Module 1 - The Brain Flashcards
parts of a neuron
- dendrites: receive information from other cells in the form of neurotransmitters
- soma: cell body
- axon: long, thin fibre
- myelin sheath: insulating layer
- terminal buttons: release neurotransmitters
what is the function of myelin?
insulates the neuron and allows for faster conduction of neurotransmitters along the axon
what is long-term potentiation?
- “neurons that fire together wire together”
- results in an increase in dendrite receptors, postsynaptic sensitivity, and a number of synaptic vesicles
what are the roles of glutamate and NMDA receptors in long-term potentiation?
peripheral nervous system
PNS
- all of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord
- sensory and motor functions
autonomic nervous system vs somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system: automatic, involuntary muscle movement and functioning
somatic nervous system: sensation and voluntary movement
what does the central nervous system consist of?
- the brain and spinal cord
- meninges
- cerebrospinal fluid
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
- way of measuring electrical changes in the brain
- high temporal resolution
- poor spatial resolution
- non-invasive
Computerized tomography (CT)
- multiple x-rays
- high spatial resolution
- still images - not showing function
- uses a fairly large amount of radiation
positron emission tomography (PET)
- radioactively tagged contrast, picked up on x-rays
- measures blood flow
- high spatial resolution
- poor temporal resolution
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
- measures blood flow
- high spatial resolution
- poor to moderate temporal resolution
- can’t be used on people with ferrous metal in their body
Lesions
- destruction of a part of the brain (either controlled or accidental)
- invasive and permanent
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- temporary virtual lesions
- uses a magnetic field that changes the activity of the underlying neurons
- only used for the outmost layer of the brain
electrical stimulation
- treatment for epilepsy
- has mapped many functions of the brain
what do dissociations play an important role in?
determining how two functions are related
what are the components of the hindbrain?
- cerebellum
- medulla
- pons
- reticular formation
functions of the cerebellum
- fine muscle movement
- balance
functions of the medulla
- blood circulation
- breathing
- muscle tone
- reflexes (sneezing, coughing, salivating)
functions of the pons
- sleep
- arousal
functions of the reticular formation
- sleep
- arousal
location of the midbrain
part of the brain stem, above the hindbrain
functions of the midbrain
- reflexive behaviours
components of the midbrain and their functions
- superior and inferior colliculi (integrating sensory processes)
- substantia nigra (releases dopamine)
what are the components of the forebrain?
- limbic system
- cerebrum
- thalamus
- hypothalamus
- basal ganglia
- amygdala
- hippocampus
functions of the thalamus
- relay station for sensory information
- integration of sensory information
functions of the hypothalamus
- control of autonomic nervous system
- regulation of basic biological drives (fighting, fleeing, feeding, mating)
functions of the basal ganglia
- smooth, coordinated movement
- associative learning
functions of the limbic system
- regulation of emotion, memory, and motivation
functions of the amygdala
- basic emotional responses (fear, happiness, etc)
- emotional learning
- aggressive behaviour
functions of the hippocampus
- formation and consolidation of memories
functions of the cerebral cortex
- learning
- remembering
- thinking
- consciousness
function of the corpus callosum
connects the left and right hemispheres
what is the left hemisphere responsible for?
- verbal processing
- speech
- reading
- writing
what is the right hemisphere responsible for?
- nonverbal processing
- spatial tasks
- music
- visual recognition
hemispheric asymmetry
- right hemisphere is heavier and longer
- left hemisphere’s cortex is thicker
functions of the primary visual cortex
- receives input from the thalamus
- processes, projects to other regions of the occipital lobe
function of the dorsal stream in the primary visual cortex
guidance of movement
function of the ventral stream in the primary visual cortex
object perception
functions of the parietal lobe
- spatial relationships
- object recognition
functions of the temporal lobe
- auditory processing
- language comprehension (Wernicke’s Area)
what are the components of the frontal lobe?
- prefrontal cortex (higher-order functions and executive control)
- primary motor cortex
- Broca’s Area
