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PSYCH5121 exam notes > LU 3: Biology Of Behaviour > Flashcards

LU 3: Biology Of Behaviour Flashcards

1
Q

What does the CNS consist of?

A

The brain & spinal cord.

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2
Q

The PNS can be divided into 2 parts:

A

The somatic and autonomic nervous system.

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3
Q

What is the purpose of the somatic nervous system?

A
  • feel the world around you (voluntary action).
  • nerves that connect to voluntary skeletal muscles & sensory receptors.
  • carry info from receptors in the skin, muscles and joints to the CNS and the CNS—> muscles.
  • afferent and efferent nerve fibres.
    (PNS to CNS) —> (CNS to PNS).
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4
Q

What is the purpose of the autonomic nervous system?

A
  • nerves that connect to ❤️, blood vessels, smooth muscles & glands.
  • separate but governed by CNS.
  • controls involuntary actions.
  • ANS controls physiological arousal.
  • fight or flight response.
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5
Q

What is the fight or flight response?

A
  • difficult to control actions such as an increased heart rate, difficulty breathing.
  • after Cannon carefully monitored the response in animals, he concluded that organisms generally respond to threat by physically attacking (fight) or fleeing (flight) the enemy.
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6
Q

The ANS consists of 2 branches:

A

The Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

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7
Q

What is the Sympathetic (mobilize) nervous system’s purpose? Provide examples.

A
  • person is automatically aroused.
  • mobilizes the bodies resources for emergencies, creates the fight or flight response.
    Examples: dilated pupils, increased heartbeat, conversion of glycogen to glucose.
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8
Q

What is the parasympathetic (conserve) nervous system’s purpose? Provide examples.

A
  • conserves bodily resources to store energy.
    Examples: slows heartbeat, stimulates the release of bile, contracts bladder.
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9
Q

The CNS is protected in enclosing sheaths called:

A

Meninges.

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10
Q

The brain is surrounded by 3 main layers:

A
  1. Outer dura mater
  2. Arachnoid membrane
  3. Pia mater.
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11
Q

Describe the outer dura mater.

A

Thick, rubbery layer.

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12
Q

Describe the arachnoid membrane.

A

Web- like.

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13
Q

Describe the pia mater.

A

Softer, around brain.

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14
Q

Investigators who conduct research on the brain or other parts of the nervous system are called:

A

Neuroscientists.

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15
Q

What is lesioning?

A
  • Involves destroying a piece of brain
  • Typically done with an electrode inserted into the brain and passing a high frequency electric current through it to burn the tissue & disable the structure.
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16
Q

What are the difficulties of lesioning?

A
  • Can be difficult to determine the exact location.
  • Variations in participants’ histories difficult to isolate cause- effect relationships.
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17
Q

What do electrical recordings of the brain do?

A

Electrical activity in the brain can be recorded using specialized tools & equipment that record specific regional activity or even the activity of single cells.

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18
Q

In 1929 a German psychiatrist, Hans Berger invented which machine? What does it do?

A

The Electroencephalograph (EEG).
A device that monitors the electrical activist of the brain over time by means of reducing electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp.

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19
Q

What is electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB)?

A

Involves sending a weak electric current into a brain structure to stimulate it.

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20
Q

What is Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

A

A new technique that permits scientists to temporary enhance/ depress activity in a certain area of the brain. A magnetic coil on a small paddle held over the patients head creates a magnetic file about 2cm deep.

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21
Q

What is Neuropsychological assessment?

A
  • Branch of psychology concerned with the interaction between biological aspects of brain and their psychological and behavioral expression.
  • Neuropsychological assessment procedures & standardized tests/ batteries of cognitive & behavioral tests are administered to subjects.
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22
Q

What is a CT scan?

A

Computer enhanced X- ray of brain structure. Multiple X- rays are shot from many angles & the computer combines the readings to create images of the “slices” of the brain and looks for abnormalities in the brain structure.
Eg) enlargement of ventricles in schizophrenia.

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23
Q

What are the 3 other brain- imaging procedures?

A
  1. PET (position emission tomography)
  2. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
  3. fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)
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24
Q

The hindbrain includes the:

A

Cerebellum

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25
Q

What are the two other structures found in the lower part of the brain stem?

A

The medulla and the pons.

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26
Q

Describe the cerebellum

A
  • Co- ordination of movement & to the sense of equilibrium/ physical balance.
  • Damage to cerebellum disrupts fine motor skills such as writing.
  • Recent research has revealed the cerebellum contributes to the control of other functions besides motor skills.
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27
Q

Describe the medulla

A
  • Attaches to the spinal cord, controls largely unconsciousness but essential functions, such as regulating, breathing, maintaining muscle tone & regulating circulation.
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28
Q

Describe the pons

A
  • Several clusters of cell bodies that contribute to sleep and arousal.
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29
Q

What is the midbrain concerned with?

A

Certain sensory processes such as locating where things are in space.

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30
Q

Where does the reticular formation run through?

A

Both the hindbrain & midbrain.

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31
Q

What are the functions of the reticular formation?

A

Group of fibres that carry stimulation related to sleep and arousal through the brain stem.

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32
Q

The forebrain consists of what 4 structures:

A
  1. Thalamus
  2. Hypothalamus
  3. Limbic system
  4. Cerebrum
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33
Q

What is the thalamus?

A

AKA relay station.
- Structure in the forebrain through which all sensory information except smell must pass to get to cerebral cortex.
- It’s made up of cell bodies/ nuclei.
- Each cluster is concerned with replaying sensory information to a particular part of the cortex.
- Function in integrating information from various senses so it can be sent to the cerebellum and medulla.

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34
Q

“Hypo” means…

A

Under.

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35
Q

What shape is the hypothalamus?

A

Kidney bean shape.

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36
Q

What is the main function of the hypothalamus (biological needs)?

A
  • Controls the autonomic nervous system.
  • Maintains homeostasis.
  • Link between the brain and the endocrine system.
  • The hypothalamus is made up of a number of distinct nuclei.
  • These nuclei regulate a variety of basic biological drives, including fighting, fleeing, feeding & mating.
  • Involved in biological processes like thirst and temperature regulation.
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37
Q

What is the limbic system (motivation, memory)?

A
  • This is the loosely connected network of structures involved in emotion, motivation, memory & in self- preservation such as eating, aggression & reproduction.
  • Plays an important role in learning & memory processes.
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38
Q

What does the limbic system include?

A
  1. Hypothalamus
  2. Hippocampus
  3. Amygdala
  4. Olfactory bulb
  5. Cingulate gyrus.
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39
Q

Describe the amygdala (fear, anger)

A
  • Deeply embedded in the temporal lobe, the wing of cortex that curves around the side of the brain, in each hemisphere.
  • Plays a role in the experience of fear, aggression, anger, relaxation & is linked to the emotional aspects of memory.
40
Q

Describe the hippocampus (learning & memory)

A
  • Is essential to the formation of learning, memory processes.
    -Involved in the consolidation of memories.
  • Damage results in impairments in the ability to form new memories.
41
Q

Describe the cerebrum?

A
  • Responsible of our complex mental activities, including learning, remembering, thinking & consciousness.
42
Q

The cerebrum is divided into right & left halves, called:

A

Cerebral hemispheres.

43
Q

If we prise apart the 2 halves of the brain, we see that the fissure descends to a structure called:

A

The corpus callosum.

44
Q

What is the occipital lobe?

A

Includes the cortical area where most visual signals are sent & visual processing begins the primary visual cortex.

45
Q

What is the parietal lobe?

A

Includes the area that registers the sense of touch- the primary somatosensory cortex.

46
Q

What is the temporal lobe?

A

Contains an area devoted to auditory processing- the primary auditory cortex.

47
Q

Describe the frontal lobe

A

-Largest area & controls movement of muscles- the primary motor cortex.
- Also contains the prefrontal cortex- higher order functions.

48
Q

What is aphasia?

A

Problems with speech production.

49
Q

There are 2 types of aphasia name them:

A
  1. Broca’s aphasia
  2. Wernicke’s aphasia
50
Q

What is Broca’s aphasia?

A

Speech is laborious & ungrammatical, speaker battles to find the right words.

51
Q

What is the Wernicke’s aphasia (fluent)?

A

Speech sounds fluent but makes little sense.

52
Q

What are neurons?

A

Neurons are cells that receive, integrate & transmit information. In the human nervous system, the vast majority of these cells are inter- neurons that communicate with other neurons.

53
Q

What are sensory neurons?

A

Receive signals from outside the CNS, and motor neurons, which carry messages from the CNS to the muscles that move the body.

54
Q

What is the Soma/ cell body?

A

Contains the cell nucleus and much of the chemical machinery common to most cells.

55
Q

What is the dendrite?

A
  • The branched structure is called a dendrite tree
  • Each individual branch is a dendrite.
  • These parts of the neuron that are specialized to receive information.
56
Q

What is the axon?

A

The long fibre is the axon. These are specialized structures that transmit information to other neurons/ to muscles or glands.

57
Q

What is the myelin?

A

Axons wrapped in cells in a high concentration of white, fatty substance.

58
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

Acts as an insulating material & aids in accelerating the transmission of signals that move along axons. If an axon’s myelin sheath deteriorates, its ability to conduct signals is less effective.

59
Q

What’s a disease that affects the myelin sheath?

A

Multiple sclerosis

60
Q

What is Multiple sclerosis?

A

Due to a degeneration on myelin sheaths it leads to interruption of signals, which affects movement.

61
Q

What does the axon end in a cluster of?

A

Terminal buttons

62
Q

What are terminal buttons?

A

Small knobs that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters.

63
Q

What is the purpose of these chemicals?

A

Serve as messengers that can activate other nearby neurons.

64
Q

What is the synapse?

A

The pints where the neurons interconnect. This is a junction where info is transmitted from one neuron to another. (Greek for junction)

65
Q

What are Glia cells (means “glue”)?

A

Found throughout the nervous system that provide various types of support for neurons. Much more abundant in the brain.

66
Q

What is the function of the Glia cells?

A
  • They supply nourishment to neurons.
  • Help remove neurons waste products.
  • Provide insulation around many axons.
  • Make up a part of myelin sheath.
  • Play a role in sending & receiving of chemical signals.
  • Some types can detect neural impulses and send to other glial cells.
67
Q

A neural impulse is a complex…… reaction.

A

Electrochemical reaction.

68
Q

What are ions?

A

Inside and outside the axon are fluids containing electrical charged atoms and molecules.

69
Q

Are sodium and potassium ions positively or negatively charged?

A

Positively charged ions.

70
Q

Are chloride ions positively or negatively charged?

A

Negatively charged ions.

71
Q

What is the purpose of the positive and negatively charged ions?

A

These are the principle molecules involved in the nerve impulses that flow back and forth across the cell membrane. Slightly higher concentration of negatively charged ions inside the cell.

72
Q

When the neuron is not conducting an impulse, it is said to be in a……..

A

Resting state.

73
Q

How long is the resting potential?

A

Note: - in + out
-70 millivolts.

74
Q

What is action potential?

A
  • Is a very brief shift shift in the neurons electrical charge that travels along an axon.
  • When the neuron is stimulated, it channels in its cell membrane open, briefly allowing positively charged ions to rush in.
  • For an instant the neurons charge is less negative, or even positive- creating action potential.
75
Q

What is the absolute refractory period?

A

After firing of an action potential, the channels close up, some time is needed before they close again. The neuron cannot fire until then.
This period is a minimum length of time needed until another action potential can begin.

76
Q

How long is an absolute refractory period?

A

2 milliseconds.

77
Q

This is followed by a brief refractory period during which the neuron can fire by the threshold is elevated… how much stimulation is needed?

A

More intense stimulation.

78
Q

What is the all- or- nothing law?

A
  • The neural impulse is an all or nothing event, like firing a gun, it either fires or it doesn’t.
  • The size of an action potential is not affected by the strength of s stimulus- a weaker stimulus doesn’t produce a weaker action potential.
  • If the neuron receives a stimulus of sufficient strength, it fires but if it receives a weaker stimulus- it does not- “all or nothing law.”
79
Q

Neural impulse is a signal that must be transmitted from a neuron to a cell.
Where does this transmission take place?

A

Special junctions called synapses.

80
Q

What happens at the synapse?

A

This is where terminal buttons release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.

81
Q

What is a synaptic cleft?

A

This is where two neurons are separated, a microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron.

82
Q

True or false:
Signals have to cross this gap for neurons to communicate.

A

True.

83
Q

What is the presynaptic neuron?

A

The neuron that sends a signal across the gap.

84
Q

What is a postsynaptic neuron?

A

The neuron that receives the signal.

85
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

Chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another.

86
Q

What are synaptic vesicles?

A

Within the buttons, most of these chemicals are stored in small sacs.

87
Q

What happens when neurotransmitters are released?

A

When a vesicle fuses with the membrane of the presynaptic cell & its contents spill into the synaptic cleft.

88
Q

What happens after the release?

A

Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft to the membrane of the receiving cell.

89
Q

Give the 5 steps of synaptic transmission:

A
  1. Synthesis and storage
  2. Release of neurotransmitter
  3. Binding of neurotransmitters
  4. Inactivation (by enzymes)
  5. Reuptake of neurotransmitters
90
Q

Define excited vs inhibited?

A

Excited:
- Neuron slightly depolarizes the receiving neuron, increasing the likelihood that the neuron will fire.
Inhibited:
- Neuron slightly hyper polarizes the receiving neuron, moving the cell farther from the threshold reducing the likelihood that it will fire. Eg) GABBA.

❗️REMEMBER❗️
The depolarization reduces the difference between the electrical environments inside and outside the neuron.
Eg) dopamine & adrenaline.

91
Q

What neurotransmitter is involved in the regulation of sleep, eating & aggression?

A

Serotonin.

92
Q

The 2 monoamies that have been linked to depression?

A

Norepinephrine (NE) & Serotinin.

93
Q

Chemicals that resemble opiate drugs in structure that are involved in pain relief?

A

Endorphins.

94
Q

A neurotransmitter for which abnormal levels have been implicated in schizophrenia?

A

Dopamine (DA).

95
Q

The only neurotransmitter between motor neurons and voluntary muscles?

A

Acetylcholine (ACH).

96
Q

The only neurotransmitter between motor neurons and voluntary muscles?

A

Acetylcholine (ACH).

PSYCH5121 exam notes (12 decks)

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