Lecture 2 - Stress Psychophysiology

Question 1

What does the nervous system do and what is it comprised of?

Answer 1

The nervous system controls the entire body. It is comprised of nerves, the brain, and the spinal chord.

Question 2

How does the nervous system communicate?

Answer 2

The nervous system communicates both electrically and chemically. Electric signals are passed down the axon within the cell, and chemical signals are passed between the synapses of different cells at the axon terminals.

Question 3

Which is faster between chemical and electrical signalling?

Answer 3

Electrical signalling is faster.

Question 4

How is the nervous system organized?

Answer 4

The nervous system is comprised of the central and peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system contains the brain and the spinal chord. The peripheral nervous system contains the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system is further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

Question 5

What is the purpose of the vertebrae?

Answer 5

It forms a protective sheath that prevents damage to the spinal chord.

Question 6

Why does the area in which you injure your spinal chord determine the type of motor disability you acquire?

Answer 6

The communication of the body and spinal chord is localized. So the upper spine communicates with the upper body, whereas the lower spine communicates with the lower body.

Question 7

Define Afferent and Efferent

Answer 7

Afferent = Ascending/Arriving at the brain
-Sensory signals from the body to the CNS. e.g. perceiving pain

Efferent = Exiting the brain
-Motor signals from the CNS to the body. e.g. moving your finger

Question 8

What does the forebrain consist of?

Answer 8

Cerebral Cortex: thinking and emotions, squiggly because evolutionarily compressed
Limbic System: emotions
Basal Ganglia: movement

Thalamus: relays and processes sensory info, sleep/wakefulness, supports motor and language systems
Hypothalamus: regulates metabolic processes

Question 9

What does the midbrain consist of?

Answer 9

Tectum
Tegmentum

responsible for movement and visual/auditory attention

Question 10

What does the hindbrain consist of?

Answer 10

cerebellum: movement and coordination -> e.g. walking is actually very complex -> cerbellum processes and makes automatic, ‘little brain’

pons & medulla: movement, vital functions -> e.g. heart rate, breathing)

Question 11

What does the brainstem consist of?

Answer 11

The midbrain (tectum & tegmentum) -> movement and attention (visual/auditory)

The hindbrain (cerebellum, pons & medulla) -> coordination, movement and vital functions

Question 12

Why do you have difficulty walking straight when you have alcohol?

Answer 12

Alcohol shuts down the cerebellum which is responsible for coordination and movement

Question 13

The brain is responsible for ______ movements and the spinal chord is responsible for ______ movements.

Answer 13

facial / body

Question 14

What is the reticular formation and where is it located?

Answer 14

It is a nuclei bundle through the brainstem that connects the central nervous system with the peripheral nervous system. It is located in the brainstem.

Question 15

For narcoleptics, the reticular formation ____________.

For sleep-walkers, the reticular formation ___________.

Answer 15

is impaired / can’t shut down

Question 16

What does the reticular formation do?

Answer 16

It controls arousal (suppresses and spikes), sensory information, and the sleep-wake cycle. It also affects the fight/flight response through the hypothalamus.

Question 17

Where is norepinephrine created and what does it do?

Answer 17

NE is created in the locus coeruleus in the pons, which is in the hindbrain. It is a stress chemical/hormone.

It increases arousal and energizes you when you’re stressed. Many classic anti-anxiety medications work to decrease NE.

Question 18

Where is dopamine found and what does it do?

Answer 18

Dopamine is found in the basal ganglia (top of midbrain/base of forebrain) in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area.

It increases motivation, salience and movement. It is NOT a pleasure drug.

Question 19

What neurochemical is related to ADHD?

Answer 19

Dopamine. Everything is salient to people with ADHD, and they want to engage in everything because of a disregulated dopamine system.

Question 20

Where is 5-HT found and what does it do?

Answer 20

5-HT or serotonin is found in the raphe nuclei of the reticular formation in the midbrain.

Serotonin increases mood sleep and appetite.

Question 21

Why is weight gain such a frequent side-effect of depression and anxiety medications?

Answer 21

Serotonin boosts mood, but it also increases sleep and appetite. If all you’re doing is sleeping and eating, it’s no wonder you’re gaining weight.

Question 22

What is the pleasure chemical?

Answer 22

Endorphins/endopioids

Question 23

Where are endopioids found and what do they do?

Answer 23

Endopioids are found in the midbrain in the periaqueductal grey.

They are endogenous opioids and are used for pain control.

Question 24

Where is the thalamus located and what does it do?

Answer 24

The thalamus is located at the base of the forebrain on top of the hypothalamus.

It is the gateway to consciousness and it filters and relays sensory and motor information. The thalamus is involved in memory and attention.

Question 25

Where is the hypothalamus located and what does it do?

Answer 25

The hypothalamus is located at the base of the forebrain underneath the thalamus.

It regulates the endocrine system (hormones) via the pituitary gland, and communicates with the reticular formation. The hypothalamus controls the autonomic nervous system -> fight/flight, resting/digesting, mating, sleeping, etc. It starts the stress cascade.

Question 26

What is Korsokoff’s syndrome and what brain structure is it associated with?

Answer 26

Korsokoff’s syndrome occurs when a vitamin B deficiency damages the thalamus. It is usually associated with chronic and heavy alcoholism, but the disease is a result of a nutritional deficiency from alcoholism, not the alcohol itself. Damage to the thalamus results in confabulation (lying), as well as amnesia and problems with memory and attention. Fortunately, Korsokoff’s syndrome can be reversible.

Question 27

Where is the basal ganglia located, what does it look like, and what does it do?

Answer 27

It is located in the forebrain and is shaped like a sideways comma.

Initiates movement, focus/vigilance and some higher-order cognition. Many dopamine neurons in basal ganglia.

Question 28

Which area of the brain is associated with Parkinson’s?

Answer 28

The basal ganglia because there are many dopamine neurons there. Parkinson’s appear when around 80% of these neurons die off.

Question 29

Where is the limbic system and what does it do?

Answer 29

The limbic system is located in the forebrain at the bottom of the cerebral cortex.

It regulates emotions, attention and high-order cognition.

Question 30

What are the parts of the limbic system?

Answer 30

• Amygdala
• Hippocampus
• Thalamus
• Hypothalamus
• Basal Ganglia
• Cingulate Gyrus

Question 31

Where is the basal ganglia located?

Answer 31

At the top of the midbrain and the base of the forebrain

Question 32

Where is the amygdala located and what does it do?

Answer 32

It is located in the limbic system in the forebrain and it controls fear and emotion. Damage to this area disregulates fear.

Question 33

What brain structure is antisocial-personality disorder associated with?

Answer 33

It is associated with an underactive amygdala. Since the amygdala is responsible for fear and emotions, a damaged amygdala decreases fear and emotions.

Question 34

Where is the anterior cingulate cortex located and what does it do?

Answer 34

It is located in the limbic system and it regulates emotion. It is also responsible for higher functions and the experience of pain.

Question 35

What does the hippocampus do and where is it located?

Answer 35

The hippocampus is responsible for memory, and it is located in the limbic system.

Question 36

What brain structure was damaged in HM? Describe this case study.

Answer 36

HM had a damaged hippocampus. He had his hippocampus removed due to epilepsy. The result was an inability to form any new memories.

Question 37

Name the parts of the cerebral cortex.

Answer 37

Frontal Lobe
Parietal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Temporal Lobe