Module 2 (biopsychology) Flashcards
What is Biopsychology
Biopsychology explores the biological mechanisms that underlie behaviors and unseen mental processes
- the structure and function of the nervous system
- how the nervous system interacts with the endocrine system
What is a neuron?
It is a specialized cell that has a job to conduct impulse throughout our body specifically the nervous system
- it is the basic cell that makes up the nervous system and receives and sends messages within that system
What is the nervous system?
A network of cells that carries information to and from all parts of the body
What are the three types of neurons
sensory, interneurons and moto
what does the sensory neuron do?
relays messages from sense organs receptors to brain or spinal code
- transmits messages into the system
what does the motor neuron do?
signals from brain, spinal cord to glands, muscles, movement
- in control of the movement
what does the interneurons do?
carry information and transmits between neurons in brain and neurons in spinal cord
what are the three parts of the neuron?
cell body, dendrites, axon
what is the cell body?
nucleus with chromosomes - carries out metabolic/maintaining functions
what are dendrites?
branch like extensions of neuron
- receive information from other neurons
what are axons?
slender, tail-like extension of neuron- transmits information to other neurons, muscles and glands
- axon terminals are rounded areas at the end of the branches at the end of the axon - communicate with other nerve cells
what is the myelin sheath?
made of a fatty substance that insulates axons and allows the signal to travel down the axon quicker
- is the protective coating over axons that speeds up the electrical transmissions
what are terminal buttons?
they are located at the end of the axons which contain synaptic vessels
- storage sites for chemical messengers called neurotransmitters
What are glial cells?
- hold neurons together
- remove waste products ( dead neurons)
- handle metabolic risks
- make myelin for cell transmission tasks (pain transmission)
What are the two parts to neurotransmission?
synapse and receptor cites
what is a synapse?
microscopic fluid-filled space between the rounded areas on the end of the axon terminals of one cell and the dendrites or surface of the next cell
what are the receptor sites?
three dimensional proteins on the surface of dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to fit only certain neuro transmitters
what is the synaptic cleft?
fluid-filled gaps between axon terminals
what is the synapse
-junction where axon terminal of a sending neuron communicates with
- the receiving dendrites of the neuron across the synaptic cleft
What are the two parts of neurotransmission?
excitatory synapse and inhabitory synapse
what is the excitatory synapse?
neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to fire
what is the inhibitory synapse?
neurotransmitter that causes the receiving cell to stop firing
what is resting potential?
The state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse
what is the threshold of excitation?
level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active
what is the action potential
- is an electrical signal
- act on an all-or-none principle- the incoming signal is either sufficient to reach the threshold of excitation or it is now
what is reuptake?
involves moving a neurotransmitter from the synapse back into the axon terminal from which it was released
- reuptake involves moving a neurotransmitter from the synapse back into the axon terminal from which it was released
What are neurotransmitter?
they are chemical messenger of the nervous system. Different neurons release different types of neurotransmitters that have many different functions
What are the five kinds of neurotransmitters?
acetycholine, beta-endorphin, dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin
What are three types of neurotransmitters and drugs?
psychotropic medication, agonist and antagonist
What is agonist?
drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitters
what are antagonist?
drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter
What is the nervous system?
Electrochemical communication network consisting of all nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous system
what is the communication network?
takes information from the world and the body tissues
- makes decisions and sends back information orders to the body tissues
What is the peripheral nervous system?
- somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
What is the somatic nervous system?
relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
what is the autonomic nervous system?
controls our internal organs and glands and can be divided into the symapathetic and parasympathic nervous systems
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
involved in stress-related activities and functions; prepares us for fight or flight. Arouses and and expends energy
- fight or flight response - activationof the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety
What is parasympathetic nervous system?
- conserves energy as it calms; it associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body under relaxed conditions
- rest and response - relaxes the body after fight or flight (aka rest and digest
what is the cerebral cortex
the surface of the brain that is associated with out highest mental capabilities such as consciousness, thought, emotion, reasoning, language and memory
- outer covering: covers cerebral hemispheres
What is the corpus callosum?
- connects the two cerebral hemispheres
- thick band of nerve fibres
- transfer of information, coordination of activity between hemispheres
what is lateralization?
Concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions
What does the right hemisphere control?
- increaseed activity with perceptual tasks
- modulates speech; allows for making inferences
- organizes self-awareness
what does the left hemisphere control?
- math tasks
- language controll quick literal interpretations
- humans have unified brains with specialized parts
What are the three parts of the brain?
forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain
what are the five parts of the forebrain?
-the cerebral cortex
- thalamus
-hypothalamus
- pituitary gland
- limbic system
What are the four lobes?
frontal
parietal
temporal
occipital
what is the frontal lobe?
- planning, judgement, memory reasoning, abstract, thinking movement
- involved in executive functioning(planning, organization, judgement, attention, reasoning), motor control, emotion and language
- the motor cortex
- the prefrontal cortex
- broca’s area
what is the parietal lobe?
information about touch (sensory cortext)
- somatosentory cortex- essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature and pain
what is the temporal lobe?
hearing ( auditory cortex), language
- the auditory cortex is the strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information
what is the occipital lobe?
visual information (visual cortex)
contains the primary visual cortex which is responsible for interpreting incoming visual information
What is the left frontal lobe
contains Broca’s area
- related to processing grammar and pronounciation
- broca’s aphasia
- language disturbance resulting from brain damage
What is the wernicke’s area?
an assoiation areas for interpreting auditory information
- primary auditory cortex
- where hearing registers in cortex
- inability to use or understand more than the most basic nouns and verbs
What is the thalamus?
serves as the relay center of the brain where most senses (excluding smell) are routed before being directed to other areas of the brain for processing
What is the limbic system?
located below the cerebral hemispheres regulates emotions and drives
- is involved in mediating emotional response and memory
- is made up of a number of different structures, some of the most important ones being
What are the three parts of the limbic system?
- hypothalamus
-hippocampus - amygdala
What is hypothalamus?
located below the thalamus and regulates homeostatic processes including body temperature appetite and blood pressure
- helps govern endocrine system
- houses “reward centers”
- part of it uses light cues to regulate sleep-wake cycles
- controls maintenance functions, such as eating and drinking
What are hippocampus?
structure associated with learning and memory
- creates new memories
- integrates memories into a network of knowledge
- consolidates and stores memories
- responsible for memories
what is amygdala
involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories in processing fear
- located at the tip of each side of the hippocampus
- plays a significant role in the formation of emotional memories
- attaches significance to events associated with fear, punishment or reward
What is the midbrain?
functions as a relay system
- transmitting information visual and auditory
- plays an important role in movement, pain and the sleep/wake cycle
what is reticular formation?
important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness and motor activity
What is substantia nigra?
where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement
What is the ventral tegmental area?
where dopamine is produced; associated with mood, reward, and addiction
- degeneration of the substantia nigra and VTA is involved in parkinson’s disease
What is the hindbrain?
oldest part and central brain core; automatic survival functions; crossover point
- coordinates functions that are fundamental to survival, including respiratory rhythm, motor activity, sleep and wakefulness
What are the three parts of the medulla?
medulla
pons
cerebellum
what is the medulla
controls automated proccesses like breathing, blood pressure and heart rate
what is the pons?
connects the brain and the spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep
what is the cerebellum?
controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory
What is the endocrine system?
-From the bloodstream, the hormones are carried to organs in the body such as the heart, pancreas, and sex organs
-Glands pour chemicals directly into the bloodstream or lympth system hormones are carried throughout the body
what are hormones?
chemical messengers in the bloodstream
What is the pituitary gland?
gland located in the brain that influences all other hormone-secreting glands (A.KA the master gland)
What are the two kinds of pituitary gland?
- oxytocin
- growth hormone
what is oxytocin?
hormone released by posterior pituitary gland that is involved in reproductive and parental behaviors
what is growth hormone?
spurs childhood growth and helps maintain tissues and organs throughout life
what is pineal gland?
endocrine gland located near the base of the cerebrum that secretes melatonin
-sleep patterns are often disrupted if the pineal gland is impaired
what is thyroid gland?
endocrine gland found in the neck that regulates metabolism
- hypo or loss hyper
what are adrenal glands?
endocrine glands located on top of each kidney
what are gonads?
the sex glands; secrete hormones that regulate
- sexual development and behavior as well as reproduction
- produce testosterone and estrogen
what is the pancreas?
endocrine gland that controls the levels of sugar in the blood
