Lecture Topic 2: Behavioral Neuroscience

Question 1

1. What are the parts of the neuron and what are their general functions (or what happens in each)?

Answer 1

1. Dendrites: Receive the signals from the previous neuron
2. Cell body: Information is collected and integrated
3. Axon: Transmits the signal(action potential to the other neurons.
4. Terminal bouton: The end that transports neurotransmitters into the synapse to send a signal to the postsynaptic neuron

Question 2

The semi-permeability of the cell membrane, and the role that the membrane potential plays in communication or information processing (generally).

Answer 2

a. The cell membrane is semi permeable meaning that it will only let certain substances to pass through but not ions. Instead they pass through gated channels(sodium, potassium channels). The movement of ions across the membrane allows for neurons to communicate via action potentials.
b.

Question 3

Transmission: explain where this occurs, what the Action Potential is and it’s property of “all or none”. Also, explain the role of the myelin sheath

Answer 3

. Transmission occurs in presynaptic neuron where the action potential propagates at the axon hillock and moves down the axon at a fast rate(all or none because it only goes in one direction and once it fires the action potential is propagated and there is no going back) due to the myelin sheath increasing conductivity and insulation. It then travels to the terminal buttons that causes an cascading effect where neurotransmitters are released.

Question 4

Reception: explain where this occurs, what neurotransmitters are and how they affect the post synaptic membrane (Explain lock and key). Also explain how the message is terminated.

Answer 4

It occurs in the presynaptic cell of the synapse where the neurotransmitters in the vesicles are released and fit into the receptors via chemical reaction where the neurotransmitters bind to the active site unlocking the receptor of the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron like a key(ligand gated). Message will be terminated if reuptake occurs in the presynaptic neuron

Question 5

Integration: explain where this occur and what it means. Also, you need to explain how this influences the occurrence of the Action Potential.

Answer 5

Occurs at the postsynaptic neuron where it either has excitatory or inhibitory effects on the post synaptic neuron within the soma. If there is more excitatory action potentials summed together and threshold activation(PSP small) via depolarization or hyperpolarization than an PSP will be propagated and not propagated is the inhibitory effect. There can be more than one action potential that fires depending on if it excitatory. Once there is a huge depolarization than an action potential will be propagated and it cycles back.

Question 6

What are drugs, and generally how do they work? What does it mean for a drug to be an agonist or antagonist?

Answer 6

Drugs are substances that change the chemical physiology of the body. Drugs bind to the neurotransmitters to inhibit or control it.
An agonist is a drug that mimicks the neurotransmitter. Conversely, antagonist inhibits the neurotransmitter.

Question 7

Functions of acetylcholine

Answer 7

Motor control over muscles
Attention, memory, learning and sleeping.

Question 8

Functions of Norepinephrine

Answer 8

Arousal and alertness

Question 9

Function of serotonin

Answer 9

Emotional states and impulse control and dreaming

Question 10

Function of dopamine

Answer 10

Reward and motivation
Motor control over voluntary movement

Question 11

GABA function

Answer 11

Inhibition of action potentials. anxiety reduction and intoxication through alcohol.

Question 12

What did the early research on the nervous system tell us about the organization of the nervous system?

Answer 12

The CNS consists of the spine and brain. The CNS connects to the PNS

Question 13

CNS VS PNS

Answer 13

Central nervous system is encased by the bones which includes the brain and spinal cord. Inversely, peripheral nervous system is not encased by bone which includes nerves like the funny bone.

Question 14

Somatic vs autonomic
How does the endocrine system fit in?

Answer 14

Somatic nervous system(muscles, skin and joints) transmits sensory and motor signals to the CNS In or vice versa contrast autonomic system sends sensory and motor signals from the PNS(glands and organs) to the CNS

Question 15

sympathetic vs parasympathetic

Answer 15

The sympathetic branch includes prepares the body for fight or flight. In contrast the parasympathetic brings the body back to resting state. Both include glands(endocrine system and organs.
The nervous system and endocrine system influence mental activity and behavior(psychological activity)

Question 16

Hindbrain

Answer 16

Hindbrain is where the spinal cord thickens and becomes more complex creating the hindbrain. It is comprised of the medulla for survivability such as heart rate, choking . The next structure is the pons(regulates sleeps, arousal and movements of left and rights side of the body. The last structure is the cerebellum which is essential for coordinated movement and balance.

Question 17

Midbrain

Answer 17

The midbrain is involve in the reflexive movement of the eyes and body. It is composed of the substantia nigra which is important for making voluntary movement and initiating movements.

Question 18

Forebrain

Answer 18

The forebrain is composed of the cerebral cortex and and subcortical structures that are utilized for psychological functions. The first structure is the thalamus is the main source for almost all incoming sensory info(excluding olfactory) before reaches the cortex.. The hypothalamus regulates bodily function and basic motivated behaviors. The third structure is hippocampus which is associated with formation of new memories The fourth structure is the amygdala which is associated with emotion responses and processing emotional info.

Question 19

Spinal cord

Answer 19

The spinal cord is inferior to the brain. The spinal cord is the origin for sending info(motor and sensory) from the body to the brain.

Question 20

Basal ganglia

Answer 20

Include two pathways that process info within the cerebrum

Question 21

What is the Nature versus Nurture argument in psychology? How do genes relate to this discussion? What are the two methods discussed in the text used to discern the influence of genes versus the environment?

Answer 21

Nature vs nurture argument is does genetics or the environment play a larger role in behavior(adhd) or ailments(MS).Genes are the nature part of the argument and have a large influence on behavior.
Research focus on a specific trait such as comparing monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins. Similarities between adopt siblings have more to do with environment but not personality.

Question 22

Epigenetics

Answer 22

Is how the environment affects gene expression. Researchers have found that environment does not alter genss but does changes how and when genes are expressed.

Question 23

What is Brain Plasticity, and what are the three ways the structure of the brain can change? General Question

Answer 23

Plasticity refers to a change in neural pathways of the brain through experience, drugs or injury
1. Growing new neurons
2. Changing existing neural connections.
3. Brain reorganization

Question 24

Why do we need to study the brain/nervous system if we are psychologists?

Answer 24

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. So we need to understand how the brain works to understand how the mind works. Because the brain is associated with how someone behaves which is mostly in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system(hippocampus and amygdala are the primary ones for behavior. The nervous system connects to the brain so they work in conjunction if the brain is not working then movement will not occur such as unconsious behavior cause paralysis(psychoanalytic theory).

Question 25

Understand “split brain” patients: A condition where the corpus callosum is surgically severed and the hemispheres do not receive info from each other.
What is the left-brain, right brain myth?

Answer 25

A condition where the corpus callosum is surgically severed and the hemispheres do not receive info from eachother.

The notion that some people are left brain logical types and other are right artistic types however this has been proven false instead the hemispheres work together.