent bring info into the structure, to the CNS and efferent carries info away, from CNS
efferent = e = exit
define intrinsic neuron
when a cells dendrites and axon are entirely contained within a single structure
define astrocytes
a star-shaped glia that synchronizes the activity of the axon allowing for the axon to send messages in waves.
define microglia
- immune related work
- develop and remove synapses
- develop and remove neuronal precursors
- remove stress out neurons that are problematic
- remove neutrophil (white blood cells that have already done their job)
- remove live glioma cells (they form tumors)
- can be considered the 4th part of the synapse
what glia cells build myelin sheath?
oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells
define radial galia
cells that guide the migration of neuron and growth of axons/dendrites when a baby is being created
what is the mechanism that excludes most chemicals from our brain?
blood-brain barrier, it uses active transport to allow molecules to cross the membrane with a protien-mediated process with energy. it keeps out viruses but also keeps of most nutrients
explain the encephalocentric theory
- it was created by Hippocrates
- saying that the brain is the organ of the mind
- created initials thoughts about lateralization of function (how RS of brain controls LS of body)
- encephalo = head
explain the cardiocentric theory
- created by aristotle
- how the brain moderates the heart, where thoughts are generated
- cardio = heart
what is the difference between dualism and monism?
dualism: saying that we are 2 substances that just interact with each other. Being our body (visible, changeable, material) and our soul (invisible, unchangeable, and non-material). Dual = 2
monsim: saying we are composed of 1 materialistic substance, the mind and body are one. mono = 1
define physic pneuma
thought by Galen to believe the it is like invisible air that is responsible for our perception, cognition and actions
who is Descartes?
Mind-body dualism
- the human body is a machine that experiments can be done on to test ideas
- the mind is made of immaterial substance (introspection = observation of one’s own mental processes)
- The pineal gland manipulates the mind and body
who is Gall?
Localization of function (phrenology)
- cognitive abilites were driven by different parts of the brain, each function has specific location
whois Flourens?
He worked with animals in removing/damaging specific parts of the brain and assessing the outcome in function. Found there was localization only in areas below the cortex (subcortical)
who is Broca?
examined patient Tan who had a stroke that resulted in a behavioural change. Broca’s area is now associated with people who can comprehend speech and CAN NOT PRODUCE it (Broca’s aphasia). speech is often located in the left hemisphere
who is Wernicke?
discovered an area of the brain that was associated with speech and when damaged, the patient would produce speech but CAN NOT COMPREHEND
explain what spatial neglect is?
occurs when there is damage in a patient’s parietal and temporal region but only on the RIGHT side of the brain, often from a stroke. creating a failure to pay attention to objects on the left side of space and body.
why is the heyday of human psychosurgery so important?
is it when they started to surgically modify brains. Moniz performed many frontal leucotomies (damaging frontal lobe to treat illness)
define split-brain
the corpus callosum is the pathway that connects the right and left hemispheres (commissurotomy = when this pathway is disconnected/cut). creates odd behaviours such as alien hand
what is the current popular monistic view on the mind?
materialism: only physical matter
identity position: the mind is the activity of the brain
reductionism: The functioning of the mind is in neural processes
define panpsychism
since we cannot explain consciousness, we should just describe it as a state of matter
who is Galvani?
- stimulated frog’s leg to move with static electricity
- nerves conduct electrical signals
who is Muller?
- law of specific nerve energies (only matters to what nerve you stimulate)
- vitalism (needing more than just material to create experience)
who is Helmholtz?
- discover an ophthalmoscope (device to see deeply into the eye)
- speed of nerve condition (measuring the response from bi to to time it was felt)
what is the difference between reticular and neuron theory?
reticular is looking at the nervous system as a continuous network where as neuron is showing the the relationships arent continuous rather contiguity, just separated by small gap (synapse)
what did Sherrington discover?
he introduced the concept of the synapse
what is the difference between grey and white matter?
grey contains cell bodies of neurons where white matter contains many glia
what are the 3 kinds of neurons?
multipolar: many stalks are coming out of the soma to receive incoming info (ex. muscles and glands)
bipolar: only 2 stalks coming from the soma (ex. sensory systems)
unipolar: on a single stalk from the soma (ex. somatosenses)
define vesicle
transports information throughout the cell in an encased bubble
what is the dendritic spine and shaft?
the spine is the main branch that is constantly changing in shape due to neural activity. The shafts are all the tiny branches that grow off of the main spine. they are used to create more surface area to have more neural connections. if you have a decrease in shafts, can causes things such as down syndrome where you have slow cognitions
define actin filaments
help to create shape and structure within the soma
define adhesion molecules of the synapse
connect pre- and postsynaptic compartments, but also mediate trans-synaptic recognition and signalling processes that are essential for the establishment, specification, and plasticity of synapses.
define postsynaptic densisty
processing the traffic of chemical in the neuron
define microtubule
it is teh trafficking system for material to be transported from soma to axon
anterograde: kinesin motor protein goes from soma to axon along microtubule
retrograde: dynein protein goes from axon to soma
define synaptic cleft
this is where the exchange of materials will occur between the synapses
define neurotransmitter
chemical communication that occurs by the neurons
what are the functions of the astrocytes?
- creating the blood-brain barrier, they add another layer to control what can get transferred in and out of the brain, covering the tight junctions that say what goes in and out
- serve as a connection for nutrients between blood and neurons
- connect to other astrocytes for long-distance transfer
- create scaffolding that holds neurons in place and allows the brain to complete its activities
- helps to constrict and dilate blood vessel
define the tripartite synapse
it contains the presynaptic, postsynaptic, and astrocytes
how does an astrocyte synchronize synaptic activity?
it holds around multiple synapses at once and therefore synchronizes the activity of them all
define Schwann cell
- found in the PNS only
- create myelin to help insulate the axons on the neurons, only 1 section at a time
- insulate and provide nutrient to the axon
- also releases chemical to help regenerate
define oligodendrocytes
- found in the CNS only
- create myelin to insulate axons, but will create multiple sections of myelin at once (including on other neurons at the same time)
- does not help to facilitate regeneration so damage to these glial cells are more severe
define poldendrocytes/ NG2 cells
- form precursors for oligodendrocytes
- can form synapses with neurons to help pass the electrical signal along
- can change to become an oligodendrocyte to myelinate another cell
- contains genetic material for many different kinds of cells
how do microglia help with synaptic pruning?
microglai with help to regualte the turn over and make room for more/new neural connections. can become problematic when they engulf (phagocytosis) healthy tissues instead of dying ones
define radial glai
- only during development
- create scaffolding between the ventricle and the surface of your cortex to help migrating neurons
