L1-L4 Flashcards
Biological Psychology is a synonym of (3)
Behavioural neuroscience, psychobiology, physiological psychology
Behaviour consists of (2)
Overt acts (or external) and internal events (learning, thinking, feeling, emotions (Affective), cognition)
Cognitive neuroscience seeks to determine
how the brain processes information, builds memories, navigates decisions (3)
from physical and chemical activity of neurons in the brain (1)
What is the human brain capable of (3)
contemplating its own existence, perceiving impressions, feelings
Who stated that our body acts “in accordance with the discernment of the brain”
Hippocrates, in the 4th century BC
Who mentioned “neurochemistry of the brain” and “billions of neural connections” build our consciousness?
Carl Sagon (is not completely right, though)
We are not the properties of any given piece; rather the system as a whole. Hence, the interactions between the ind components establish our intelligence.
Emergent properties
What are the two levels of analysis in the behavioural sciences?
Sociocultural and Biophysical
What are the major divisions of the human nervous system?
Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System (CNS and PNS)
Which biological structures are involved in the CNS?
The Brain and the Spinal Cord
In the PNS, what are the examples of sensory and motor connections? (3)
sensory to receptors in the skin, motor to body muscles and both to internal body organs and gut
Which brain measurement method traces connection (1) and what does it depend on? (1)
Connectional method. It depends on inputs and outputs (to and from a neuron & to and from a region of the brain)
What is the main difference between MRI and fMRI?
MRI studies brain structure (Structuralism) and fMRI studies brain function (Functionalism)
Which scanner does the technique that maps out the diffusion of water within the neural tissue use? (1) Is it invasive or non invasive? (1)
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) uses MRI scanner. It is non-invasive
An example of an invasive measurement that records electrical activity of neurons.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), where electrodes are implanted in the brain.
What is an example of an invasive method?
Brain surgery performed while the patient is playing his violin. Explain this type of method.
Correlational method which involves making observations of brain activity while an individual is performing some type of behaviour.
How does MRI measure our brain? (2)
It allows us to look at differences in how protons in the brain tissues behave under a strong magnetic field.
What is the BOLD response? Where is it used?
BOLD stands for Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent, which measures the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated blood.
It is used in fMRI
When do neurons require more oxygen than usual?
When they become active
What is neuropsychological testing?
it is testing effects of brain damage on specific cognitive functions
What are the possible causes of lesion studies? (5)
Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Tumours, Degenerative diseases Infection
What is TBI
Traumatic Brain Injury
What is the cause of a stroke
bleeding or blockage of blood supply into the brain region
What is single dissociation?
It is an acquired disability that affects only one area of functioning without impairing any other area of functioning
What causes double dissociations?
damage to one area of the brain causes a function A to be absent while function B is present, and damage to another area causes function B to be absent while function A is present
A patient with a lesion on his temporal lobe would have intact (A) memory skill , but decreased (B) memory skill. (2)
What can we draw from this result?
A: Recency memory
B: Familiarity memory
Temporal lobe is thus involved in recalling familiar memories.
Another patient with an impairment on his frontal lobe has intact F memory, but decreased R memory. What can we draw from this conclusion? (1)
The frontal lobe is involved in recalling recent events.
How does DBS work (1) and what are its applications (2)?
Electrodes are implanted in the brain to stimulate an area of interest with a low voltage electrical current to facilitate behaviour.
It is used for therapeutic applications (Parkinson’s disease, depression, OCD)
What does TMS stand for (1) and is it invasive (1)?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. It is not invasive because a magnetic coil is placed over the skull
TMS can trigger a virtual lesion. What is this?
Disrupting a cognitive or motor function virtually without causing actual lesions (damages) to the brain
What is the TMS useful for and not useful for (2)?
It can be used to treat depression
But it can’t be used to treat epilepsy.
What are the 6 major less invasive correlational methods that uses brain’s electrical activity?
- EEG
- MEG
- PET
- fMRI
- ERP
- Single-cell recording
Where are Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas located?
Broca’s area is located in the left inferior frontal gyrus (or simply LEFT FRONTAL LOBE) and Wernicke’s in the left posterior superior temporal gyrus (or simply LEFT TEMPORAL LOBE)
What is Broca’s area responsible for and thus what is Broca’s Expressive Aphasia?
B’s area is responsible for language production. This aphasia leaves you with preserved speech comprehension, but non fluent communication skills.
What is Wernicke’s area responsible for and thus what is W’s Receptive Aphasia?
Wernicke’s area is responsible for language comprehension. This aphasia leaves you with fluent communication skills, but an impaired language comprehension.
What does EEG stand for and what does it measure (2) ?
ElectroEncephalography.
It measures ongoing brain activity or changes in response to a particular stimulus.
What does high frequency and small amplitude of an EEG recording suggest?
It is an awake or excited state where neurochemical activities are firing constantly.
What does low frequency and large amplitude of an EEG recording suggest?
It is a coma state where neurochemical activities are barely happening.
What are the 2 types of research and 1 that bridges the gap between them?
Pure and applied research. Translational.
What are the 2 branches of the PNS?
Somatic system and the autonomic nervous system
What does the somatic system of PNS control? Give 2 functions.
Voluntary movements:
- muscle action
- carrying information back to the CNS
What does the autonomic nervous system control? Give 2 examples.
Involuntary functions:
- respiration
- digestion
What are the 2 divisions of the autonomic nervous system of PNS?
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
Where in the branch does the sympathetic division belong and what is its role?
It belongs to the autonomic NS of the PNS.
It is responsible for energy expenditure.
What is the fight or flight response? Give 3 signs.
It is sympathetic division of autonomic NS of PNS. It regulates:
- pupil dilation
- adrenaline production
- rising of blood pressure
- increasing heart beat rate
- tense muscles
- sweating
- glucose release from the liver to the muscles
- dry mouth
What is the rest and digest response?
A parasympathetic one
What is the region of the brain that bridges the left and right hemisphere?
Corpus Callosum
The grey matter surrounding the cerebrum is known as the cortex of the brain. What is one of the cortexes?
The Cerebral Cortex.
Cerebral Cortex includes which two cortices?
Primary and association cortices.
What is the largest and uppermost part of the brain? What are its major divisions?
It is the Cerebrum. It has left and right hemispheres.
What are the 4 lobes of the brain?
- Frontal
- Parietal
- Occipital
- Temporal
What is the main function of the Occipital lobe?
Visual processing
What are the main functions of the Parietal lobe? (3)
Sensory processing,
Language,
Attention
What are the main functions of the Frontal lobe? (2)
Movement,
Higher cognitive functions
What are the main functions of the Temporal lobe? (3)
Auditory processing,
Sensory integration,
Memory
What is the function of gyri and sulci
A cortex folding that allows for increasing its surface area which maximizes processes
What is the ridge-like elevation found on the surface of the cerebral cortex?
the gyrus
What is a shallower groove that surrounds a gyrus?
the sulcus
What is a deeper grove (that separates the fronto-parietal from the temporal lobe)?
the fissure
Function of the Central Sulcus.
Distinguishes the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
Function of the Sylvian(Lateral) Fissure.
Distinguishes the frontal lobe and the parietal lobe from the temporal lobe
Role of longitudinal fissure?
divides left and right hemispheres
What is the fissure that divides the occipital lobe and the temporal lobe from the cerebellum?
Transverse fissure
4 structures of the forebrain
- Cortex
- Basal ganglia
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
3 structures of the midbrain
- Colliculi
- Tegmentum
- Cerebral penduncles
3 structures of the hindbrain
- Pons
- Medulla oblongata
- Cerebellum
Where is the telencephalon located and what are its two major structures?
In the forebrain/Cerebrum
1. cortex
2. Subcortical structures
- limbic system
- basal ganglia
What is the diencephalon?
Thalamus and hypothalamus
in the telencephalon in the forebrain.
What structure prioritizes sensory info and transmits it to the cerebral cortex (relay)?
Thalamus
What are the 4 main functions of the hypothalamus?
- Homeostasis
- motivation
- survival
- basic drives
What are 3 major structures of the limbic system?
- Hippocampus
- learning and memory - Amygdala
- emotion
- fear response - Mammillary bodies
- aspects of memory
Hippocampus role
learning and memory
Amygdala role
emotion and fear response
Mammillary bodies’ role
Aspects of memory
Thalamus role
prioritizes sensory information and transmits it to cortex
What structure links the nervous system to endocrine system (hormones) through the pituitary gland
Hypothalamus
What is the basal ganglia involved in (3)?
Which neurological disorder?
- motor control,
- learning,
- motivation and reward
Parkinson’s disease
Which part of the hindbrain controls sleep and arousal?
pons
Which part of the hindbrain regulates cardiovascular system, breathing, skeletal muscle tone?
medulla oblongata
Which part of the hindbrain is involved in motor control, timing and associative learning?
cerebellum
Tetrodotoxin is a poison found in the pufferfish’s liver. What happens when it is consumed by us?
The poison prevents the transmission of action potentials, which are electrical signals by which neurons communicate.
What did Ramon y Cajal state in “Neuron Doctrine”?
He said that neurons are separate entities.
What is a property that distinguishes the neuron from other cells?
Its ability to transmit electrical signals quickly over long distances.
How many neurons are there in our brain?
approx. 86 billion
What are the major roles of dendrites, soma, axon and axon terminal respectively in neurotransmission?
- collecting
- integrating
- conducting
- outputting
What do dendrites collect?
chemical signals
Dendrites pass information to… which integrates signals
soma (Cell body)
Which 3 factors distinguish axon from dendrites?
- Long extension
- One extension
- Can carry signal from spinal cord to big toe
Axon branches have … axon buttons
appr. 10 000
Which neuron structure contain packages of chemicals that can be released into the space between cells?
axon terminals
What is the synapse for?
Main location for signal transmission
What are the 3 different types of neurons?
Sensory and
Motor and interneurons
Afferent neuron is … (2)
- Sensory
- from PNS to CNS (upwards)
Efferent neuron is … (2)
- Motor
- from CNS to PNS (downwards)
What is the neuron between sensory and motor?
interneuron: integrates the two
Neuron Structure: what is the structure found inside soma that contains genetic information?
the nucleus
Neuron Structure:
what is the white outlayer surrounding the axon?
Myelin sheath
Neuron Structure: what are the gaps found between myelin sheaths?
the node of Ranvier
What are the glial cells found in the CNS and PNS respectively?
CNS: oligodendrocytes
PNS: Schwann cells
5 functions of glia
- myelin sheath
- transport nutrients to neurons
- clean up brain debris
- digest parts of dead neurons
- helps to hold neurons in place
What type of disease is Multiple Sclerosis and what is it caused by? What are its effects?
- It’s an autoimmune disease.
- It is caused by demyelination where myelin sheaths become scarred
- it cannot therefore insulate the axon
Who discovered neurotransmission?
Otto Loewi
What is the method that cells use to communicate across small gulfs of space (to target muscles, hearts etc)
Neuron transmission
What is the 20-50nm microscopic gap between 2 neurons that allows communication through neurotransmitters?
Synaptic cleft
Where are neurotransmitter molecules contained in ?
Synaptic vesicle
Describe the process of neurotransmission at the
synaptic
cleft in 3 simple steps
- Synaptic vesicles fuse with the outer membrane of the presynaptic axon terminal
- Molecules are released in the synaptic gap
- These molecules bind to the receptor sites on the post-synaptic axon terminal
What are the 3 action types of neurotransmission?
- Excitatory
- Inhibitory
- Modulatory
What does excitatory action lead to?
Depolarization of the action potential: becomes fired
What does inhibitory action lead to?
Hyperpolarization - action potential difficult to fire
What are the 6 key neurotransmitters
- Glutamate
- Dopamine
- Serotonin
- Norepinephrine
- Acetylcholine
- Histamine
Action potential is also called… (2)
nerve impulse or spike
What are the 2 ions that play key roles in AP?
- Na+ (sodium ion)
- K+ (potassium ion)
Describe the state of sodium and potassium at REST
- Sodium: high concentration in the extracellular space (makes inside the cell more negative)
- Potassium: high concentration inside
What is the voltage at the RESTING POTENTIAL?
-70mV
What needs to be reached in order to fire AP before depolarization?
The THRESHOLD of -35mV
What does reaching the threshold trigger?
Opening of Na+ voltage gated ion channels where Na+ travels into the cell
When do Na+ channels close again?
When the voltage spike is caused by the exchange of ions
As Na+ channels open and close across the membrane, … channels also open and close
K+ channels
How can AP be describe as a cycle?
Cycle of DEPOLARIZATION AND REPOLARIZATION
How fast (time and speed) are electrical signals passed down?
- 1ms
- several hundred mph
What is the role of dendrites in neurotransmission?
They absorb the neurotransmitter molecules
Primary excitatory transmitter responsible for MEMORY and LEARNING
Glutamate
Neurotransmitter that rewards LEARNING and MUSCLE control
Dopamine
Neuromodulator of Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity, Reward and Movement Control
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter that controls MOOD, MEMORY, SLEEP, APPETITE
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter that belongs to the Autonomic NS, regulates MOVEMENT and COGNITION
AcetylCholine
Neurotransmitter involved in METABOLISM, TEMPERATURE and HORMONAL control, SLEEP-WAKE cycle
Histamine
A potent inflammatory mediator, commonly associated with allergic reactions
Histamine
Neurotransmitter that belongs to the Sympathetic NS of the Autonomic NS, controls ALERTNESS and ATTENTION (fight-or-flight response)
Norepinephrine
or
Noradrenaline
(A) is continuously released into circulation at low levels while (B) is only released during times of stress. They are both in the (C) nervous system
A: Noradrenaline
B: Adrenaline
C: Sympathetic
Which Neurotransmitters are most associated with movement? (2)
Dopamine and AcetylCholine
Glutamate is an excitatory neuron involved in …(2)
- Memory
- Learning
Histamine is involved in
- (A) such as inflammatory response
- (B) and (C) control
- Sleep-(D) Cycle
A: metabolism
B: Hormone
C: Temperature
D: Wake
Serotonin is associated with … (4)
- Mood
- Sleep
- Appetite
- Memory
Noradrenaline is involved in … (2)
- Attention
- Altertness
Dopamine is a neuromodulator involved in… (2)
- Motor/movement control
- Learning
Hyperpolarization is also called …
Refractory Period
After the neurotransmission takes place… neurotransmitters are either (A) or (B) for reusage or broken down by (C)
A: diffused
B: uptaken
C: enzymes
What happens to each ion channels at the threshold of the Action Potential?
Na+ channels open
K+ channels remain closed
What happens to each ion channels at the peak of the Action potential?
Na+ channels close
K+ channels open
Rapid voltage change gives enough time to spread far down the (A) for neighboring (B) channels to open
A: membrane
B: Na+
What type of brain IMAGING method maps WHITE MATTER connections between brain regions?
DTI - Diffusion Tensor Imaging
(A) is a continuous measure of electrical brain activity.
(B) on the other hand, are short segments of (A) data that are time-locked to particular events of experimental interest, and typically averaged over many trials of an experiment
A: EEG
B: ERP
… are small voltages generated in the brain structures in response to specific events or stimuli
ERP - Event Related Potentials
Scale in studying the NS:
- Scalp ERPs
- MEC
- fMRI
- EEG
- PET
- Lesion
belongs to which scale? From … to …
1mm to 1m - Voxel to Brain
… methods involve making observations of brain activity while an individual is performing some type of behaviour
Correlational
which neurotransmitters are involved in sleep?(2)
Histamine and
serotonin
